Who Should I Start? Tyler Lockett or Michael Pittman Jr.

Friday, December 20, 7:32 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett continues to be a disappointment for fantasy. That is unlikely to change in Week 16 despite an excellent matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Lockett has been completely phased out of the Seahawks' game plan. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has shifted most of the attention to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the running game. The Vikings are the worst defense at stopping opposing wide receivers in fantasy. However, that is unlikely to benefit Lockett given how little volume he is receiving. With the Seahawks scaling back their passing attempts over the second half of the season, there simply is not enough to go around for Lockett to be fantasy-relevant. Look elsewhere if you are still alive in the fantasy playoffs.

Friday, December 20, 10:52 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but was back to a full participant the following two sessions to close out the week. The 6-foot-4 wideout has dealt with back issues seemingly all season long, but it has cost him just one week of playing time. The former second-round draft pick has been Anthony Richardson's preferred target in the passing game over the last four weeks since being reinstated as the starting QB, averaging over five catches per contest, albeit for just 60 yards per game. The fifth-year pro hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6, which happened to be against his Week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Although he found paydirt in that first meeting, he did so on just three catches for 35 yards. With the Titans allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and with Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes on the season, expectations for Sunday's divisional showdown should be tempered. While the Colts are 3.5-point favorites in this one, there is a low expected total of 42.5 and Pittman Jr. projects as a WR4 this week, so hopefully fantasy managers have other options.