Who Should I Start? Tom Kennedy or Kevin Austin Jr.

Wednesday, December 3, 10:13 PM

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy has spent most of the 2025 season buried on the Lions' practice squad. However, he was pressed into action in Week 13 due to injuries to Lions wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) and Kalif Raymond (ankle) and recorded four catches for 36 yards on four targets against the Green Bay Packers. With Raymond ruled out and St. Brown officially questionable for Detroit's Week 14 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Kennedy could spend another week as the team's primary slot receiver. Dallas represents a favorable matchup for opposing passing games on paper, as they currently rank last in the NFL in both passing yards (3,234) and passing touchdowns (28) allowed. Kennedy's production upside is limited, and it's also likely entirely dependent on St. Brown's status. If St. Brown is active, Kennedy should fall off the radar of fantasy managers. However, if St. Brown is ruled out, Kennedy could be a desperation deep-league flex option in Week 14.

Sunday, January 4, 8:27 AM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. is expected to have an expanded role in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints will be without Chris Olave (illness) and Mason Tipton (groin) for the regular-season finale. The absence of those players should push Austin into the No. 1 wideout role in this offense. With all the injuries to the Saints' wideouts, Dante Pettis should also see an increase in target share on Sunday. Austin made himself known to the league when he hauled in four receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown in Week 17's win over the Tennessee Titans. Austin was able to do that with Olave healthy for that game, which means he should be able to produce more without him this weekend. Fantasy managers with something on the line this week can use Austin as a FLEX play, or in DFS contests, might want to target Austin as he's priced at only $3,400 on DraftKings.