Who Should I Start? Tre Tucker or Luther Burden III

Sunday, December 28, 7:57 PM

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker was primed to emerge as the Raiders' lead pass catcher in Week 17, but was held to five receptions for 49 yards off his six targets in a 34-10 loss to the New York Giants. Tight end Brock Bowers (knee) was placed on IR following Week 16, and rookie wide receiver Jack Bech (back) was ruled out Sunday afternoon, which should have opened the path for more opportunities for Tucker. However, quarterback Geno Smith (ankle) was under pressure all afternoon, and the passing attack primarily went through tight end Michael Mayer. Still, Tucker earned the most targets out of the Raiders' wide receiver room and is solidly the team's WR1. Tucker has a bottom-10 matchup ahead of him in Week 18 against AFC West rivals the Kansas City Chiefs. The third-year wide-out is firmly in WR3/Flex territory as the 2025 season draws to a close.

Tuesday, January 6, 12:12 PM

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III finished his rookie season with 47 catches (60 targets) for 652 yards and two touchdowns while adding six carries for 37 yards in 15 games. Burden posted an elite 2.71 yards per route run, which only trails Odell Beckham Jr. among rookie wideouts since 2013. The rookie second-rounder caught at least three balls in his final eight games and had his best game of the season in Week 17 at San Francisco with 138 yards and a touchdown. The Missouri product has seen his opportunities increase with Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined for the past five games with a stress fracture in his foot, and Odunze's potential return in the Wild-Card round could limit Burden's fantasy appeal. However, Burden looks like a future star and should be viewed as a high-upside WR2 on Saturday against the division-rival Green Bay Packers.