NFL Player News

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that Smith (ankle) looks "week-to-week," Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

This news isn't all that surprising given Smith is believed to have a high-ankle sprain, which normally sidelines players for multiple weeks. However, it's noteworthy because it's the first official indication that Smith is unlikely to play Sunday against the Commanders. The talented tight end still is awaiting MRI results, so the extent of the situation isn't known yet, but if Smith misses time, expect Johnny Mundt and Jacob Hollister to garner increased roles Week 9.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Monday that Andrews is dealing with shoulder and ankle injuries, but both issues appear to be minor, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Andrews dealt with a knee issue leading up to Week 8 that sidelined him for each practice, but he still was deemed available for Thursday's primetime matchup against Tampa Bay. However, the star tight end was forced to leave the contest in the second quarter after suffering a shoulder injury. Now, it seems that Andrews is dealing with a pair of health concerns. Andrews' participation at practice ahead of Week 9 should provide further clarity on his availability for next Monday's game against the Saints.

Dwelley caught his lone target for 56 yards in Sunday's 31-14 win over the Rams.

Dwelley -- normally a backup tight end -- played most of his 19 offensive snaps at fullback in place of Kyle Juszczyk (thumb). The 27-year-old saw only one target, but he made it count by running a crisp wheel route out of the backfield for a huge gain. With the 49ers entering a bye week, there's a good chance Juszczyk returns before the team's next game against the Chargers on Sunday, Nov. 13. Dwelley currently isn't a roster-worthy fantasy option.

Smith caught three of his four targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 22-17 win over the Jets.

Mike Reiss of ESPN.com relays that Smith was on the field for 50 of a possible 78 snaps on offense in the contest, as was fellow TE Hunter Henry. But with a total of 13 catches on 20 targets for 133 yards in seven games to date, Smith is a low-percentage fantasy lineup option as long as he continues to work in a timeshare.

Henry caught his only target for 22 yards in Sunday's 22-17 win over the Jets.

Per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, Henry logged 50 of a possible 78 snaps on offense in the contest -- as did fellow tight end Jonnu Smith -- but for the second straight game he was held to just one catch. With unsteady target volume so far this season, Henry profiles as a hit-or-miss fantasy option this coming Sunday against the Colts.

The Vikings' initial belief is that Smith suffered a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's 34-26 win over the Cardinals, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Smith will undergo further testing including an MRI on Monday, but if a high-ankle sprain is confirmed, the tight end likely will be forced to miss time. Johnny Mundt and Jacob Hollister would stand to handle increased roles and hold down the tight end position if Smith indeed needs to sit out. Smith has logged three straight games with exactly four catches, which he translated into 28 receiving yards Sunday.

Hesse hauled in his only target for nine yards during Sunday's 37-34 overtime victory versus Carolina.

Hesse played a season-low 43 percent of Atlanta's offensive snaps, but he secured his only target for nine yards, marking his first reception since Week 5. Across eight appearances, the second-year tight end has caught five of six targets for 50 yards, which eclipses his 43 receiving yards from his rookie campaign. Regardless, Hesse's primary role for the Falcons is as a blocker, so expect his receptions to continue being few and far between.

Fant caught both of his targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Giants.

Fant played 46 offensive snaps, barely trailing Will Dissly (50). Neither of the tight ends made an impact for fantasy purposes, as Dissly caught two passes for 12 yards. Through eight games this year, Fant has produced 22 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown.

Parkinson caught his lone target for five yards in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Giants.

Parkinson has hauled in 10 of 11 targets for 159 yards and a touchdown through eight games this season. He has averaged 20.5 offensive snaps per game this year, as he operates as the No. 3 tight end behind Will Dissly and Noah Fant.

Dissly caught both of his targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Giants. He also recovered a fumble in punt coverage.

Dissly played 50 of the team's 64 offensive snaps (78 percent), finishing ahead of Noah Fant (46 snaps) and Colby Parkinson (23). While Dissly isn't a dependable fantasy option, he has caught 21 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns this season, so he can yield DFS dividends when he finds the end zone.