Who Should I Start? Trey Palmer or Xavier Smith

Thursday, July 31, 6:14 PM

Tampa Bay wide receiver Trey Palmer (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury that is holding him out of training camp. Going into his third year in the NFL, Palmer has typically been a depth chart filler on the Bucs, and they just added rookie Emeka Egbuka in the 2025 draft after Jalen McMillan already leaped past him on the depth chart in the 2024 season. Still on his rookie deal, Palmer is signed through the 2026 season and will need all of the reps he can get to compete with the newcomers on the depth chart for future upside. With the massive depth chart in Tampa Bay, Palmer will likely remain off the fantasy radar for now.

Saturday, August 16, 11:52 PM

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith caught all four of his targets for 48 receiving yards during Saturday's preseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He also rushed for five yards. Smith has been quite productive this summer. He paced the team with 55 receiving yards last week, and he now has a total of eight touches and 108 scrimmage yards through two preseason contests. NFL opportunities have been few and far between for the 27-year-old Florida A&M product, but he did total six receiving yards, 36 rushing yards, and a pair of first downs in 2024. Los Angeles' first four wide receiver spots are essentially locked up, which means they only have two or three spots to divide over seven remaining receivers (Smith, Tru Edwards, Mario Williams, Konata Mumpfield, Drake Stoops, Britain Covey, and Brennan Presley).