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FFL: Week 10 | NFL: Week 10

TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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Bowers could have big year one


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  TE SOS  
1. Cincinnati Bengals 186.39
2. Miami Dolphins 193.98
3. Philadelphia Eagles 196.38
4. Washington Commanders 197.75
5. Houston Texans 198.15
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 199.18
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 199.68
8. New York Giants 201
9. Dallas Cowboys 201.18
10. Los Angeles Rams 201.38
11. Buffalo Bills 201.39
12. Chicago Bears 201.66
13. Arizona Cardinals 201.76
14. New York Jets 202.56
15. Jacksonville Jaguars 202.86
16. Baltimore Ravens 203.04
17. Denver Broncos 203.95
18. Los Angeles Chargers 204.02
19. Atlanta Falcons 204.25
20. Cleveland Browns 204.59
21. New Orleans Saints 205.62
22. Seattle Seahawks 205.73
23. San Francisco 49ers 206.80
24. Indianapolis Colts 206.89
25. Detroit Lions 207.92
26. New England Patriots 208.23
27. Kansas City Chiefs 210.92
28. Tennessee Titans 211.44
29. Green Bay Packers 212.07
30. Minnesota Vikings 212.23
31. Carolina Panthers 213.66
32. Las Vegas Raiders 213.81


A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.

Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.

The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.

Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.

Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.

The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.

Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.

There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.

Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last. 

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.

  TE PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Atlanta Falcons 175
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 182.37
3. Philadelphia Eagles 184.73
4. Arizona Cardinals 187.67
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 187.77
6. New England Patriots 189.83
7. Miami Dolphins 190.37
8. New Orleans Saints 191.3
9. Los Angeles Rams 192.17
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 192.43
11. Cincinnati Bengals 196.1
12. Detroit Lions 196.12
13. Houston Texans 196.2
14. Indianapolis Colts 198.97
15. Buffalo Bills 199.63
16. Kansas City Chiefs 203.03
17. New York Jets 204.13
18. Carolina Panthers 205.7
19. Baltimore Ravens 205.9
20. Green Bay Packers 207.7
21. Chicago Bears 213.73
22. New York Giants 214.27
23. Seattle Seahawks 214.72
24. Cleveland Browns 214.97
25. Dallas Cowboys 215.8
26. Las Vegas Raiders 219.4
27. Washington Commanders 220.13
28. Denver Broncos 220.8
29. Minnesota Vikings 221.72
30. Tennessee Titans 223.73
31. San Francisco 49ers 225.53
32. Los Angeles Chargers 228.53


The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.

Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.

The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.

George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.

The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.

The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.

Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 10

Player Notes
Harrison Butker Nov 9 4:20am ET
Harrison Butker

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the Denver Broncos in Week 10. Butker nailed all four kicks in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chiefs kicker split the goalposts on his only extra-point attempt and all three field goal attempts, with a long of 40 yards in the contest. Butker has now gone three straight games without missing a single kick. The Chiefs taking on the Broncos could mean more opportunities for Butker this week. The Denver defense is a strong unit, which could prevent Kansas City from scoring many touchdowns in this contest. The Chiefs may rely upon Butker more this week as he has not had more than two field goal attempts in a game since Week 5. Butker is ranked sixth-best kicker in our RotoBaller rankings this week, so fantasy managers should continue starting him.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Nov 9 4:20am ET
Bo Nix

The Kansas City Chiefs defense will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Kansas City defense gave up 24 points last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but still managed to rack up two sacks. The Chiefs have collected 17 sacks in eight games this season, but that may be difficult in Week 10. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has been sacked 15 times this season, fewer times than Patrick Mahomes has been brought down. Nix has shown his ability as a rusher this season, ranking fifth in rushing yards among quarterbacks. That said, Kansas City has been among the best defenses at stopping the run, and they're aware of Nix's rushing ability. If the Chiefs continue their run-stopping ways, they should be able to contain the Broncos offense. The Chiefs former first-round pick, George Karlaftis, was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice but practiced fully the rest of the week and does not carry an injury designation heading into the contest. Karlaftis is a vital piece of the defensive unit, so it's positive news that he has been removed from the injury report. This week, the Kansas City defense is ranked as the fourth-best defense in our RotoBaller rankings, so they are among the best options. Fantasy managers should start them confidently.

From RotoBaller

Kareem Hunt Nov 9 4:10am ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will face the Denver Broncos in Week 10. Hunt is coming off another solid performance, totaling 106 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hunt played a vital role in the Chiefs 30-24 overtime win, as he was the one who crossed the goal line to end it. The Chiefs lead back will take on the Broncos, who rank 20th in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. The Denver defense is tougher on the pass than the run, so Hunt should see another sizeable workload in this contest. Hunt logged a limited practice on Wednesday with a quad injury but practiced fully the rest of the week and does not have an injury designation for the game. Hunt is ranked RB16 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings this week, making him a high-end RB2 option in this matchup. Expect Hunt to get at least 20 carries again in this contest with a good chance of finding the endzone.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Nov 9 4:10am ET
DeAndre Hopkins

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will match up against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. Hopkins had a strong performance in his first full game as a Kansas City Chief last week. The veteran receiver hauled in eight catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 9 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers are among the most favorable matchups for wide receivers, but Hopkins will not be so fortunate this week. The Broncos rank ninth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season, so Hopkins will likely have less success in this matchup. Hopkins will often face All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II in this contest, limiting his upside. That said, Hopkins is ranked WR18 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR ranking this week. Fantasy managers should start Hopkins as a mid-tier WR2 this week despite the matchup.

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Xavier Worthy Nov 9 4:10am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will face the Denver Broncos in Week 10. Worthy is coming off his worst performance of the season in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the favorable matchup against Tampa Bay, the rookie receiver finished the game with zero catches and negative yardage. Worthy should have scored on a deep ball in the first quarter but did not get both feet down in bounds. It was the first game of Worthy's career that he did not register a single reception. The good news is it's only up from here. The bad news is the Broncos rank ninth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. Worthy needs to demonstrate his ability to be a reliable pass catcher to become a relevant option in the Kansas City offense, but he has not done that yet. Worthy is ranked WR40 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings this week, placing him firmly in the flex range. Fantasy managers should view the Chiefs rookie as nothing more than a desperation flex option in this matchup.

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Patrick Mahomes Nov 9 4:00am ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 10. Mahomes is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season, passing for 291 yards and three touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers defense has allowed huge performances to opposing offenses all season, so this week will be more challenging for the Chiefs quarterback. The Denver Broncos rank sixth in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season, making them one of the toughest matchups. Mahomes has been trending up in the past few weeks, and that trend could continue as he builds more chemistry with DeAndre Hopkins. Mahomes found himself on the injury report earlier this week with an ankle injury but practiced fully all week and does not have an injury designation for the game. Mahomes is ranked QB10 in our RotoBaller rankings this week, making him a low-end QB1 in this matchup. Given his recent success, fantasy managers should start Mahomes this week but temper expectations in a difficult matchup.

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Travis Kelce Nov 9 4:00am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 10. Kelce is coming off a season-best performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. The veteran tight end had 14 catches on 16 targets for 100 yards in the 30-24 overtime win. Kelce will transition from facing one of the most favorable matchups to one of the toughest. The Broncos rank 10th in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, so Kelce will have his work cut out for him. That said, Kelce is among the few elite tight ends with a strong guaranteed workload every week. Kelce is ranked TE2 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings this week in a difficult matchup, but fantasy managers should feel great about starting him every week.

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Ricky Pearsall Nov 9 2:50am ET
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is in Tampa for a Week 10 matchup against the Buccaneers on Sunday. The 31st-overall pick in the 2024 draft will be playing in just his third game as a pro after an impressively short recovery from being shot in the chest as the victim of an armed robbery. Pearsall has a bright future but will be running as a third receiver this week with Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib/oblique) and Jauan Jennings (hip) expected to play. The 49ers are also welcoming back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), and tight end George Kittle is healthy so targets will be hard to come by. Tampa Bay's pass defense hasn't been good, so the matchup is there for deeper-league managers looking to strike gold, but Pearsall should be considered a WR4 on Sunday, considering San Francisco's expected hierarchy.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Nov 9 2:40am ET
Caleb Williams

The New England Patriots defense remains an unreliable fantasy option heading into Week 10 against the Chicago Bears and their No. 1 pick quarterback, Caleb Williams. The Patriots' defense has several playmakers, but the unit's productivity has been underwhelming so far. New England has forced just five turnovers through nine weeks while allowing an average of 23.4 points per game. Even against the Bears and Williams, who has seven turnovers this year, the Patriots' defense cannot be trusted to make a real impact. They've tallied the eight-fewest fantasy points among D/ST units and remains off the radar this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Nov 9 2:40am ET
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has been quite productive lately and, as a result, is firmly positioned on the fantasy radar for Week 10 against the Chicago Bears. Over the last four weeks, with most of his targets coming from Drake Maye, the veteran tight end is averaging 5.8 catches, 58.5 receiving yards, and 0.3 touchdowns per game. The Patriots haven't had a whole lot of scoring opportunities, but their tendency to play from behind has created extra opportunities and targets for the team's pass catchers, including Henry. He's a firm TE1 option slated to command a large target share once again on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Nov 9 2:40am ET
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has struggled with ball security lately, totaling four interceptions and two lost fumbles during his three full games under center. Despite turnover issues, Maye has maintained his role among the top 12 fantasy quarterbacks, throwing for six touchdown passes and rushing for 209 yards so far this year. This week, he faces the Bears, whose secondary has been quite impressive in 2024. Chicago has allowed the fewest passing touchdowns and the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Nevertheless, Maye's rushing upside and touchdown tendencies make up for his tough matchup and poor ball security. He remains a low-end fantasy QB1 versus Chicago.

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Jauan Jennings Nov 9 2:30am ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) will return from a two-game absence when the team takes on the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday. In his last time on the field -- in Seattle -- Jennings was targeted five times, finishing with three receptions for 27 yards. The targets tied Deebo Samuel Sr. for the wide receiver team lead, even with a pre-injury Brandon Aiyuk on the field. With Aiyuk out for the season, Jennings has a golden opportunity in front of him to become a fantasy contributor down the stretch. The matchup for 49ers receivers this week is good as the Bucs have allowed the seventh-most WR fantasy points this season. Consider Jennings a viable WR3/FLEX option in Week 10.

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Joey Slye Nov 9 2:30am ET
Joey Slye

New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye cannot be trusted in fantasy football ahead of his Week 10 matchup versus the Chicago Bears. Slye had a brief stretch of solid performances early in the year, but he has settled back into mediocrity while struggling with accuracy here and there. All in all, he is 13-for-13 on extra points and 12-for-15 on field goals. He missed a kick as recently as last week. In general, scoring opportunities have been tough to come by for the Patriots, and Slye is no exception. Even in a relatively favorable matchup against the Bears, Slye belongs on fantasy waivers.

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Demario Douglas Nov 9 2:30am ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas hasn't been the most consistent contributor this season, but he has generally been trending in the right direction ever since the team installed rookie Drake Maye as its starting quarterback. Douglas has six-plus catches in four of his last seven games, including a seven-catch, 35-yard showing just last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Douglas isn't a major yardage producer, but he has trustworthy hands and commands plenty of volume within the Patriots' offense. Although the 23-year-old is trending up, he gets a very unfavorable matchup this week in the form of the Bears. Chicago has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing slot receivers like Douglas, so even if New England finds itself playing from behind, the receiver could have trouble overcoming strong coverage from the Bears' secondary. Douglas has volume-based WR3 upside in PPR leagues, but his floor is also quite low.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Nov 9 2:00am ET
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason will return to a backup role in Week 10 when the team takes on the Buccaneers in Tampa. The undrafted third-year pro did an impressive job filling in for All-Pro Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) over the 49ers' first five games, averaging 15.9 half-PPR points before suffering a lingering shoulder sprain in Week 6 and ceding much of his subsequent work to rookie Isaac Guerendo. While Mason won't be completely locked out of action with the return of McCaffrey on Sunday since San Francisco is likely to ease the latter back into action to some degree, the Niners have established a preference for using their RB1 almost exclusively. As long as CMC remains healthy, Mason reverts to a top handcuff/stash, while Guerendo falls off the fantasy map entirely. Hang on to Mason if at all possible, but leave him on the bench in Week 10.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Nov 9 1:00am ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will be in Tampa for a Week 10 showdown against the Buccaneers on Sunday. The last time we saw Purdy, he earned a Week 8 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at home. The former Iowa State Cyclone looked sharp in that game, posting 26.3 fantasy points. Purdy has a juicy matchup coming out of the bye, as Tampa Bay's defense is ranked dead-last in QB fantasy points allowed in Yahoo default scoring. Though Purdy will be without Brandon Aiyuk (knee) for the remainder of the year, there are no other excuses for San Francisco's passing attack to stall in this one, as Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), Deebo Samuel (rib/oblique), and Jauan Jennings (hip) are all likely to play. The Bucs are leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns allowed to quarterbacks -- part of why they've been such a friendly matchup -- and Purdy has been on a bit of a ground-game heater. He's averaging 26.3 yards per game this season, nearly triple 2023's mark, and has rushed for three touchdowns in his last two games. However, McCaffrey's return is likely to stymie that trend. Regardless, Purdy is a solid fantasy starter in Week 10.

From RotoBaller

Wan'Dale Robinson Nov 9 12:50am ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson will look to break out of a recent slump as the team heads to Munich to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 10. Robinson has struggled over the past three weeks, including a three-catch, 10-yard outing in Week 9, resulting in diminished fantasy production (he did have a touchdown called back on a penalty). With 51 receptions on 76 targets but averaging only 6.7 yards per catch, Robinson has been used primarily in short-yardage situations, limiting his upside. Facing a Panthers defense ranked 12th against fantasy WRs but vulnerable in the red zone with 18 passing touchdowns allowed this season, Robinson's potential for a bounce-back remains low, making him a risky WR4 play in deeper leagues for Week 10.

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Jonathan Taylor Nov 9 12:40am ET
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was held in check in Week 9 against a stout Vikings rush defense, but Week 10 brings a much more favorable matchup. The Buffalo Bills have allowed the second-most fantasy points to the RB position, and it hasn't just been on the ground. Running backs have scored four receiving TDs against them as well, in addition to the six rushing TDs they've yielded. Taylor is certainly a capable receiver, even receiving a season-high five targets in Week 9 with Joe Flacco under center. Although the 25-year-old missed a few weeks with an ankle injury, when he returned in Week 8, Taylor eclipsed 100-plus rushing and receiving yards for the fourth consecutive week. With Flacco struggling through the air last week and the Bills tougher against the pass, along with the expected absence of WR Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts could lean a bit heavier on the ground game in Week 10, which sets Jonathan Taylor up as a back-end RB1 on Sunday with some upside.

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Malik Nabers Nov 9 12:40am ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers remains the team's top weapon heading into Week 10's matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Munich. Last week, Nabers led the Giants with nine receptions, though he was held to just 59 yards as the Commanders contained his big-play ability. This week, he faces a Panthers defense that ranks 12th against fantasy WRs and has allowed 18 passing touchdowns this season, despite limiting overall passing yards to 232.6 per game. Nabers' steady target volume and six end-zone targets make him a reliable fantasy option, and against Carolina's vulnerable red-zone defense, he has a solid chance to add to his three touchdowns this season, making him a high-floor WR1 for Week 10.

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Mack Hollins Nov 9 12:40am ET
Mack Hollins

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins (shoulder) was removed from the injury report heading into Sunday's matchup with the Colts. He practiced in full on Wednesday. However, there were some doubts regarding his availability after logging limited sessions on Thursday and Friday. Fortunately, he's good to go against Indianapolis. The 31-year-old is coming off his best game of the 2024-25 campaign, catching all five targets for 30 yards and a touchdown. With Keon Coleman (wrist) out and Amari Cooper (wrist) questionable, there could be opportunities for others on the offensive end. While Khalil Shakir should remain Josh Allen's preferred receiving option, Hollins could gain streaming potential in deep league fantasy formats if Cooper doesn't suit up.

From RotoBaller