NFL Player News

Akins caught five receptions for 53 yards on five targets against the Rams on Sunday.

Akins was efficient with his workload, but the five targets marks just the third time in 2021 that Akins drew more than two targets in a game, and his usage Sunday was possibly boosted by the absence of starting tight end Pharaoh Brown (thigh). Not just that, but rookie fifth-round pick Brevin Jordan saw four targets of his own and caught three for 41 yards and one touchdown. Jordan is the same type of tight end as Akins -- a slightly undersized pass-catching specialist -- so if Jordan should emerge further, it could occur at Akins' expense. The Texans face Miami in Week 9.

Swaim had four receptions (five targets) for 23 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-31 win over the Colts.

Ryan Tannehill dialed up his tight end near the goal line on a play-action pass for the veteran's first touchdown of the season. Swaim has been logging starter's snaps on offense, but this was just his eighth reception on the year. The 27-year-old's value lies in his ability to block in front of Derrick Henry, so fantasy managers can dismiss this rare trip to the end zone.

James caught three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' 33-22 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.

With Jimmy Graham (COVID-19) missing this game, James caught all three of his targets, including the only touchdown pass Justin Fields threw. For the second straight game, James caught three passes, though once Graham returns, there's a strong chance James returns to the reserve spot he held, which resulted in zero catches through Week 6.

Hockenson caught 10 of 11 targets for 89 yards during Sunday's 44-6 loss to the Eagles.

Seeing more than double the number of targets as the next closest player on the team, Hockenson was the only avenue through which the Lions were able to find success. Through eight games, the tight end has now seen at least eight targets six times, which is a claim that only one other tight end in the NFL (Travis Kelce) can make. While Hockenson won't have Kelce's upside as long as Jared Goff is throwing him the ball, his usage rate is elite and it's likely that Hockenson is just approaching his physical peak. The No. 8 pick of the 2019 NFL Draft will remain a top fantasy option when the Lions return from their Week 9 bye.

Kmet caught three passes for 24 yards in the Bears' 33-22 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.

Kmet was second on the team with six targets, but aside from a 16-yard reception, he had a quiet afternoon. He's yet to score a touchdown or reach 50 yards in a game this season, making him a low-upside fantasy option.

Holtz is in the concussion protocol, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Holtz will have an extra day to clear the protocol since the Bears play on Monday night in Week 9 against the Steelers. Jesper Horsted would likely absorb the extra snaps if the 28-year-old needs to miss time.

Goedert caught six of his seven targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 44-6 win over the Lions.

The Eagles hardly needed to throw in this one, and when they did, they generally stayed short. As a result, Goedert ended up seeing half of Jalen Hurts' targets. In two games since the Zach Ertz trade, the 26-year-old has caught nine of 12 targets for 142 yards. He should be among the top tight ends in the league over the rest of the year.

Smith (shoulder) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Smith, who logged limited practices this past week, will be out there if you need him Sunday, but his weekly fantasy ceiling has thus far has been capped while operating in a timeshare with Hunter Henry. Through seven contests, Smith has caught 18 of his 30 targets for 176 yards and a TD, while Henry has recorded a 24/264/4 stat line in that span.

Jordan is active for Sunday's game against the Rams, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Jordan will draw into the Texans' lineup Sunday, with Pharaoh Brown out with a thigh injury. In his NFL regular-season debut, the 2021 fifth-rounder is a speculative fantasy play, but if Jordan can hold his own as a blocker, the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder could potentially carve enough of a role in Houston's offense as the season rolls along to merit attention in deeper leagues.

Brown (thigh) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Rams.

Brown appears to have picked up the thigh injury during the week of practice; he wasn't included on the Texans' initial Week 8 report before he was listed as a limited participant at Thursday's session and a non-participant Friday. Though he's only been a tertiary option in the Texans' passing attack, Brown's absence will open up more reps at tight end for Jordan Akins, who profiles as more of a receiving threat than the blocking-oriented Brown.