Game day update: Last week, Damiere Byrd was the Patriots’ top-performing wide receiver in fantasy football against the Houston Texas. Byrd had six receptions (seven receptions) for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also scored a season-high 20.3 fantasy points, which was top-10 wide receiver performance. However, it’s Jakobi Meyers, who has been the Patriots’ most consistent wide receiver over the last few weeks. Meyers is averaging 6.7 receptions and 88.7 yards in New England’s last three games. On Sunday, they will be going up against a Cardinals’ defense that is allowing 25.2 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. ESPN projects Meyers, Byrd to score 7.7 and 4.7 fantasy points, respectively.
Trying to nail down which New England Patriots wide receiver is worth a spot in your fantasy football lineup is an exercise in frustration. After a nice run with solid WR2 numbers, Jakobi Meyers fell off the radar last week. In his place, it was Damiere Byrd breaking out with six catches, 132 yards, and a touchdown, just a week after not showing up on the stat sheet at all. So are either of these two worth a spot this week against the Cardinals?
Fantasy Football analysis: Patriots WRs Jakobi Meyers, Damiere Byrd
Someone has to catch the passes, even if they don’t throw that many. But the Patriots lean heavily on their running backs in the passing game too; James White led the team with nine targets last week.
The Cardinals have given up some big games to opposing wide receivers. The trouble here, though, is that neither one of these two is quite on the same level as a Tyler Lockett or Stefon Diggs. Of the two, I think Meyers is the better play of the two, just based on his results over the last five games, excluding last week’s clunker. But I wouldn’t make him anything more than a WR3.
Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation
Start Jakobi Meyers at WR3. Sit Damiere Byrd.