NFL Player News

Smith caught both his targets for 26 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 22-20 preseason loss to New England, while fellow Giants tight end Evan Engram left early with a calf injury.

With Kyle Rudolph (foot) and now Engram looking uncertain for Week 1 against Denver, it's possible Smith jumps from third on the depth chart to a three-down role, at least temporarily. He technically made 12 starts last season, but Smith saw just 21 targets on 453 snaps while working behind Engram, down from 42 targets on 433 snaps in 2019 when he spent the second half of his rookie season filling in for an injured Engram. Smith even put up serviceable fantasy numbers over his six starts in 2019, averaging 5.0 catches for 44.5 yards and 0.5 TDs on 6.8 targets. He's unlikely to match that if he handles the No. 1 role for a period again, but he'd at least be worth monitoring as a potential TE streamer.

Hurst started and played four snaps in Sunday's preseason game against Atlanta.

The Falcons played most of their starts, but not QB Matt Ryan or WR Calvin Ridley. They opened with Hurst and Kyle Pitts in a two-TE formation, which could be the base look this season after Atlanta's WR group took a big hit with the Julio Jones trade. New head coach Arthur Smith was a big proponent of multi-TE formations during his time in Tennessee, and that should continue in Atlanta, though the offense will look much different out of necessity without Derrick Henry and a top O-line. While unlikely to match last year's workload, Hurst should see a few targets in Atlanta's Sept. 12 opener against the Eagles.

Parham (tailbone) returned for Saturday's preseason game against Seattle, catching his lone target for five yards.

Parham missed the previous game with a tailbone injury, slowing down his momentum after reports from training camp named him as one of the early standouts. He should have a depth role this season, but fantasy utility will be a long shot unless veteran tight end Jared Cook misses time.

Manhertz caught his only target for 15 yards during Sunday's preseason win over the Cowboys.

Manhertz played only eight offensive snaps and connected with Trevor Lawrence for a 15-yard gain in the first quarter. The 29-year-old played sparingly throughout the preseason and caught his only other target for five yards. Manhertz inked a two-year, $7.25 million deal with Jacksonville in March and should have a regular role in the offense, but with 12 receptions in 70 career games his outlook entering Week 1 at Houston remains that of a blocking-oriented tight end. James O'Shaughnessy may be more involved in the passing game at the position for the Jaguars.

Angeline was waived by the Eagles on Sunday, Geoff Mosher of 97.5 The Fanatic Philadelphia reports.

Angeline signed with the Eagles a week ago, but he played just two snaps during Friday's preseason game against the Jets. The 23-year-old initially landed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in May but has now been waived by two teams ahead of the regular season.

Pitts caught his lone target for 27 yards in Sunday's 19-10 preseason loss to the Browns.

Pitts was one of the few key position players the Falcons opted to finally play in the team's final preseason tilt. The fourth overall pick from this year's draft put his tremendous athleticism on display when he took a short pass and barreled down the field through a couple defenders for 27 yards. Pitts is a rare and exciting talent who could be primed for a huge rookie campaign on a team that just lost one of its top playmakers in Julio Jones this past offseason. The rookie will make his official debut in a Week 1 tilt against the Eagles.

Brown did not catch any of his three targets in Saturday's 23-16 loss to the Buccaneers in preseason Week 3.

Brown ends the preseason without a catch, but that will not matter when it comes time to finalize the 53-man roster. He's the best blocker in the tight end room, and Brown could be a weekly starter for a team looking to establish a run identity.

Akins caught one of two targets for nine yards in Saturday's 23-16 loss to Tampa Bay in preseason Week 3.

Akins, who had just one catch during preseason action, should be considered the Texans' top pass-catching tight end, ahead of 2021 fifth-round draft pick Brevin Jordan. The question remains, however, are pass-catching tight ends valuable for an offense that will attempt to run the ball more than it did in 2020. Given that Houston is not expected to be competitive this season, thereby playing from behind, Akins should generate fantasy interest.

Jordan caught one of three targets for 11 yards in Saturday's 23-16 preseason loss to the Buccaneers in preseason Week 3.

Jordan, a 2021 fifth-round draft pick, caught three of eight targets during the preseason, making one catch in all three games. He and Jordan Akins are considered the pass-catching tight ends with YAC potential and subpar blocking. The Texans are expected to be a run-first team, but they may not be competitive enough to ground-and-pound four quarters a game. That would lead to more pass attempts and targets for guys like Jordan and Akins.

Kittle caught his only target for 14 yards in Sunday's 34-10 preseason win over the Raiders.

Kittle made his exhibition debut and secured a first down on San Francisco's second play of the day, looking every bit ready for the regular season. The tight end now will turn his attention toward Week 1's matchup against the Lions and aim to reclaim his All-Pro status with a healthy 2021 campaign.