NFL Player News

Johnson caught two of three targets for 20 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Giants.

It's becoming clear that Johnson is the Saints' preferred receiving option at tight end. Even though Adam Trautman saw six looks in the season opener, he has seen just two targets in three games since while Johnson has already seen three targets three times this year. While he's not seeing enough volume to be anything more than a touchdown-dependent fantasy option, Johnson's role in the red zone makes him a respectable dart throw for deep-league fantasy owners who are desperate for production.

Trautman secured his only target for three yards during Sunday's 27-21 overtime loss to the Giants.

The six targets Trautman saw in the season opener seem like an outlier now that he's seen only two more in three games since. Meanwhile, Juwan Johnson has seen three targets in three of four contests. Barring an uptick in usage -- which may be especially unlikely with Michael Thomas (ankle) and Tre'Quan Smith (hamstring) expected to return at some point this year -- Trautman is completely falling off the fantasy radar.

Asiasi is a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

With Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith both healthy and active, Asiasi will again sit out. He has yet to play in a game for the Patriots this season.

Hill completed two of three passes for nine yards and one interception while rushing six times for 28 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 27-21 overtime loss to the Giants. He also caught two of two targets for 26 receiving yards.

Even though Jameis Winston continues to serve as the primary quarterback, Hill is seeing increasingly more playing time as part of the Saints' red-zone package while now also getting reps as a receiver. After logging four scoreless carries over the first two weeks of the season, Hill has 12 carries for 60 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns over the past two games. However, despite the recent production, Hill is still far away from seeing enough touches to warrant fantasy consideration as a quarterback, and that probably won't change unless Winston implodes or gets sidelined.

Alie-Cox secured three of five targets for 42 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts' 27-17 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.

Alie-Cox became the surprise beneficiary of both of Carson Wentz's touchdown passes, recording three- and 11-yard scoring grabs in the second half to help seal the Colts' first win of the season. The fourth-year tight end has already matched a career high with the pair of scores, and perhaps his connection with Wentz will help lead to the athletic Alie-Cox surpassing the career-best 31-394 line he produced while working with Philip Rivers in 2020. Alie-Cox will look to build on the surprise fantasy-friendly effort in a Week 5 road battle against the Ravens on Monday night, Oct. 11.

Gesicki brought in five of six targets for 57 yards and a touchdown in the Dolphins' 27-17 loss to the Colts on Sunday.

The fourth-year tight end led the Dolphins in receptions while checking in second to DeVante Parker in receiving yards. Gesicki also recorded his first touchdown reception of the season on a one-yard catch in the fourth quarter, albeit too late to make any difference in the outcome for the Dolphins. Gesicki now has a 15-143-1 line through the last two games, and he'll look to continue cultivating his connection with Jacoby Brissett in what will likely be the quarterback's final start for the time being in place of Tua Tagovailoa (ribs) during a Week 6 road matchup versus the Buccaneers.

Pitts caught four of nine targets for 50 yards in Sunday's 34-30 loss to Washington.

The nine targets were a season high for the rookie tight end but Pitts didn't do a whole lot with them, as his longest grab went for only 15 yards. He does have multiple catches in all four games to begin his NFL career, but Pitts will head into a Week 5 clash with the Jets in London still searching for his first big performance.

Hockenson caught four of eight targets for 42 yards during Sunday's 24-14 loss to Chicago.

This probably wasn't the rebound fantasy managers wanted to see from Hockenson after he caught just two of two targets for 10 yards last week. However, outside of that Week 3 dud, Hockenson has averaged over nine targets per game, which would rank higher than any other tight end not named Travis Kelce or Darren Waller. As one of the busiest tight ends in the game, Hockenson will look to get back on track in Week 5 against a Vikings team that could pile up points on Detroit's underwhelming defense.

Kmet caught one pass for six yards in the Bears' 24-14 win over the Lions on Sunday.

With Chicago leading throughout, Justin Fields threw the ball just 17 times, and Kmet was second on the team with three targets, but he didn't turn his chances into useful production. He's now caught three passes for 17 yards over his last three games, and unless his role changes or the team's passing game improves, he won't be a recommended fantasy option.

Kelce caught four of six targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 42-30 win over the Eagles.

Kelce was uncharacteristically quiet in this one, as the Chiefs featured fellow elite playmaker Tyreek Hill (11 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns). The tight end's six targets still ranked second on the team behind Hill's 12 while nobody else had more than three. Kelce remains the cream of the crop at the tight end position and should bounce back in prime time against the Bills in Week 5.