NFL Player News
-
Robert Tonyan TE | PIT
Packers' Robert Tonyan: Another quiet appearance
Tonyan was targeted twice and caught one pass for 10 yards in Sunday's 28-19 victory over the Bears.
Tonyan played at least 51 percent of the snaps for a fourth straight week, but as was the case in the previous three games he made only a minor mark in the box score. His recent output certainly does not inspire any confidence, but he at least will have an appealing matchup for the first time in a while when Green Bay returns from its Week 14 bye, as he and the Packers will face a Rams defense that has had trouble with opposing tight ends in recent weeks.
-
Durham Smythe TE | BAL
Dolphins' Durham Smythe: Makes two grabs in loss
Smythe secured both of his targets for 21 yards during Sunday's 33-17 loss to the 49ers.
Smythe once again outperformed Mike Gesicki, who failed to catch his only target Week 14, but neither tight end has been a consistent fantasy option for fantasy managers this season. Given that Smythe is a near lock for at least 50 percent of offensive snaps, he warrants fantasy consideration in formats that start multiple tight ends heading into a Week 14 matchup against the Chargers.
-
Mike Gesicki TE | CIN
Dolphins' Mike Gesicki: Can't secure lone target
Gesicki failed to haul in his only target during Sunday's 33-17 loss to the 49ers.
Gesicki very nearly converted his only target into a critical fourth-down conversion with roughly six minutes left on the clock in the fourth quarter, but it was overturned after a coach's challenge determined he didn't maintain control of the ball. The athletic tight end has logged back-to-back one-target games since Miami's bye, and he's gone above 50 receiving yards only once this season. Fantasy managers will hope from more out of Gesicki versus the Chargers in Week 14, but he has a dangerously low floor.
-
Tyler Higbee TE | LAR
Rams' Tyler Higbee: Fails to bounce back
Higbee secured two of five targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 27-23 loss to the Seahawks.
Aside from two short gains during the Rams' final scoring drive, Higbee's biggest contribution was securing a John Wolford fumble, which allowed Matt Gay to boot a 54-yard field goal to make it a one-point game at the half. The Seahawks presented Higbee with a chance to return to prominence after the veteran tight end put up a zero on the stat sheet in Week 12 against Kansas City, but instead, the Rams struggled to get anything going in the air at all. It'll be hard for fantasy managers to rely on Higbee, even at such a thin fantasy position, with a Week 14 matchup against the Raiders ahead Thursday.
-
Tyler Conklin TE | DET
Jets' Tyler Conklin: Quiet against former team
Conklin caught two of seven targets for nine yards in Sunday's 27-22 loss to the Vikings.
Facing the team with which he spent his first four seasons, Conklin failed to make much of his opportunities. He has been targeted at least seven times on five separate occasions this season, but only two of those busy games have come from Week 4 onward. In Week 14, Conklin will face a Bills team that held him to seven yards in their first meeting of the year.
-
MyCole Pruitt TE | PIT
Falcons' MyCole Pruitt: Back-to-back games with a TD
Pruitt caught his lone target for seven yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 19-16 loss versus the Steelers.
Pruitt's only target went for a seven-yard score in the third quarter, which gave him a touchdown in back-to-back games and cut Atlanta's deficit to 19-13. With Kyle Pitts (knee) out, the veteran tight end operated behind Parker Hesse but ahead of Anthony Firkser for a second straight game. Despite playing fewer snaps, Firkser and Pruitt continue to be slightly more involved in the passing game than Hesse, but all three will remain risky fantasy plays due to Arthur Smith's run-first mindset.
-
Parker Hesse TE | DET
Falcons' Parker Hesse: One reception in loss
Hesse secured his only target for 16 yards during Sunday's 19-16 loss versus the Steelers.
With Kyle Pitts (knee) out, Hesse (34) operated as the No. 1 tight end again, but MyCole Pruitt (27) and Anthony Firkser (14) also garnered solid roles. All three tight ends caught a pass for a second straight week, but Pruitt secured Marcus Mariota's lone touchdown, while Firkser caught two passes and finished second on the team in receiving yards (24). The trio figures to garner similar roles during the remainder of the regular season, but Atlanta's passing attack remains limited due to Arthur Smith's run-first mindset.
-
Anthony Firkser TE | DET
Falcons' Anthony Firkser: Two catches in loss
Firkser hauled in both of his targets for 24 yards during Sunday's 19-16 defeat against the Steelers.
Firkser played just 17 offensive snaps, which was significantly fewer than Parker Hesse (34) and MyCole Pruitt (27), but the former finished second on the team in receiving yards behind Drake London. As expected, with Kyle Pitts (knee) sidelined, Hesse continues to operate as the No. 1 tight end but is mostly relegated to blocking duties, while Pruitt and Firkser have seen more work in the passing game. However, all of Atlanta's pass-catching options remain risky plays as long as Marcus Mariota is the primary signal-caller.
-
Teagan Quitoriano TE | ARI
Texans' Teagan Quitoriano: TE snap leader in loss
Quitoriano failed to catch any of three targets in Sunday's 27-14 loss to Cleveland.
Quitoriano remained the leader in snaps from the tight end position, receiving 40 plays with Jordan Akins (34) and Brevin Jordan (24) following. O.J. Howard was inactive for the first time this season. Quitoriano is seen as the Texans' best blocker at the position, which is useful for a team that's had issues at quarterback and relies on rookie running back Dameon Pierce for much of its offense.