NFL Player News

Hill secured both of his targets for 24 yards during Sunday's 24-3 loss to the Seahawks.

Hill played 39 percent of snaps versus Seattle and racked up a superior receiving line to Jonnu Smith (2-18-0) despite drawing one less target. He was on the field for one more offensive play than Smith. Meanwhile, Durham Smythe has looked like the poorest pass-catching option in the Dolphins' tight end corps, with just two catches for 11 yards on the season (six targets). Hill will look to continue making the most of his rotational opportunities versus the Titans on Monday Night Football.

Smith secured two of three targets for 18 yards during Miami's 24-3 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday.

Smith wasn't able to get much going with a combination of Skylar Thompson (ribs) and Tim Boyle under center. The Dolphins' offense was only able to pile up a total of 186 passing yards versus an aggressive Seattle defense, resulting in Smith playing just 38 percent of offensive snaps, his third straight game below the 50 percent mark. Smith will work to get more involved versus the Titans in Week 4.

Kolar played a season-high 26 snaps Sunday against the Cowboys and recorded a 30-yard reception.

Baltimore went heavy on the run game Sunday in Dallas with 45 of 63 plays coming on the ground. That game script makes sense to bump up Kolar's usage as he's the best blocker in the tight end room while Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are more renowned for their pass-catching chops. Kolar made the most of his one target by turning it into a 30-yard gain but his skill set won't scale up into a significant pass-catching role without an injury elsewhere in the tight end room. Baltimore hosts Buffalo on Sunday Night Football in Week 4.

Likely had one catch for four yards on one target in Baltimore's win against the Cowboys on Sunday.

The last two weeks have been a far cry from Likely's electric season opener when he caught nine passes for 111 yards. Likely has combined for three catches for 30 yards over the last two weeks and has drawn just four targets. Baltimore's game plan was unexpected in general, as Likely and Charlie Kolar played more snaps than Mark Andrews. Likely paced the tight end group with a 62 percent snap share, but that's hardly a consolation for fantasy managers. Baltimore won't go to the air just 15 times most weeks, so this should be an anomalous stat line for Likely. Still, it's difficult to square Baltimore's pass-catching rotation after three very different game plans through the first three weeks.

Mayer caught one pass for seven yards on three targets in Sunday's 36-22 loss to the Panthers.

Mayer's overall route participation was limited as the Raiders found themselves facing a significant deficit for much of the contest, therefore using plenty of 11 personnel with each of Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker logging an offensive snap share greater than 80 percent while tight end Brock Bowers secured three of four targets for 41 yards of his own. Mayer has posted a meager 4-21-0 receiving line on seven total targets through the first three weeks of the season.

Higgins reeled in his only target for 11 yards during Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Lions.

Through three games this season, Higgins has secured all four of his targets for 41 yards and one touchdown. Because starting TE Trey McBride entered the concussion protocol after Sunday's contest, Higgins is the best bet at the position on the Cardinals' active roster for an increase in production in the short term, especially considering rookie third-rounder Tip Reiman is a blocking specialist. McBride's status will be watched as the week goes on to see if the potential exists for Higgins' profile to be elevated this coming Sunday against the Commanders.

Reiman wasn't targeted while playing 20 of 66 offensive snaps (34 precent) during Sunday's 20-13 defeat to the Lions.

The rookie third-round pick earned the first start of his career Week 3, but the blocking specialist has yet to see his initial target as a pro. There's a chance for more reps in the short term with starting TE Trey McBride entering the concussion protocol in the wake of Sunday's game, but even if he misses this coming Sunday's contest versus the Commanders, Elijah Higgins is the best bet at the position to garner looks from QB Kyler Murray on the Cardinals' active roster. As a result, Reiman likely won't hold much sway in terms of fantasy even if McBride is out Week 4.

Ertz secured all five targets for 38 yards in the Commanders' 38-33 win over the Bengals on Monday night. He also committed a fumble recovered by Washington.

Ertz recorded a team-high number of receptions but was utilized primarily as a short-area target. The veteran tight end, who's posted a 12-128-0 line on 13 targets through three games, will next take aim at his old Cardinals teammates in a Week 4 road battle in the desert.

Barner caught all three of his targets for 13 total yards in Sunday's 24-3 win over the Dolphins.

Barner handle his lowest snap share of the year (28 percent) while fellow tight end Pharaoh Brown returned to the lineup from a foot injury. These were his first catches of the season, but Barner will have little fantasy appeal as the No. 3 tight end.

Strange secured two of five targets for 12 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars' 47-10 loss to the Bills on Monday night.

The second-year tight end capped off the opening possession of the second half with a six-yard touchdown grab, his second career score. Strange was coming off a career-best 3-65-0 line on six targets against the Browns in Week 2, and he and Luke Farrell once again helped make up for the absence of Evan Engram (hamstring) on Monday night. If Engram is able to suit up for Sunday's Week 4 road clash against the Texans, both reserve tight ends figure to return to fantasy irrelevance except in very deep formats.