NFL Player News

Dwelley finished with 19 receptions for 245 yards and a touchdown with the 49ers in 2020.

The 25-year-old began the year third on the depth chart behind star tight end George Kittle and newly acquired veteran Jordan Reed. Dwelley still saw an increase in both playing time (500 offensive snaps) and production after the rest of the tight end room dealt with injuries at various points during the season. Kittle is here to stay and Reed will be an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason, so the 49ers' decision regarding the latter will impact whether or not Dwelley will be extended past his expiring rookie contract for the 2021 season.

Trautman hauled in 17 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown as a rookie in 2020 over 15 regular-season games.

With Jared Cook operating as New Orleans' primary tight end for most of the season, Trautman was minimally involved in the receiving game as a rookie. His single-game high for receptions was just three (twice) and his high for yardage was 45, though his outlook for 2021 is a bit more encouraging. The veteran Cook is set to be a free agent, and after spending a third-round pick on Trautman in 2020, the team may be confident enough in him to let Cook walk. If Trautman is New Orleans' primary pass-catching tight end next season, he could be a productive fantasy player, though who's under center will certainly factor into his production.

Johnson caught four passes for 39 yards in his first NFL season.

The rookie out of Oregon barely saw the field in his inaugural campaign, and it will be difficult to project him for much more usage in his second season. Johnson produced his minimal numbers despite multiple injuries in the Saints' receiving corps throughout the season. If Michael Thomas, Deonte Harris, Tre'Quan Smith and Emmanuel Sanders can remain healthy in 2021, targets will become even more limited.

Hill, who missed the team's final game due to a knee injury, finished the 2020 regular season with 928 passing yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions as a passer while contributing 457 rushing yards and eight additional rushing scores.

Hill got his first taste of action as a starter this season, filling in for Drew Brees in four games, throwing for 834 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also chipped in four rushing touchdowns in that span and finished the season with career highs in carries (87), rushing yards (457) and rushing touchdowns (8). The possibility of Drew Brees' retirement is very real, and if the future Hall of Fame quarterback does call it quits, Hill -- assuming his knee isn't a long-term concern -- will likely compete for the Saints' starting job in 2021. Jameis Winston is set to become a free agent, but if he sticks around, he'll surely be in the mix for the starting job, too.

Mundt caught all four of his targets for 53 yards during the 2020 regular season. He played just 121 offensive snaps.

The fourth-year tight end has been deployed primarily in a blocking role throughout his tenure with the Rams, and that's unlikely to change if he returns to the organization next season. Mundt is a restricted free agent this offseason.

Hopkins suited up for five games but played just two offensive snaps during the 2020 regular season.

The fourth-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft owns the athleticism to take a step forward next season, and he could have more of an opportunity with fellow tight ends Gerald Everett and Johnny Mundt both set for free agency. Still, it's rare for a second-year tight end to leap right into fantasy relevance, and Tyler Higbee is still the No. 1 option at the position. It's likely best to take a wait-and-see approach with Hopkins until the dust settles following the draft and free agency.

Moreau should take on a larger role in 2021, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

With Jason Witten retiring, Moreau should return to the No. 2 TE role, a spot he held throughout most of his 2019 rookie season. He logged 371 offensive snaps and 21 catches in 13 games as a rookie, before dropping to 256 snaps and seven receptions in 2020. The 2019 fourth-round pick won't see many targets if Darren Waller stays healthy next year, but Moreau does appear capable of handling a larger role if the opportunity arises, as his 34 targets in the NFL have yielded 314 yards and seven TDs.

Higbee finished the 2020 regular season with 44 receptions for 521 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. He also added three catches for nine yards through Los Angeles' two playoff contests.

The fifth-year tight end was a popular 2020 breakout target after piling up 43 receptions, 522 yards and two touchdowns over the final five games of the 2019 campaign. Unfortunately, the production didn't carry over. To start, the Rams turned to the rushing attack more frequently. After having the eighth highest passing-play percentage (62.0) during the 2019 campaign, Los Angeles dipped to a 26th-ranked 55.8 mark this season. Additionally, fellow tight end Gerald Everett finished with career-high totals in receptions, receiving yards and offensive snaps to cut into Higbee's production. While Everett hits free agency during the offseason, the Rams also selected tight end Brycen Hopkins in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he's athletically gifted and a potential Everett replacement. Los Angeles could also add to the position in the draft or free agency.

Knox hauled in six of eight targets for 42 yards and a touchdown Sunday in the Bills' 38-24 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Though the Bills ultimately weren't able to keep pace with the high-octane Kansas City offense, Knox did his part to stake Buffalo to an early 9-0 lead. His three-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his second score of the postseason, continuing his late-season trend of being a key weapon for quarterback Josh Allen in the red zone. Knox failed to find paydirt through the team's first 10 games of the season -- he missed four contests in that span due to various issues -- before he scored five times in the Bills' final nine games (including playoffs), drawing 12 red-zone looks during that stretch. The Bills are unlikely to add much competition at the position through the draft, free agency or trade market this offseason, so Knox should retain his spot atop the depth chart entering the 2021 campaign.

Kelce secured 13 of his 15 targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's 38-24 win against the Bills in the AFC Championship Game.

Kelce evidently has Buffalo's number, as he does most every team in the NFL, with his only other multi-TD performance of the season coming Week 6 against the Bills. It was a seemingly favorable matchup, with Buffalo surrendering an NFL-worst 92 receptions to opposing tight ends during the regular season. Kelce predictably cashed in. The three-time All-Pro enjoyed a ludicrous start to the playoff rematch, setting a Chiefs franchise postseason record with nine first-half receptions Sunday. Heading into a Super Bowl matchup against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Feb. 7, Kelce carries a streak of six consecutive outings with 10-plus targets and at least one TD catch.