NFL Player News

Washington secured his lone target for five yards during Sunday's 18-10 win over the Falcons.

Although Washington was on the field for 54 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps Sunday, he didn't see much work in the passing game. Despite appearing in all 17 games during his rookie season in 2023, he didn't have more than one reception in any outing and could struggle to see many targets once again this year, especially if starting tight end Pat Freiermuth stays healthy.

Freiermuth secured all four of his targets for 27 yards during Sunday's 18-10 win over Atlanta.

Shortly after signing his four-year contract extension with the Steelers on Friday, Freiermuth was featured fairly prominently in the Steelers' Week 1 win, finishing second on the team in receptions and receiving yards. The 25-year-old was an inconsistent contributor during the 2023 campaign, posting single-digit yards in three of his first four appearances of the season. However, he could see more targets in 2024 now that Diontae Johnson, Allen Robinson and Miles Boykin are no longer with the team, and tight-end friendly coordinator Arthur Smith is calling plays.

Schultz caught all three of his targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 29-27 win over the Colts in Week 1.

As expected, Schultz was the snap and target leader at tight end, ahead of Brevin Jordan. Even so, Schultz may be hard pressed to repeat the 88 targets he had in 2023. The target distribution Sunday heavily skewed toward Houston's wideouts, who were targeted 22 times compared to five for the tight ends.

Akins caught three of four targets for 27 yards and saw 43 snaps, the most among Cleveland tight ends, in Sunday's 33-17 loss to Dallas.

The Browns had just two tight ends on the game-day roster and were down to one when starter David Njoku (ankle) was taken off the field in the third quarter. He'll undergo tests Monday to determine the severity of his injury, but Akins figures to step into a significant role if Njoku misses any further time. The Browns currently have two other tight ends on the practice squad, but neither Cameron Latu nor Blake Whiteheart have significant NFL experience.

Johnson gathered two of three targets for 26 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 47-10 victory versus the Panthers.

Johnson had one of the standout plays of the game when he made a toe-tapping 16-yard touchdown catch in the right corner of the end zone. The 6-foot-4 pass catcher actually wound up with fewer targets and receptions than fellow tight end Foster Moreau, who caught all four of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown before exiting with a head injury. Johnson totaled 34 more targets despite playing two fewer games than Moreau last season, and the former was assumed to be the TE1 heading into the season opener. Meanwhile, versatile tight end/quarterback Taysom Hill worked more as a rushing threat out of the backfield Sunday, logging five carries and two targets. Moreau's status is also now up in the air for next Sunday's road game versus Dallas. When he is healthy again, it will be worth monitoring how Moreau, Johnson and Hill are deployed under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak moving forward.

Parkinson finished with four receptions on five targets for 47 yards in Sunday's narrow defeat to the Lions.

Parkinson signed with the Rams this past offseason to become the team's starting tight end after spending the first four years of his career with the Seahawks. The 25-year-old ceded just one target to backup Davis Allen while former starter Tyler Higbee (knee) remains on the active/PUP list with no current timetable for a potential return. Parkinson's current situation as the offensive-minded Rams' only experienced tight end puts him in a positive fantasy position for next Sunday's tilt against Arizona and potentially the first half of the regular season.

LaPorta caught four of five targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 26-20 overtime win over the Rams.

LaPorta was quiet for the majority of Week 1, though he logged an 18-yard reception on Detroit's final possession of regulation, which ended with a game-tying field goal from Jake Bates. Quarterback Jared Goff didn't have the most effective night, limiting the tight end's overall upside against Los Angeles. LaPorta will look to get more involved in Week 2 when the Lions host the Buccaneers, a team against whom the tight end caught nine of 11 targets for 65 yards in the divisional round of the postseason in 2023.

Bowers recorded six receptions on eight targets for 58 yards in Sunday's 22-10 loss to the Chargers.

Despite recently overcoming a foot injury, Bowers led the Raiders in both targets and receptions in his pro debut. His longest catch of the day came in the middle of the second quarter as he worked over the middle of the field on a play-action pass. He was otherwise targeted primarily underneath by Gardner Minshew, but it's clear that Bowers will play a key role in the Raiders' offense in his rookie campaign.

Everett lost one yard on one reception in the Bears' 24-17 win over the Titans on Sunday.

Everett matched fellow tight end Cole Kmet with a single target while Caleb Williams attempted 29 passes. Until the tight end sees a consistent increase in opportunity, his fantasy value may be minimal.

Kmet caught his only target for four yards in the Bears' 24-17 win over the Titans on Sunday.

Caleb Williams threw 25 of 29 passes to his top-four wide receivers, so there were very few targets left for other Chicago players. Also, with Kmet sharing the field with fellow tight end Gerald Everett, who also had one target, it seems unlikely that Kmet will match the 84 targets he's averaged over the last three seasons.