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Ja'Tavion Sanders A Desperate Tight-End Play In Week 18
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders only saw one target in Week 17 and turned that into a five-yard reception in Sunday's 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sanders took a clear backseat to the Panthers' receivers, Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette (hip, wrist). The 21-year-old became fantasy-relevant in the middle of the season with 18 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown from Week 6 through Week 10. However, since Week 14, he has only earned three total targets, making it difficult for fantasy managers to trust him in Week 18 versus the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons DST ranks in the middle of the pack against opposing tight ends. Sanders comes in as TE31 in the latest RotoBaller tight-end rankings for Week 18 and is a dart throw at best in deep leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
More Recent News
Travis Kelce Remains a High-Scoring Tight End at 36 Years Old
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is past the peak of his career, but he's still a top fantasy option for managers seeking consistent production at the tight end position. At 36 years old, Kelce ranks as the TE2 in PPR scoring through the first three weeks of the season. He already has 14 catches for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It's early, but he's currently on pace to post his highest touchdown total since 2022, which is also the last time he finished a season as the overall TE1. Kansas City's offense is firing on all cylinders right now, so Kelce should remain a must-start fantasy tight end going forward. Given that his ADP was in the eighth round of fantasy drafts, he also has league-winning upside if he continues to produce at his current pace.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Colston Loveland Trending Up After Bounce-Back Showing on Monday Night
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland endured a very disappointing start to the season, but his performance in Week 3 suggests that he has turned a corner and will return to fantasy relevance going forward. After catching just one pass through the first two weeks, Loveland bounced back on Monday night with four catches for 31 yards. He also nearly had a touchdown, but he was ruled short of the goal line upon further review. Nevertheless, seeing Loveland handle increased volume and get involved around the goal line was very encouraging. He has played more than 79% of snaps in every game so far, so there's no concern about his ability to get on the field. The Bears' quarterback situation is up in the air for Week 4, but regardless of who gets the nod, Loveland is suddenly in a much better place from a fantasy perspective. He's a relatively safe bet to finish this week as a top-12 fantasy tight end.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deebo Samuel Sr. Staying Healthy and Climbing Up the Rankings
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. is one of the few players who have stayed healthy within his position group, allowing him to increase his fantasy value as the season goes on. Samuel opened the year in a somewhat crowded receiver room, but he's now one of the only sources of availability with Mike Evans (ribs) in doubt for Week 4 and Demarcus Robinson (ankle), De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle), and Christian Kirk (calf) all on injured reserve. If Evans does miss Week 4, Samuel would step up as the No. 1 receiver with minimal competition alongside him. In that hypothetical scenario, he'd be locked in as a fantasy WR2, which falls in line with his total scoring so far this season. He actually didn't catch a pass last week, but he still managed to post double-digit fantasy points with an 80-yard touchdown off a lateral. A more traditional receiver's role surely awaits Samuel this Sunday, giving him WR2 status with low-end WR1 upside against the Broncos.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jared Goff Maintaining High-End Value as Clean Streak Continues
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has yet to commit a turnover this season, and his role in a high-volume passing offense has vaulted him to QB6 in overall fantasy scoring through three weeks. Although he's not the most flashy name out there, Goff has enjoyed another very productive start to the season. So far, he has completed 70.6% of his pass attempts for 802 yards, eight touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also has just seven sacks and zero fumbles. Goff has a great supporting cast around him that includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs. Additionally, Gibbs' dominance in the rushing game forces defenses to play conservatively, so they can't sell out to defend the pass every play. The Lions have yet to win a game by more than seven points this year, but Goff and his offense are a huge reason why Detroit is above .500 through the first three weeks. He should continue to be deployed as a mid-to-low QB1 in weekly fantasy matchups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
No Clear Path to Volume for Germie Bernard
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard remains an intriguing dynasty stash, but without a clear path to meaningful volume this season, he can be avoided in most redraft formats. Bernard saw a significant spike in usage during Week 2 with Michael Pittman Jr. sidelined. However, in Weeks 1 and 3, with Pittman on the field, he totaled just one catch for 14 yards on one target. Last Sunday, he handled a very modest 27% snap share while operating as the Steelers' No. 4 receiver behind Pittman, DK Metcalf, and Roman Wilson. As long as those three receivers are healthy, the rookie from Alabama faces an extremely difficult challenge to get on the fantasy radar. He can be avoided in most redraft leagues for the time being.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Bond Playing Very Limited Snaps
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond showed some flashes of upside as a rookie last year, finishing with 18 catches for 338 receiving yards. However, he has not been very involved in the Browns' new offense this season. He has only played a total of 16 snaps over three weeks (8.9%), and he only has one target. He did catch that target for 10 yards against the Buccaneers, but his role is very minimal behind rookie receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion Jr., in addition to veteran Jerry Jeudy. With Tylan Wallace (knee) out for Week 4 against the Steelers, Bond could get a few more opportunities, but he remains well off the fantasy radar until his playing time increases on a regular basis in Cleveland.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rachaad White Is Not Practicing Thursday
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White (shoulder) is not practicing on Thursday, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. The Commanders are preparing for their game in London against the Colts on Sunday, but it isn't certain if White will be a part of the game plan. The veteran running back sustained the injury last week against the Seahawks but was able to return to the game in the second half. He finished the game with eight carries for 35 yards and a six-yard touchdown catch, showing a solid connection with backup QB Marcus Mariota. White could return to practice Friday and still play on Sunday, but if he isn't able to work through the issue in time, Jacory Croskey-Merritt would likely get more playing time in passing situations, with Kaytron Allen possibly mixing in as well.
Source: Tashan Reed
Source: Tashan Reed
Rico Dowdle Has a Pretty Good Chance to Play Next Week
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) has already been ruled out of his team's Week 4 matchup on Thursday night against the Browns, but his return may not be far away. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday morning that Dowdle is more "day-to-day than anything else," and that he "has a pretty good chance" to return in Week 5, when the Steelers host the Colts at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Dowdle shared work in the first two weeks of the season with Jaylen Warren, and he'll be back in that timeshare when he returns from his toe injury. Until then, Warren will carry a big workload, giving him a boost in fantasy value.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
George Pickens Looking for a Contract Extension
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, and he's looking to sign an extension in Dallas, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pickens was traded to the Cowboys from the Steelers before last season, and he had his best season in the NFL with 93 catches for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, all personal bests. Pickens hasn't found the end zone in the Cowboys' first three games this season, but he has remained very involved, with a total of 16 catches for 150 yards on 25 targets. Pickens is playing this season on a $27.3 million franchise tender, looking to prove he's worth a massive payday this coming offseason, whether that comes from the Cowboys or another team.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Keaton Mitchell in a Walking Boot
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (ankle) was wearing a walking boot on his left foot when the locker room was open to reporters, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim. Mitchell initially wasn't on the injury report, but was later added as being limited due to an ankle issue. Mitchell said he was "OK" according to Rhim, so there is still a chance he is able to play this weekend when the Chargers take on the Seahawks. Mitchell is getting some deserved attention after a strong showing in Week 3 against the Bills, when he scored the team's only touchdown, racked up 52 yards on eight carries, and hauled in all three of his targets for a loss of five yards. Mitchell will be a deep-league FLEX option if he's healthy for Week 4, while Kimani Vidal would be worth a look if Mitchell's injury ends up costing him a game.
Source: Kris Rhim
Source: Kris Rhim
AJ Barner Trending Up After Starting Quarterback Returns
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner had a relatively small role in the passing attack through the first two weeks of the season, but his volume shot up with quarterback Sam Darnold returning from injury in Week 3. During Sunday's loss, Barner exploded for nine targets, five catches, and 69 receiving yards. This was the second-highest target total of his career, suggesting that he's trending up with Darnold back in action. Barner may not get nine targets every week, but all signs point to him remaining on the fantasy radar as he continues to show off his rapport with Darnold. There's a case to be made that the 24-year-old is Darnold's second-favorite target, behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Barner has low-end TE1 appeal heading into Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bo Nix Turning the Corner After Sluggish Start
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had two turnovers and just 131 passing yards in Week 1, but he has turned the corner with two significantly stronger outings over his last two games. Most recently, in Week 3 against the Rams, he racked up 186 passing yards, three total touchdowns, and one interception. Although he still didn't have an amazing yardage output, his ability to find the end zone three times against a strong Rams defense was quite impressive. Nix has jumped to 18th in fantasy scoring this year, and he's trending back toward the low-end QB1 tier for Week 4 and beyond. The Broncos have a very tough start-of-season schedule, but Nix will have a chance to lead his Broncos to a 3-1 start against the undefeated 49ers on Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cowboys Acquire Joey Porter Jr. From Steelers
The Dallas Cowboys have acquired cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a package that includes a second-round pick, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Porter has yet to play this season due to a back injury. However, it seems like he's getting closer to playing, and the trade to Dallas could be a sign that he'll suit up sooner rather than later. Porter finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, and he has recorded an interception in each of his three NFL seasons. He'll look to offer a huge boost to a Cowboys secondary that has allowed 207.3 passing yards per game this year.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Christian Watson in Must-Start Territory with Big Role and TD Streak
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has been fantastic this season, catching 17 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns through three games. He has at least eight targets in all three games this season, and he also has a four-game touchdown streak dating back to last regular season. The Packers have endured their fair share of struggles en route to a 1-2 start, but Watson has been able to maintain a very sizable role. He ranks as the overall WR5 in PPR leagues this season, putting him in must-start territory for every week regardless of matchup. Managers should have full confidence rolling him out as a mid-to-low WR1 for Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are also trending in the wrong direction with a 0-3 start to the year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Large Workload Fuels Big Start to Season for D'Andre Swift
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift continues to exceed expectations in his age-27 season. The veteran running back logged a season-high 22 touches last week, and he's now averaging 20.7 touches per game this year. Not only is he handling a large workload, but he has also been quite productive. Swift ranks as the overall RB7 in PPR leagues this year with 253 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He has been able to fend off any sort of competition from Kyle Monangai, who has 10 carries in all three games this year but has handled a moderately low snap share while having a smaller role in the receiving game. It was especially encouraging to see Swift have such a productive game in Week 3, despite Caleb Williams (hamstring) being sidelined. Regardless of who quarterbacks the Bears in Week 4 and beyond, Swift should remain a high-end RB2 in fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jeremiyah Love Looks to Keep his Momentum
After playing more of a modest role in his first two NFL games, Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love introduced himself as a lead running back in a 36-30 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. Love started the game and played 55 out of 86 total offensive snaps (64%). He earned 21 carries for 90 yards (4.3 yards per carry) on the ground, while making his presence felt through the air with five receptions for 19 yards and a receiving touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus, 48 of Love's 90 yards came after contact. The No. 3 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft was clearly above veteran Tyler Allgeier in the pecking order in Week 3, which was not the case during the first two weeks. Arizona drafted Love early to be its workhorse back, and he now seems to be taking that role over. In total, through three games, Love has carried the ball 41 times for 160 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and a touchdown, while adding 10 receptions for 44 yards and an additional score. He has a Week 4 matchup against a New York Giants defense that is allowing 104.3 rushing yards per game. Love enters the week as RotoBaller's No. 8 running back.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dak Prescott Off to a Strong Start in 2026
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is off to a strong statistical start in 2026. Through three games, he has completed 73 out of 105 passes (69.5%) for 730 yards, with seven touchdown passes versus just one interception. Prescott has added 59 rushing yards. He is averaging 21 fantasy points per game. Prescott is coming off a performance against the Ravens in Brazil in which he completed 25 out of 40 passes (62.5%) for 276 yards and a touchdown, while throwing zero interceptions. However, the game ended in heartbreak for Prescott and the Cowboys as they fell to 0-2 following a game-winning 56-yard field goal by Baltimore's Tyler Loop as time expired. Prescott has a Week 4 matchup against a Houston Texans defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed per game (238.7). He enters Week 4 as RotoBaller's No. 11 quarterback and is projected to score 17.9 fantasy points.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jameson Williams Won't be Charged in Alleged Assault Case
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams won't be charged in an alleged assault case, according to Dave Birkett and John Wisely of the Detroit Free Press. Williams was investigated earlier this month after a woman accused him of assaulting her in August, but the Oakland County prosecutors will not issue any charges. "Based on the facts presented to us at this time, the Novi Police and our office jointly concluded that there is no cause to file charges against Mr. Williams," a statement read, in part. Williams' attorneys, Jason Lampert and Larry Margolis, told the Free Press that "Mr. Williams unequivocally denies the allegation of domestic violence." The Lions said on Wednesday that the team was aware of the investigation, but did not comment further. It appears that Williams will be able to put this matter behind him and focus on the 2026 season. He has 10 catches for 127 yards through three games this season.
Source: Dave Birkett and John Wisely - Detroit Free Press
Source: Dave Birkett and John Wisely - Detroit Free Press
Gervon Dexter Signs Four-Year Extension With Falcons
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Gervon Dexter signed a four-year, $78 million contract extension on Wednesday that includes $46.5 million guaranteed, his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Falcons traded for Dexter on Aug. 30, and he is now signing an extension with the organization a month later. The 24-year-old was a second-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2023 from Florida, and he had 115 tackles (57 solo), 13.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 42 QB hits, three pass breakups, and four fumble recoveries in 49 games (33 starts) in his three seasons in the Windy City. Through three games so far in 2026 with Atlanta, Dexter has half a sack, seven tackles (two solo), and a pass breakup. Dexter has not been very efficient at all as a run defender in his career, but his pass-rushing upside is definitely needed in Atlanta on the interior.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Mike Evans Dealing with a Broken Rib?
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (ribs) is potentially dealing with fractured ribs. Per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, 49ers tight end George Kittle may have shed some light on the specifics of Evans' injury after San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan was coy about the situation. "Fractured ribs suck," Kittle said during an appearance on Bay Area radio station KNBR. "Hey, Mike's a stud. He'll do what's best for him and what's best for the team. We're not worried about it." Evans was injured in the first half of a Week 3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals and did not return. Evans did not practice on Wednesday. He is considered "day-to-day," and Shanahan said on Monday that he didn't expect Evans to have a long-term injury.
Source: Charean Williams - Pro Football Talk
Source: Charean Williams - Pro Football Talk
More News About Ja'Tavion Sanders
