NFL Player News

In two of the past three weeks, Eagles tight end Zach Ertz has produced TE1 numbers. He caught five passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns Week 13 vs. Arizona, and six catches for 57 yards and a score last week at Minnesota.

So why wouldn't you plug and play a tight end like that? For starters, Ertz continues to split snaps with Brent Celek. Week 15 was the first time Ertz got more time than Celek. Ertz's big games occurred with Nick Foles throwing an average of 41 times. Philly figures to attack Chicago on the ground, meaning fewer targets for Ertz.

Ertz is just as likely to put up a dud. He had zero catches Week 14 and Week 10. In four of his past seven games, Ertz caught two or fewer passes for no more than 31 yards. 

A 6-5, 250-pounder who's just 23, Ertz is an intriguing Dynasty prospect. Don't play him in Fantasy's championship week unless you're in a two-tight end league.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew hurt his ankle in the Monday night loss to Baltimore and will undergo tests Tuesday, reports the Detroit Free Press. He suffered the injury making an 18-yard catch in traffic, one of his two grabs.

A few Lions made small offensive contributions Week 15. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew caught both his targets for 23 yards, running back Theo Riddick had a 6-yard catch, and receiver Kris Durham caught a 5-yard pass. Durham was targeted four times, twice in the end zone.

They'll all face the Giants in Week 16. 

Lions tight end Joseph Fauria drew one target in the loss to the Ravens, but he made it count with a 14-yard touchdown. That gives Fauria seven touchdowns among his 12 catches this year.

Fauria went up over linebacker Daryl Smith to make the grab, which put Detroit on top with 2:21 remaining.

Fauria plays the Giants in Week 16.

Texans interim coach Wade Phillips said Monday tight end Garrett Graham, who sat out Week 15 with a hamstring injury, is still sore. Phillips added Graham is "iffy" to play Week 16 vs. Denver.

Rookie wideout Terrance Williams was the best of the pass-catchers making small contributions Sunday for the Cowboys. He had four catches for for 46 yards while Miles Austin continued his disappointing season with two receptions for 35 yards.

Cole Beasley added three snags for 19 yards while tight end Gavin Escobar caught one for 15 yards.

Packers tight end Andrew Quarless is growing into his job as the replacement for injured Jermichael Finley. He certainly showed his growth Sunday in Dallas.

Quarless played a huge role in the monumental comeback victory. He caught all six passes for a season-high 83 yards in the second half, including his second touchdown in two games, a 3-yarder midway through the third quarter that he helped set up with a 22-yard snag.

He now has 12 receptions for 149 yards in the last two games, which exceeds his total for the previous five games combined. Quarless will try to take his momentum and run with it when the Packers host Pittsburgh in Week 16.

Saints wide receiver Kenny Stills led a handful of minor contributors in a Sunday loss at St. Louis with four catches for 47 yards and a 3-yard run. Running back Mark Ingram added two receptions for 39 yards and one carry for 5 yards.

Tight end Ben Watson chipped in with two catches - matching far more prolific tight end Jimmy Graham in that department - for 12 yards.

The Rams tight end duo of Cory Harkey and Lance Kendricks caught only five passes against New Orleans on Sunday. Yet they sure made the most of them.

Harkey actually recorded career-highs with three catches and 29 yards while Kendricks added two receptions for 13 yards. But they both scored touchdowns in the upset of the Saints.

The former tallied on a 31-yard pass just four minutes into the game to give his team a lead it never relinquished. Kendricks followed suit with a 4-yard score less than nine minutes later.

The pair will try to maintain momentum when the Rams host Tampa Bay in Week 16.

Even Saints prolific tight end Jimmy Graham is entitled to an occasional stinker. And he certainly had one Sunday at St. Louis. But them, so did his team.

Those two facts were not mutually exclusive. The rare unproductive game from Graham proved costly in a 27-16 defeat. He didn't catch his first pass until three minutes remaining in the first half, then added only one more after intermission to finished with just two for 25 yards despite being targeted six times.

Graham will try to take out any frustrations he might have from Week 15 on Carolina next Sunday.