NFL Player News

Swaim recorded two receptions on three targets for 10 yards in Week 6 against the Texans.

Swaim saw an increased role with the early exit of Jonnu Smith (ankle). He was on the field for 49 offensive snaps, good for a 65 percent rate of the team's offensive plays. With MyCole Pruitt (COVID-19) currently unable to suit up, Swaim could be the Titans second tight end if Smith's ankle prevents him from returning to action for a Week 7 matchup against the Steelers.

Smythe secured one of two targets for a four-yard touchdown during Sunday's 24-0 win over the Jets.

Smythe and fellow backup tight end Adam Shaheen (3-51-1) both got involved enough on offense to score Sunday, while Mike Gesicki was held without a catch on two targets. It's encouraging to see Smythe log a productive day after having missed Week 5 due to a knee injury, but he usually takes too large a percentage of his snaps as a blocker to warrant real fantasy consideration.

Gesicki failed to secure either of his two targets during Sunday's 24-0 win over the Jets.

Gesicki's total lack of involvement came, to the befuddlement of fantasy managers, on a day where fellow tight ends Adam Shaheen (3-51-1) and Durham Smythe (1-2-1) both got into the end zone. The third-year pro now has four games this season with 30 or less receiving yards compared to just two breakout performances (130 yards and a score Week 2 and 91 yards Week 5). Gesicki is quietly shaping up to be a boom-or-bust fantasy option, though it's also worth noting that the Dolphins never had to play catch-up during Sunday's blowout divisional win.

Thomas caught his only target for nine yards in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Bears.

Thomas played nearly 70 percent of Carolina's offensive snaps but yet again made minimal impact from a receiving standpoint. Through six games, the tight end sports just six grabs for 39 yards and a touchdown, leaving him on the outskirts of fantasy relevancy.

Brown caught two of two targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 42-36 overtime loss to the Titans.

Brown stepped in for the injured Jordan Akins (concussion, ankle) for the second straight week and played 30 snaps (42 percent), similar to last week's usage. One of his catches came in the red zone, his first such target of the season. Akins was a limited participant in practice last week before being declared inactive for Sunday, so he may be nearing a return, which would relegate Brown to third on the depth chart.

Bryant caught one of two targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 38-7 loss to the Steelers.

The rookie remains part of the Browns' three-man rotation at tight end, but Week 6 was the first time he had a lower share of snaps (37 percent) than David Njoku (40 percent). The consensus entering the season was that Njoku would sit second behind starter Austin Hooper, but a knee injury limited him over the first five weeks and raised Bryant's profile. Since Njoku's return, however, Bryant has just three targets over the last two weeks.

Njoku caught one of three targets for seven yards in Sunday's 38-7 loss to Pittsburgh.

This was Njoku's second week back from a knee injury, and he had a season-high 40 percent of the offensive snaps (23 of 57). It's natural that he would get more usage during a game in which the Browns trailed early and were forced to throw often, as Njoku's considered more of a receiving threat at tight end than a blocker. Still, it was the first time he had more snaps and a larger share of playing time than rookie Harrison Bryant (37 snaps).

Hooper caught of five of his team-high six targets for 52 yards in Sunday's 38-7 loss to the Steelers.

Hooper topped the target chart for a second consecutive week and has 15 catches over the last three weeks. The Browns are utilizing the tight end more after a slow start. Over the last three weeks, Hooper is averaging five catches on 7.7 targets for 47.7 yards.

Kittle had seven receptions (10 targets) for 109 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-16 win over the Rams.

Kittle bounced back after a team-wide disappointment last week, reaching the century mark in receiving yards while also scoring a touchdown for the second time over his last three contests. If his dominance as a receiver wasn't enough, the star tight end's performance is even more impressive when you consider he is kept back to help with both the run and pass protection for nearly half of his snaps. Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) looked healthy for the first time since going down to injury back in Week 2, which bodes well for Kittle's fantasy potential heading into Sunday's matchup against the Patriots and beyond.

Hockenson recorded two receptions on five targets for 17 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 against the Jaguars.

Hockenson tied for second on the team with five targets, but turned in his second-lowest yardage total of the season. He salvaged his day with a one-yard touchdown, his third of the campaign. Although Hockenson topped 50 yards in his first three games, he has combined to total 26 yards across the last two contests. He'll look to get things back on track in Week 7 in a positive matchup against Atlanta.