NFL Player News

Smith caught all three targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 20-19 win over Washington.

Smith's numbers don't jump off the page, but the second-year tight end continues to enjoy consistent playing time, as he logged 23 of 48 offensive snaps (48 percent) and tied Evan Engram in targets Week 6. The Stanford product posted a 30-267-3 line with Engram out over the final six games in 2019, but as long as Engram's manning the top spot on the depth chart, Smith's fantasy value will remain negligible.

Ertz suffered a high left ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Ravens and is expected miss 3-to-4 weeks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Ertz left Sunday's game multiple times and was ultimately ruled out in the fourth quarter. The veteran tight end underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed he'll need extended rest before returning to the lineup. The Eagles play the Giants on Thursday and the Cowboys in Week 8 before a Week 9 bye, so there's a good chance that Ertz lands on short-term injured reserve, which would keep him out for a minimum of three weeks. Dallas Goedert (ankle) may return from IR soon, but until then Richard Rodgers will operate as the top tight end. DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Alshon Jeffery (foot) and Jalen Reagor (thumb) could all return to the lineup this Thursday as well and help manage the targets Ertz leaves behind.

Tonyan was targeted four times and caught three passes for 25 yards in Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Buccaneers.

Tonyan briefly left Sunday's game in the second quarter after tweaking his right leg, but he returned to the contest and caught a couple passes afterward, so the injury should not threaten his availability moving forward. It may have slowed him down some, but not as much as a Buccaneers defense that put the clamps on the Packers offense for much of Sunday's contest. While Tonyan had his least-productive game of the season, he still wound up playing 16 more snaps than any of the Packers' other tight ends, and he remains the clear starter heading into the team's Week 7 matchup with the Texans.

Smith is nursing a "minor" ankle sprain sustained during Sunday's 42-36 win over the Texans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Smith was forced out of action in the third quarter Sunday, before which he'd been limited to one 13-yard catch. Though Schefter notes that the starting tight end is expected to be listed as questionable for the Titans' Week 7 game against the Steelers, the team no doubt will wait until Smith has been thoroughly evaluated at practice before officially dealing him an injury tag. Anthony Firkser managed eight catches for 113 yards and a score against the Texans, so his competence could allow Tennessee to feel secure allowing Smith the luxury of time to rest should he need it.

Swaim recorded two receptions on three targets for 10 yards in Week 6 against the Texans.

Swaim saw an increased role with the early exit of Jonnu Smith (ankle). He was on the field for 49 offensive snaps, good for a 65 percent rate of the team's offensive plays. With MyCole Pruitt (COVID-19) currently unable to suit up, Swaim could be the Titans second tight end if Smith's ankle prevents him from returning to action for a Week 7 matchup against the Steelers.

Smythe secured one of two targets for a four-yard touchdown during Sunday's 24-0 win over the Jets.

Smythe and fellow backup tight end Adam Shaheen (3-51-1) both got involved enough on offense to score Sunday, while Mike Gesicki was held without a catch on two targets. It's encouraging to see Smythe log a productive day after having missed Week 5 due to a knee injury, but he usually takes too large a percentage of his snaps as a blocker to warrant real fantasy consideration.

Gesicki failed to secure either of his two targets during Sunday's 24-0 win over the Jets.

Gesicki's total lack of involvement came, to the befuddlement of fantasy managers, on a day where fellow tight ends Adam Shaheen (3-51-1) and Durham Smythe (1-2-1) both got into the end zone. The third-year pro now has four games this season with 30 or less receiving yards compared to just two breakout performances (130 yards and a score Week 2 and 91 yards Week 5). Gesicki is quietly shaping up to be a boom-or-bust fantasy option, though it's also worth noting that the Dolphins never had to play catch-up during Sunday's blowout divisional win.

Thomas caught his only target for nine yards in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Bears.

Thomas played nearly 70 percent of Carolina's offensive snaps but yet again made minimal impact from a receiving standpoint. Through six games, the tight end sports just six grabs for 39 yards and a touchdown, leaving him on the outskirts of fantasy relevancy.

Brown caught two of two targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 42-36 overtime loss to the Titans.

Brown stepped in for the injured Jordan Akins (concussion, ankle) for the second straight week and played 30 snaps (42 percent), similar to last week's usage. One of his catches came in the red zone, his first such target of the season. Akins was a limited participant in practice last week before being declared inactive for Sunday, so he may be nearing a return, which would relegate Brown to third on the depth chart.

Bryant caught one of two targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 38-7 loss to the Steelers.

The rookie remains part of the Browns' three-man rotation at tight end, but Week 6 was the first time he had a lower share of snaps (37 percent) than David Njoku (40 percent). The consensus entering the season was that Njoku would sit second behind starter Austin Hooper, but a knee injury limited him over the first five weeks and raised Bryant's profile. Since Njoku's return, however, Bryant has just three targets over the last two weeks.