Who Should I Start? Tim Patrick or Khalif Raymond

Friday, January 17, 1:44 AM

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick delivered a solid four-game stretch where he looked like one of the best No. 3 receivers in the NFL, but a subpar finish to the regular season has stripped him of some fantasy appeal as the Divisional Round gets underway. This week, Patrick gets ready for a matchup with the Washington Commanders, who have ranked near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. They've also fared equally well against both slot and perimeter weapons, so Patrick's tendency to operate out wide doesn't give him much of an advantage. The veteran receiver caught two passes on three targets over his final three games during the regular season, consistently playing between 55 and 65 percent of the offensive snaps. His experience and veteran status do give him a slight boost in the playoffs, but he's still tough to trust given his reduced volume to end the regular season. Look for him to rank as a fringe top-24 fantasy receiver this week.

Saturday, January 4, 4:23 PM

The Detroit Lions activated wide receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) and linebacker Alex Anzalone (forearm) from injured reserve on Saturday. Raymond had been sidelined ever since Week 12, and he's expected to remain behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Tim Patrick in the pecking order upon his return this weekend. He caught just 16 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns through the 11 games for which he was healthy this season, and he remains off the fantasy radar in all leagues. Meanwhile, Anzalone is back from a six-week absence. He contributed 56 tackles and one sack when healthy, and his return provides a major boost to a Lions defense that has been decimated by injuries in 2024.