NFL Player News

Thomas caught one of two targets for five yards Sunday in the Bills' 27-23 loss to the Jets.

Thomas played nearly as many offensive snaps (36) as starter Charles Clay (42), but neither tight end saw much involvement in the passing game. Opportunities could be more difficult to come by for Thomas in Week 15 against the Lions if fellow reserve Jason Croom (groin) is able to avoid a second consecutive absence.

Lewis played 16 snaps on offense in Sunday's victory over the Falcons and was not targeted.

Lewis played twice as many snaps as he did in Week 14, but he failed to catch a pass for the third time in four weeks, and was not targeted for the ninth time in 13 games this season.

Tonyan played seven snaps and was not targeted in Sunday's victory over the Cardinals.

The seven snaps were the second most Tonyan has played in a game this season, but that total was still fourth among Packers tight ends in Week 14, and not enough to make any sort of fantasy impact.

Goedert corralled four of his five targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 29-23 overtime loss to the Cowboys.

With the Dallas defense successfully keying in on top tight end Zach Ertz (five catches for 38 yards on eight targets), Goedert took on a more meaningful role in the passing attack. Goedert cashed in late in the fourth quarter with a three-yard touchdown reception -- his first since Week 8 -- and nearly added another score to his ledger later in the period. After Dallas answered Goedert's touchdown with a 75-yard catch and run from Amari Cooper, the rookie appeared to tie up the game when he responded with a 75-yard score of his own with around three minutes remaining. Unfortunately, Goedert was called for pass interference on a dubious push off against Dallas safety Jeff Heath, negating the big gain. Though the penalty robbed him of a monstrous outing, Goedert's solid showing has his stock trending up for the final three weeks of the regular season.

Coach Mike Vrabel said he's still waiting to find out if Smith (knee) has a shot to return this season, Erik Bacharach of The Tennessean reports.

Smith's MCL injury was previously reported as the season-ending variety, but the Titans apparently still have some hope he can return, even if it's only for Week 17 or a possible playoff run. The team will rely on Anthony Firkser as its top pass-catching tight end Week 15 against the Giants.

Graham caught two passes for 13 yards in Sunday's victory over the Falcons.

The Falcons have routinely shut down opposing tight ends all season, and they did so again in Week 14 despite Graham playing his highest percentage of snaps in a game since Week 9. Graham's injured thumb seems to be improving, as he practiced fully Friday, but he has averaged just 32 yards per game and 4.9 yards per target since suffering the injury in Week 11. The injury remains a factor, though, as Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette notes "it's clear (Graham) is having a tough time catching throws with zip on them." Graham will have a tough time getting back on track in Week 15 facing a Bears defense that limited opposing tight ends to just 32.6 yards per contest and no scores over the last five weeks.

Ertz caught five passes (eight targets) for 38 yards in Sunday's 29-23 loss to the Cowboys.

Ertz turned in a rare clunker, finishing behind fellow tight end Dallas Goedert in yards (44) and touchdowns (one) despite garnering three extra targets. The latter makes his presence felt at times, but Ertz is still clearly the top tight end in Philly and one of Carson Wentz's most trusted targets. This one can simply be written off as a dud, and Ertz will look to bounce back against the Rams in Week 15. Los Angeles finally has both of its top corners, Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, healthy on the field, so Ertz could be heavily involved in the gameplan if the Eagles choose to attack the middle.

Uzomah recorded three receptions for 37 yards during Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Chargers.

The fourth-year man out of Auburn has been steady but unexplosive all year -- seven times finishing between 30 and 55 receiving yards and never finishing with more than six receptions in a single week. Uzomah has provided a reliable floor for participants in PPR scoring (at least three receptions in five straight games), but with no more than 55 yards in a game and just two touchdowns all season, his upside is severely limited in standard formats. Week 15's matchup make him a start-worthy entity, however, facing an Oakland defense that's allowed an NFL-high nine touchdown catches to tight ends in 2018.

Akins caught both of his targets for 40 yards in Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Colts.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson has increased the use of the tight ends in recent weeks and targeted the three-man group of Akins, Ryan Griffin and Jordan Thomas 11 times in the loss. Houston is dealing with injuries at wideout, which could lead to similar targeting Week 15 against the Jets. Of the three, Griffin leads in targets while Thomas is the touchdown leader.

Kittle brought in seven of nine targets for 210 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers' 20-14 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

Kittle enjoyed arguably the most spectacular half of football for any tight end in NFL history, and he became the first 49er at his position to ever reach the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Additionally, he fell just five yards short of eclipsing Shannon Sharpe's NFL single-game record for receiving yards by a tight end. The second-year pro notched an 85-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, putting his game-breaking speed on display downfield. The 25-year-old has seen no fewer than nine targets in any of his last four games, and he'll look to continue his excellent stretch of play against the Seahawks in Week 15.