Khalil Shakir vs Luther Burden: Who Should You Start?
This is a genuine coin flip on paper. Khalil Shakir finished the 2025 season at 8.1 PPG over 16 games with the Buffalo Bills, while Luther Burden clocked in at 7.0 across 15 appearances for the Chicago Bears. A 1.1-point gap means any given week could go either way.
With a margin this thin, season averages are not the deciding factor. Weekly variables like opponent defense, game script, and injury status carry more weight than a fraction of a PPG. The right start in Week 6 might be the wrong start in Week 14.
Target volume is the story here. Khalil Shakir saw 95 targets in 2025, while Luther Burden drew 60. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Khalil Shakir, even in weeks where Luther Burden posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One scheduling note: Khalil Shakir is off Week 12 and Luther Burden Week 7. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
