Who Should I Start? Xavier Worthy or Rome Odunze

Saturday, November 23, 2:52 AM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will face the Carolina Panthers in Week 12. Worthy had one of his more productive games last week in the 21-30 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The rookie receiver was heavily involved in the game plan for the beginning of the game, catching four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Worthy did not have another catch for the rest of the game despite his early involvement. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes publicly stated that he needs to do a better job connecting with Worthy on deep passes since the young receiver is getting open. There will likely be an effort to push the ball downfield to Worthy in this contest since the Panthers are a beatable opponent. The Panthers rank 12th in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season, but that is simply because teams do not need to pass against the Panthers to win games. The 21-year-old is ranked WR36 in our RotoBaller half-PPR rankings this week, making him a WR3/flex option in this contest. Fantasy managers dealing with bye weeks should have no issues finding a spot for Worthy in their starting lineups.

Saturday, November 23, 5:39 AM

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze is looking to build on his solid performance in Week 11 as he faces a tough Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 12. Odunze had a productive outing last week, recording 65 receiving yards against the Green Bay Packers. As the Bears' primary big-play threat, he'll be eager to continue his progression and establish himself as a reliable option in this offense. Odunze's ability to make plays downfield could be critical in Week 12, as the Vikings' defense, while challenging, blitzes at one of the highest rates in the NFL. If the Bears' offensive line can give quarterback Caleb Williams enough time, Odunze could see plenty of one-on-one opportunities. However, the Minnesota defense has proven to be one of the toughest matchups in the league, ranking 4th in points per game allowed and 5th in EPA per pass. Despite the challenging matchup, Odunze continues to come into his own and could be a sneaky WR3 with upside in Week 12, especially if he gets some downfield looks. For fantasy managers needing a high-ceiling play, he's a worthy consideration as a flex or WR3 option with big-play potential.