NFL Player News
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Devin Culp TE | TB
Buccaneers' Devin Culp: Won't suit up vs. Houston
Culp (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday night's game against the Texans, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The 2024 seventh-rounder managed to make the Bucs' 53-man roster at the end of training camp but has been a healthy scratch for the first two games of the regular season. It appears Culp is unlikely to be active for gameday unless Cade Otton, Payne Durham or Ko Kieft were to miss time due to injury or illness.
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Brock Wright TE | DET
Lions' Brock Wright: Finds paydirt in Week 2
Wright caught all three of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 52-21 win over Chicago.
Wright reeled in an eight-yard touchdown from Jared Goff in the second quarter, reaching the end zone for the first time since Week 11 of the 2024 campaign. The tight end typically operates as a clear No. 2 option behind Sam LaPorta, and the three receptions were his highest total since playing the Cardinals in Week 3 of last season, a game in which LaPorta was limited by an undisclosed injury. Wright will remain an unappealing option for fantasy managers as long as LaPorta is active for the Lions.
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Daniel Bellinger TE | NYG
Giants' Daniel Bellinger: Gets zero targets Week 2
Bellinger did not receive any passing targets Sunday in an overtime defeat against Dallas.
Bellinger now has just one target over the first two weeks of the season. He actually played more snaps on special teams (20) than on offense (19) against the Cowboys, while starting tight end Theo Johnson logged a healthy 84 percent offensive snap share and gathered four receptions on five targets for 34 yards. Johnson has solidified his role as the Giants' top TE early in the campaign, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect Bellinger to have much value barring an injury that propels him up the pecking order.
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Theo Johnson TE | NYG
Giants' Theo Johnson: Picks up production Week 2
Johnson caught four of five targets for 34 yards in Sunday's overtime loss to the Cowboys.
After catching just one pass for five yards against Washington in Week 1, Johnson was much more productive Sunday. He actually looked to be in line for a bigger final line after a quick start, as he caught two passes for 20 yards on the team's opening drive. Regardless, this was a nice step in the right direction for Johnson, who was on the field for 56 of the team's 67 offensive snaps while backup TE Daniel Bellinger recorded more snaps on special teams (20) than on offense (19), as did No. 3 TE Chris Manhertz (14 and 17, respectively). Johnson will get a tough matchup Week 3 against a Chiefs team that has surrendered just five receptions to tight ends through two weeks.
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Adam Trautman TE | DEN
Broncos' Adam Trautman: Hits pay dirt against Colts
Trautman caught all three of his targets for 10 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 29-28 loss to the Colts.
Trautman found the end zone for the first time this season while playing 62 percent of Denver's offensive snaps, the most of any Broncos tight end. The veteran's saw three targets from quarterback Bo Nix, while Evan Engram was targeted twice. It's possible Engram was being eased back into action following a calf injury he sustained in Week 1, but Trautman has now seen the most playing time of the entire position group in the first two games of the season. It's conceivable Trautman continues to lead in snap share at the position based on his blocking abilities, but he doesn't see enough work in the passing game to be consistently relevant for fantasy purposes. The 28-year-old will have an opportunity to build on his performance when the Broncos visit the Chargers in Week 3.
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Jake Tonges TE | SF
49ers' Jake Tonges: Nabs four receptions Sunday
Tonges finished with four receptions (on five targets) for 31 yards in Sunday's 26-21 win over the Saints.
Luke Farrell got the start in place of George Kittle (hamstring), but Tonges finished the contest with more snaps played (56 to 41) and targets (five to three). The former cashed in a short touchdown grab to produce the superior fantasy total after Tonges took those honors last week. It appears that both tight ends will help fill Kittle's shoes while the superstar is sidelined for multiple weeks. The timeshare puts a hard cap on Tonges' fantasy potential, limiting his Week 3 value to those in deeper formats.
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Luke Farrell TE | SF
49ers' Luke Farrell: Scores first TD of career
Farrell brought in two of three targets for 15 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-21 win over the Saints.
Farrell got the start in place of George Kittle (hamstring) on Sunday, finishing with 41 snaps played on offense (58 percent). Jake Tonges wound up playing more snaps (79 percent) while garnering more targets (five) in the passing game, but it was Farrell who cashed in one of Mac Jones's three touchdown passes. It appears that the 49ers will deploy both tight ends in tandem while Kittle mends on injured reserve. In that scenario, neither option offers much fantasy upside heading into next Sunday's tilt against Arizona.
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Brenton Strange TE | JAC
Jaguars' Brenton Strange: Limited to three catches in Week 2
Strange secured three of five targets for 17 yads during Sunday's 31-27 loss to Cincinnati.
Strange again operated as Jacksonville's clear No. 1 tight end, playing 90 percent of offensive snaps, but it was wideouts Dyami Brown (5-57-1) and Parker Washington (5-76-0) who stepped up in the receiving game with both Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter held in check for a second straight week. Strange has drawn nine targets through two weeks, enough volume to put him on the radar as a back-end TE1 for fantasy purposes heading into a Week 3 matchup against the Texans.
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Evan Engram TE | DEN
Broncos' Evan Engram: Plays behind Trautman in Week 2
Engram secured one of two targets for 12 yards during Sunday's 29-28 loss to the Colts.
Engram returned from the calf injury he sustained in Week 1, but he played only 43 percent of offensive snaps and worked behind Adam Trautman (62 percent), who brought in all three of his targets for 10 yards and a score. It's possible Engram gets more involved in Week 3 against the Chargers as he improves his game fitness, but even before being injured in the opener he played just one snap, and the veteran chain-mover may not be as entrenched as the team's No. 1 tight end as expected, with Trautman offering superior blocking ability. Fantasy managers may want to wait until Engram proves he's earned a larger snap share before relying on him.
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Tanner Conner TE | MIA
Dolphins' Tanner Conner: No targets to TE position
Conner was not targeted during Miami's 33-27 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Conner and Julian Hill were both held without a target Week 2, even with Darren Waller (hip) inactive a second straight game. While Waller appears to be trending in the wrong direction for Thursday night's divisional matchup against the Bills, Conner and Hill remain off the fantasy radar outside of formats that require multiple starting tight ends. Even then, Hill has handled marginally more offensive snaps through two weeks and likely offers more upside in the red zone than Conner.