NFL Player News
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Hunter Long TE | JAC
Jaguars' Hunter Long: Nabs touchdown in Week 4
Long caught all three of his targets for 23 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 26-21 win over the 49ers.
Long has now caught five of six targets for 35 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks while playing just 35 offensive snaps. Although the 27-year-old played fewer snaps (21) than Johnny Mundt (22) in Week 4, he appears to be emerging as Jacksonville's top reserve vertical-threat tight end. Long will likely retain a similar role in the Jaguars' Week 5 matchup with the Chiefs, working behind Brenton Strange.
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Darnell Washington TE | PIT
Steelers' Darnell Washington: Sees uptick in playing time
Washington secured all three of his targets for 20 yards during Sunday's 24-21 win over the Vikings.
Washington was targeted just once over the first three weeks of the regular season while playing less than half of the team's offensive snaps during that time. However, Jonnu Smith was limited in practice this week, and Washington was on the field for 91 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps during the matchup in Dublin. While it was encouraging to see Washington get more involved, his role will likely decline if Smith is able to shed his limitations following the team's Week 5 bye.
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Pat Freiermuth TE | PIT
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth: No catches in Week 4
Freiermuth wasn't targeted during Sunday's 24-21 win over Minnesota.
After playing at least 50 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps in the first three games of the season, Freiermuth's playing time declined overseas Sunday, as he was on the field for just 28 percent of the team's offensive snaps. Jonnu Smith also saw a limited role after dealing with a hip injury ahead of the Week 4 tilt, while Darnell Washington was on the field for a season-high 91 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps. Even if Freiermuth's playing time bounces back following the Steelers' Week 5 bye, he's had trouble carving out a fantasy-relevant role early in the season.
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Jonnu Smith TE | PIT
Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Two catches against Minnesota
Smith secured two of three targets for six yards during Sunday's 24-21 win over the Vikings.
Smith was unable to practice fully ahead of Pittsburgh's Week 4 matchup due to a hip injury, but he played through the issue in Dublin. The 2017 third-rounder was held to single-digit yards for the first time this season while playing just 25 percent of the team's offensive snaps, which was his lowest mark of the season by a considerable margin. It seems possible that Smith's role was limited by his injury, but he'll be able to recover during the Steelers' Week 5 bye.
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Austin Hooper TE | NE
Patriots' Austin Hooper: One catch Sunday
Hooper, who was on the field for 32 of a possible 49 snaps on offense in Sunday's 42-13 win over the Panthers, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, caught his only target in the game for 24 yards.
With a 7-100-0 line on eight targets through four games, Hooper is only a fantasy lineup option in tight end friendly formats. That's not likely to change much in the coming weeks as long as fellow TE Hunter Henry remains healthy.
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Dawson Knox TE | BUF
Bills' Dawson Knox: No catches again Sunday
Knox failed to catch his only target in Sunday's 31-19 win over the Saints.
This is the second consecutive game in which Knox has failed to record a reception, despite logging 55 offensive snaps during that span. The Ole Miss product appears firmly behind Dalton Kincaid in Buffalo's tight-end room, as Kincaid has caught six of eight targets for 96 yards and two touchdowns over the last two weeks. Knox is likely to have a similar role in the Bills' Week 5 contest against the Patriots, serving primarily as a blocker rather than a receiving option.
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Mitchell Evans TE | CAR
Panthers' Mitchell Evans: Catches first TD in Week 4
Evans caught three of four targets for 23 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 42-13 loss to the Patriots.
With Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) inactive in Sunday's loss, Evans logged a career-high 35 offensive snaps and made the most of his increased opportunities. Three of his four targets came in the first half while the game was still competitive, and he later hauled in a two-yard touchdown from Andy Dalton in the fourth quarter to give Carolina its second score of the day. The rookie out of Notre Dame has now logged five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown through his first four NFL games. He's likely to remain the Panthers' top reserve tight end until Sanders returns from injury, working behind Tommy Tremble.
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Blake Whiteheart TE | CLE
Browns' Blake Whiteheart: Logs first target
Whiteheart did not catch his lone target in Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Lions in Week 4.
Whiteheart is operating as Cleveland's third tight behind David Njoku and Harold Fannin. Sunday's target was the first of the season for Whiteheart.
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Mark Andrews TE | BAL
Ravens' Mark Andrews: Targeted eight times
Andrews recorded seven receptions on eight targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 37-20 loss to Kansas City.
Andrews maintained increased involvement in Baltimore's offense, and he has 13 catches on 14 targets across the last two weeks. However, his production Sunday wasn't particularly strong, as his longest reception went for only seven yards. Andrews' ability to command targets -- particularly with Isaiah Likely back in the mix -- is a positive, but his ability to consistently make explosive plays appears to be behind him, and the upside of the entire Ravens passing game could take a hit if Lamar Jackson (hamstring) misses time.
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Tucker Kraft TE | GB
Packers' Tucker Kraft: Five catches against Dallas
Kraft recorded five receptions on five targets for 56 yards in Sunday's 40-40 overtime tie against Dallas.
Kraft was one of four Packers pass catchers to record at least 50 yards, and he finished third on the team in targets. His biggest impact came on Green Bay's opening possession, when he recorded two receptions for 22 yards and was tackled just short of the goal line. Kraft has at least four targets in all four games this season and has at least 50 receiving yards or a touchdown in three of four contests.