NFL Player News

Hockenson caught his only target for 16 yards during Sunday's 29-13 victory versus Chicago.

Hockenson played just 33 snaps on offense, as he and fellow starters were rested in the second half. He'll have a much larger role in this week's home playoff matchup against the Giants.

Heyward secured three of four targets for 45 yards while rushing once for six yards during the Steelers' 28-14 win over the Browns on Sunday.

Heyward was held without any receptions in five of the seven games prior to Sunday's Week 18 matchup, but he logged a season-high three catches against Cleveland. The rookie sixth-rounder didn't have consistent enough volume to become a fantasy asset in 2022, as he secured 12 of 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown while rushing twice for 27 yards across 17 games. However, fellow tight end Zach Gentry is slated to become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, so Heyward could take over as the primary backup behind Pat Freiermuth in 2023.

Schultz caught four of nine targets for 33 yards in Sunday's loss to the Commanders.

It was a brutal day for the entire Cowboys offense, but Schultz still was able to scratch out some PPR value and catch multiple passes for the 11th straight game. Heading into a wild-card round clash with the Buccaneers, the tight end will look to match or exceed his production from the teams' Week 1 meeting, when Schultz turned nine targets into seven catches for 62 yards.

Fant caught all four of his targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 19-16 overtime win versus the Rams.

Fant operated as the No. 2 tight end behind Colby Parkinson for a second straight week. He still managed to play 45 offensive snaps (64 percent) and ranked third on the team in targets, but Fant didn't gain more than eight yards on any of his catches. He has the ability to stretch the field with his speed. However, Fant's current usage is concerning for fantasy purposes as the Seahawks head to the playoffs.

Parkinson caught two of three targets for 47 yards in Sunday's 19-16 overtime win over the Rams.

Parkinson's Week 17 usage wasn't a fluke. He operated as the top tight end ahead of Noah Fant for a second straight game Sunday, as Parkinson handled 55 snaps (79 percent) while Fant clocked in at 45 snaps (64 percent). The usage is certainly intriguing, so Parkinson has a chance to be the No. 3 pass catcher behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in Seattle in any given week.

Freiermuth suffered a knee sprain during Sunday's 28-14 win over the Browns, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports.

Freiermuth was forced out of Sunday's season finale with a left knee sprain before recording a catch, but he's at least avoided a worst-case scenario injury. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the tight end has an ACL and MCL sprain, but won't need surgery. What remains to be seen is when Freiermuth will be ready for offseason activities. He racked up 63 catches for 732 and two touchdowns on 98 targets in his second NFL season.

Johnson hauled in his only target for 21 yards during Sunday's 10-7 loss to Carolina.

Johnson logged less than two targets for just the second time in 16 games. The 6-foot-4 tight end saw a massive increase in usage during the 2022 campaign, allowing him to finish with his best season as a pro. The 26-year-old recorded 42 receptions on 65 targets for 508 yards and a team-high seven receiving touchdowns. Johnson first emerged as a big-bodied red-zone target in 2021, but he became one of the Saints' top receivers this year due to the team's rash of injuries at wideout. He accumulated the team's second-most targets and receiving yards behind rookie wide receiver Chris Olave, as well as the third-most receptions behind Olave and Alvin Kamara. Johnson will now enter the 2023 offseason as a restricted free agent, and he'll likely be back to head the depth chart next year.

Trautman caught his only target for 18 yards during Sunday's 10-7 defeat against Carolina.

This final stat line is an accurate representation of the 25-year-old's limited role this season. On 503 offensive snaps over 15 games, Trautman posted 18 catches on 22 targets for 207 yards and a touchdown. This was a marked step down from his role during the 2021 season, when he recorded 43 targets on 615 offensive plays in 13 games. The 2020 third-round pick also never saw more than three targets in any game during the 2022 campaign, as he was consistently overshadowed by Juwan Johnson. Trautman's lack of production, despite the Saints' injury woes at wide receiver, does not bode well for his fantasy relevance heading into the 2023 season.

Quitoriano caught three of four targets for 83 yards in Sunday's 32-31 win over the Colts in Week 18.

Quitoriano used the last game of his rookie season to flash some of his athletic potential. Used primarily as a blocking tight end since being activated off injured reserve Week 9, the 2022 fifth-round pick broke out with two catches of more than 20 yards (22 and 52). The Texans have soured on Brevin Jordan, and the tight end position is wide open next season. However, Houston fired head coach Lovie Smith, so there will be a new coaching regime in place and anything is possible in 2023.

Vannett made two catches on four targets for 18 yards in Sunday's loss to the Eagles.

Vannett came into the contest with only two catches over his past five games, and he equaled that total with a pair of receptions in a meaningless contest for the Giants. Usual starting tight end Daniel Bellinger was held out in anticipation of the postseason while Lawrence Cager, who hadn't played since Week 15, was the team's leading receiver with eight catches for 69 yards. Bellinger has been playing almost every offensive snap when healthy, so Vannett will likely return to a minor role against the Vikings in next weekend's wild-card contest.