NFL Player News

The Cowboys pass defense has held up better than we expected so far this season, with one notable exception; they cannot seem to locate tight ends on the field. That could work out quite nicely for Garrett Graham in Week 5, as the Texans get set to take on Dallas.

Graham has just 95 yards through three games since returning from a back injury, so this could be his best chance to breakout. The Cowboys are allowing 17.5 Fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, by far the highest total in the league. They have allowed 98.8 yards per game and six total touchdowns, including at least one in each game.

Graham is, by no means, a slam-dunk starting option for Week 5. However, given the matchup, you could do worse. At this point, the Cowboys have to prove they can stop tight ends before we believe it. 

Giants tight end Larry Donnell is on pace to finish with 100 catches for 944 yards and 16 touchdowns. Even if he tails off considerably, he still has a chance to break several team records.

The Giants' record for catches by a tight end is 74, set by Jeremy Shockey in his 2002 rookie season. Donnell has 25 through four games.

The franchise record for touchdown receptions by a tight end is nine, shared by Joe Walton (1962) and Aaron Thomas (1967). Donnell has four.

Mark Bavaro owns the receiving yards record by a tight end with 1,001 in 1986. Donnell has 236.

Donnell caught three scoring passes in last week's win at Washington, becoming the fourth player in team history to score three touchdowns in a game after entering with no more than one career score.

With key players like Vernon Davis (back), Niles Paul (concussion), Jordan Reed (hamstring) and Tyler Eifert (elbow) dealing with injuries, finding help on the waiver wire might be the key to success at the tight end position. Here are some of Jamey Eisenberg's thoughts on the best pickups for this week.

Larry Donnell of the Giants and Travis Kelce are likely to be the most-added tight ends when waivers run Wednesday morning, and Jamey admits to being "torn" on which he prefers. Dwayne Allen of the Colts, Garrett Graham of the Texans and Reed round out the top-five, while Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, Clay Harbor and Jace Amaro are sleeper adds for deep leagues.

Charles Clay of the Dolphins and Ladarius Green of the Chargers are considered drop-worthy, if you need a roster spot. 

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who caught the attention of Fantasy owners with his big-play ability in the preseason and showed flashes of it through the first three weeks, finally turned in the performance everyone was hoping to see Week 4 against New England, emerging as quarterback Alex Smith's favorite target after playing just a peripheral role in the passing game earlier in the year.

Is it validation that Kelce is a starting-caliber tight end in Fantasy? I'd say so. He now has two games with 80-plus receiving yards and two touchdowns in a span of four weeks, making him the eighth-best tight end in standard CBSSports.com scoring. That says a lot right there.

But is he so good that you should feel comfortable shopping Jimmy Graham if you happen to own both? I'm not ready to make that leap. For one thing, the Chiefs passing game isn't the most stable in the league. A different player has led the team in targets each week. For another, Kelce doesn't see the field all that much -- at least not like we're used to seeing from the league's top tight ends. He played only 52 percent of the team's snaps Monday, down from 65 percent in Week 3. He played less than 40 percent of their snaps each of the first two weeks.

Because the Chiefs are lacking a standout wide receiver, I believe that number is more likely to rise than fall going forward. But until we see that it is rising consistently, Kelce remains a solid but not especially high-end starter at tight end.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce dominated the Patriots on Monday Night Football, catching eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown while running through several tackles. Kelce drew a team-high nine targets and set career highs in catches and receiving yards.

Kelce, whose long gainer went 33 yards, scored on a 2-yard reception in the fourth quarter. He's up to 18 catches, 259 yards and two touchdowns. Kelce visits the 49ers in Week 5.

Lions tight end Joseph Fauria was inactive Week 4 with an ankle injury. On Monday, Fauria disclosed how he suffered the injury, saying he was running to stop his 3-month-old dog from urinating inside when he missed two stairs and slipped on a hardwood floor.

Fauria is using crutches and remains in a walking boot.

If you want to add Larry Donnell to your Fantasy squad, this week is going to be your last chance to do it -- the breakout star for the Giants is going to be 100 percent owned in CBSSports.com by Wednesday morning.

Donnell's rise through the ownership ranks has been more of a slow burn thus far, after he racked up 182 yards and a touchdown through three games. However, he exploded last Thursday for three touchdowns, and has now reached must-own status heading into Week 5.

Whether he can keep this kind of play up remains to be seen, but Donnell has clearly emerged as one of Eli Manning's favorite targets. Through four games, he is second on the Giants in receiving yards, and has also been the second-most targeted player on the roster, with 31 of Eli Manning's 139 throws going his way.

Defenses are almost certainly going to key in on Donnell more often in the red zone now that they have seen what kind of weapon he can be. However, Eli has targeted him at least six times in all four games, so we don't expect him to disappear from the offense. Even against a Falcons defense in Week 5 that has yet to allow a tight end to find the end zone this season.  

Donnell isn't at the top of the must-add list ahead of Week 5, but he isn't far off either. 

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, who had only an 8-yard catch at halftime, came alive late in the Week 4 loss at Dallas. With the Cowboys playing a prevent defense, Graham hauled in seven second-half passes to finish with eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Graham's 13-yard score with 9:49 left in the game was his third touchdown this season. He drew a game-high 11 targets but also lost a fumble.

Graham plays the Buccaneers in Week 5.

Eagles tight end Zach Ertz turned in his second straight subpar performance in the Week 4 loss at San Francisco. Ertz caught four of six targets for 43 yards and lost a critical fumble.

Early in the third quarter, Nick Foles threw short to Ertz, who was hit by safety Antoine Bethea. The ball popped straight into the hands of cornerback Perrish Cox for a turnover.

Ertz, who began the year with two strong outings, plays the Rams in Week 5.

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen scored for the third time in four games during a 41-17 win Week 4 vs. Tennessee. Allen finished with three catches for 38 yards Sunday.

Allen gave Indianapolis a 14-0 lead when he hauled in a 7-yard touchdown with 52 seconds left in the first quarter. He has tied a career high with three receiving touchdowns. 

The Colts are back in action Week 5 vs. Baltimore.