NFL Player News

Firkser may be among the players asked to have a larger role in the absence of Kyle Pitts (knee), Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Firkser appeared in the team's first five games, totaling three receptions on four targets for 39 yards. However, he hasn't seen the field since, logging healthy scratches each week. With Pitts on IR, Atlanta will likely take a committee approach to replacing the talented pass catcher, which may include Firkser getting back in the mix. The fifth-year tight end recorded over 200 receiving yards in each of his first four NFL campaigns with Tennessee and finished with 73 receptions on 96 targets for 678 yards and three scores across the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. If he's able to garner a similar role with Pitts sidelined, he could emerge as a viable streaming option in deeper leagues. However, he's still currently behind Parker Hesse and MyCole Pruitt on the depth chart.

Pruitt will be among the group of players who are asked to step up in the absence of Kyle Pitts (knee), Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Pruitt saw an increased role after Pitts went down in Week 11 and finished with a season-high 30 offensive snaps, securing his lone target for 17 yards. With Pitts on IR, Atlanta will likely use a committee approach to replace the talented pass catcher. Parker Hesse, who's expected to operate as the No. 1 tight end in Pitts' absence, is mostly known as a blocker, so Pruitt, who's caught eight touchdowns over the past five seasons, could step up as the primary pass-catching tight end. However, neither player projects to have as large of an impact in the passing game as Pitts did.

Hesse will be among the group of players who are asked to step up in the absence of Kyle Pitts (knee), Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Hesse has played over 60 percent of the team's offensive snaps eight times this season, second only to Pitts amongst Atlanta's tight ends. However, the former has caught just five of six targets for 50 yards across 11 appearances. Hesse figures to operate as the Falcons' No. 1 tight end in Pitts' absence, but he's unlikely to see a major change in his statistical output, as he mostly operates as a blocker when on the field.

Vannett signed with the Giants' practice squad Tuesday, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

Vannett was waived by the Saints on Saturday and will now get a chance to make an impact in New York. The veteran tight end spent most the season as a healthy scratch and failed to carve out a consistent role in New Orleans. He did however find his way onto the active roster for four games, making two catches for 13 yards on two targets.

Calcaterra saw the field for just 19 offensive snaps and was not targeted a single time in Sunday's win over Indianapolis.

Calcaterra could have been in line for an increased role in the absence of Dallas Goedert (shoulder), as No. 2 tight end Jack Stoll primarily fills a blocking role. While Calcaterra did indeed set a season high in offensive snaps, he remained in nowhere near a fantasy-relevant role.

McBride tallied four catches (on four targets) for 14 yards during Monday's 38-10 defeat to the 49ers.

In the Cardinals' first game without Zach Ertz due to a likely season-ending knee injury, McBride was the biggest beneficiary among the team's tight ends, earning a 76 percent snap share to Maxx Williams' 18 percent and Stephen Anderson's 10 percent. McBride also doubled up that duo in yards and targets, however minimal those totals were. Moving forward, the rookie second-round pick is set to serve as Arizona's primary tight end, and his production could become more consistent once Kyler Murray (hamstring) and not Colt McCoy or Trace McSorley is leading the offense.

Stoll was the Eagles' primary tight end Sunday against the Colts in the absence of Dallas Goedert (shoulder), but he caught just one pass for seven yards.

Stoll was unquestionably the tight end the Eagles turned to in Goedert's absence, seeing the field for 55 offensive snaps compared to a combined 28 for Grant Calcaterra and Tyree Jackson. Despite the playing time, Stoll doesn't have anything close to Goedert's skillset as an offensive weapon, and nothing in his usage in the Week 11 win suggests that he'll be a particularly interesting fantasy fill-in until Goedert returns.

Coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday that Bellinger (eye) won't play in Thursday's contest at Dallas, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

Bellinger thus will miss a fourth game in a row due to a fractured left eye socket. Until he mixes into a practice, he isn't a candidate to return to action, but he at least resumed catching passes last Wednesday. In Bellinger's place, the Giants will continue to roll with Lawrence Cager at tight end, with Tanner Hudson and Chris Myarick in reserve.

Saubert secured both of his targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 22-16 overtime loss to the Raiders.

Saubert continued to operate as the Broncos' No. 2 tight end Sunday behind rookie Greg Dulcich. With 27 offensive snaps, the veteran saw roughly half the playing time of Dulcich, who played 53 snaps in the contest. Saubert's limited opportunities in a struggling passing attack make him irrelevant for fantasy purposes. Barring an injury to Dulcich, the 28-year-old should be left off fantasy rosters heading into a Week 12 matchup with the Panthers.

Thomas caught three of four targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 13-3 loss to the Ravens.

Thomas' three catches marked a season high while his yardage total was his highest since Week 1. Despite still carrying low value ahead of this Sunday's matchup versus the Broncos, Thomas at least put together a decent performance by his standards in Week 11.