Who Should I Start? Tutu Atwell or Troy Franklin

Wednesday, April 2, 9:37 PM

The Los Angeles Rams plan on giving wide receiver Tutu Atwell a bigger role in 2025. "I think the fans are accurate in that I haven't done a good enough job of utilizing him," head coach Sean McVay said. The Rams cut veteran Cooper Kupp this offseason and replaced him with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, but the 25-year-old Atwell could be utilized more often in the passing attack after posting career-highs in catches (42) and receiving yards (562) in 17 regular-season games (five starts) in 2024. Most of his production came in Weeks 3-7 when both Kupp and Puka Nacua were out with injuries. Atwell has 99 career receptions for 1,343 yards and four touchdowns in 54 games (23 starts), averaging 13.6 yards per catch. Demarcus Robinson is also gone, so Atwell should start in most three-receiver sets alongside Nacua and Adams, giving him some sleeper potential in deeper fantasy leagues in 2025.

Sunday, August 17, 1:22 PM

Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin continued to stand out in the team's 27-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday in the second week of the preseason. Franklin caught four of his five targets from backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham for 67 yards and two touchdowns. The 22-year-old out of Oregon has received praise from teammates this summer and has now caught nine passes for 85 yards and the two scores in two preseason games. He shared the team lead in catches and targets with rookie Pat Bryant on Saturday. Franklin has shown improvement in training camp going into his sophomore season in th NFL, but competition for targets in Denver behind WR1 Courtland Sutton could be fierce. He caught 28 of his 53 targets for 263 yards and two TDs in 16 regular-season games (six starts) last year and is currently outside RotoBaller's top 100 fantasy wideouts.