Who Should I Start? Treylon Burks or Xavier Smith

Monday, August 24, 5:25 AM

Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks has had a career defined by injuries and disappointment, but a unique skill set and a solid first training camp in Washington have him well-positioned to earn a role in 2026. The arrival of four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs in early August changed the landscape of the Commanders' receiver room, but Burks' blend of size and speed should allow him to earn a complementary role behind Diggs and top option Terry McLaurin. Still projected as part of a potential rotation with Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and 2026 third-round pick Antonio Williams, he is unlikely to suddenly reemerge as a coveted fantasy asset, but in an offense expected to gel with better overall health in its first year under new offensive coordinator David Blough, Burks has the opportunity to work his way into the flex conversation in deeper leagues. A former first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, Burks has yet to top the 444 receiving yards of his rookie season, but he is at least back on the edge of fantasy radars as RotoBaller's WR109.