NFL Player News
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Julian Hill TE | MIA
Dolphins' Julian Hill: Makes three grabs in loss
Hill secured all three of his targets for 31 yards during Sunday's 29-27 loss to the Chargers.
Hill drew the same target total as top tight end Darren Waller (2-12-1) during Sunday's loss. While Waller figures to more consistently see the higher target share at the TE position going forward and dominate high-value looks, Hill has benefited from an increased role the wake of the season-ending injury suffered by Tyreek Hill (IR, knee). That said, Miami's passing game figures to have a tough time producing on the road against the Browns in Week 7.
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Tanner Hudson TE | CIN
Bengals' Tanner Hudson: In concussion protocol
Coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Hudson is in the league's concussion protocol, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
With Mike Gesicki (pectoral) going down on the opening drive against the Packers on Sunday, Hudson played elevated offensive snaps and secured four of five targets for 10 yards and one touchdown. Hudson now is injured and looking unlikely to play Thursday night against the Steelers. If Hudson and Gesicki, who is expected to be out for "a while," can't play against Pittsburgh, Noah Fant, Drew Sample and Cam Grandy would likely handle tight-end duties for the Bengals.
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Mike Gesicki TE | CIN
Bengals' Mike Gesicki: Set to miss some time
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Gesicki will be out for "a while" after suffering a pectoral injury in Sunday's 27-18 loss to the Packers, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
The team is still gathering more information on the extent of Gesicki's injury, but he's already been ruled out for this Thursday's game against the Steelers, and he could miss additional games beyond Week 7. Gesicki played just two offensive snaps against the Packers before exiting the game during the Bengals' opening drive. Tanner Hudson filled in as the primary receiving tight end, securing four of five targets for 10 yards and one touchdown, but Hudson is now in the league's concussion protocol. If both Gesicki and Hudson can't play Thursday, Noah Fant, Drew Sample and Cam Grandy would represent the Bengals' available tight ends.
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Noah Fant TE | CIN
Bengals' Noah Fant: Secures all four targets
Fant caught all four of his targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 28-17 loss to the Packers.
Fant saw an uptick in target opportunities with Joe Flacco under center, though his increased workload can also be contextualized by the departure of Mike Gesicki (pectoral) in the second quarter. In the event that Gesicki is unable to suit up Thursday versus the Steelers on a short week of rest, Fant will get a chance to handle No. 1 tight end duties, making him a potential streaming option for fantasy purposes. Notably, reserve tight end Tanner Hudson drew five targets versus Green Bay, securing four of them for 10 yards and a touchdown.
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Jeremy Ruckert TE | NYJ
Jets' Jeremy Ruckert: No targets in London
Ruckert wasn't targeted in Sunday's 13-11 loss to the Broncos.
Ruckert reverted to being a non-factor in the passing game after a four-catch outing in Week 5 against the Cowboys. He was on the field for 22 of the Jets' 57 snaps on offense. Ruckert should continue to work behind Mason Taylor in Week 7against the Panthers.
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Pat Freiermuth TE | PIT
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth: Manages 11 yards in victory
Freiermuth secured his lone target for 11 yards during Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.
Although Freiermuth recorded a catch Sunday after being held without a target during the Steelers' Week 4 win over Minnesota, he was on the field for just 36 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps against Cleveland, which ranked third among the team's tight ends. Darnell Washington has taken on a larger role over the last two games, and Freiermuth seems to be behind Jonnu Smith as well following Pittsburgh's Week 5 bye. Over his last three games, Freiermuth has secured two of four targets for 17 yards.
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Jonnu Smith TE | PIT
Steelers' Jonnu Smith: Four touches in Week 6 win
Smith secured three of four targets for 18 yards while rushing once for 10 yards during Sunday's 23-9 win over Cleveland.
Smith was on the field for just 25 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps in Week 4, but he saw a much larger workload following the team's Week 5 bye. He played 69 percent of the team's offensive snaps against Cleveland, which still lagged behind Darnell Washington's 80 percent, but it signaled that Smith appears to have moved past the hip injury that plagued him before the bye. Over Smith's first five appearances of the season, he's secured 17 of 20 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown.
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Austin Hooper TE | NE
Patriots' Austin Hooper: One catch versus New Orleans
Hooper, who logged 41 of 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 25-19 win over the Saints per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, caught his only target for five yards.
With just two catches on as many targets for 29 yards over his last three games, Hooper is off the fantasy radar as long as fellow TE Hunter Henry remains in the Patriots' lineup.
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Hunter Henry TE | NE
Patriots' Hunter Henry: Three catches in Week 6
Henry was on the field for 53 of 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 25-19 win over the Saints per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, en route to catching all three of his targets for 27 yards.
Through six games, Henry has maintained steady playing time while recording a 20-277-3 receiving line on 31 targets. Though his volume has tapered off over his last three outings, the tight end remains a viable red-zone option for QB Drake Maye and a candidate to see increased targets on any given week, when game script and/or game flow dictate.
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Darnell Washington TE | PIT
Steelers' Darnell Washington: Best yardage total of career
Washington recorded three receptions on five targets for 62 yards in Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns. He also fumbled, but the ball went out of bounds.
Washington continues to emerge in the Pittsburgh offense, as he led the tight end corps in targets and receiving yards. His involvement began immediately, as he recorded a 36-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage. Washington later chipped in gains of 12 and 14 yards, both of which came primarily after the catch. The end result was Washington's best yardage total of his career, and he seems to have surpassed Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth for targets in the Pittsburgh offense.