Who Should I Start? Terry McLaurin or Ashton Jeanty

Friday, September 5, 6:35 PM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is ready to roll for the season opener at home against the Giants after finally reaching an agreement with Washington on a three-year, $96 million extension. The deal was signed less than two weeks before Week 1, allowing McLaurin ample time to ramp up and get in proper conditioning for Kliff Kingsbury's up-tempo offense. He's coming off his best season as a pro, catching a franchise record 13 touchdowns. The 29-year-old receiver will immediately get back on page and make up for lost time with rising quarterback Jayden Daniels, something the second-year signal caller isn't concerned about. "I don't think it [chemistry] ever leaves," said Daniels when asked if he is confident that his connection with Terry McLaurin can pick up where it left off. McLaurin was relatively quiet in two meetings against the Giants last season, totaling eight receptions for 41 yards, but he found the endzone twice in the second game. For his career, McLaurin has always played well against them, averaging six receptions for 75 yards and scoring five touchdowns in 11 games. He projects as a mid to high-end WR2 for Week 1, always with the potential for a long score.

Monday, September 8, 3:52 AM

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty's NFL career started with a victory, though his efforts had little to do with the outcome. The Boise State product had 38 rushing yards on 19 carries and two receiving yards on two catches in the Raiders' 20-13 win over the Patriots in their 2025 season opener. Despite the disappointing stat line, fantasy managers should be encouraged by Jeanty's usage. The highly-touted rookie dominated the backfield opportunities, not only taking the lion's share of rushing attempts but finishing with an 86% snap share. Fantasy managers who took a chance on the sixth-overall pick from the NFL Draft might have to wait a bit longer before their investment pays off. Jeanty has a challenging matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.