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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 [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 5

Player Notes
Will Levis Oct 2 8:20am CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) has a bye week to recover from his shoulder injury and should be able to return to the field as the team's starter in Week 6 according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Titans head coach Brian Callahan has said that Levis will remain the starter when healthy and Rapoport says that should be the case following the team's bye week. Levis hurt his shoulder early in the Monday night game against the Dolphins and the team turned to Mason Rudolph who led them to a win. So far this season, Levis ranks as the QB31 so he should not be on the fantasy radar even upon a return. He still has some potential in dynasty leagues but should not be counted on in one-quarterback leagues this season.

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Jeffery Simmons Oct 2 2:40am CT
Jeffery Simmons

Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (elbow) revealed that he suffered a Tommy John ligament injury in his left elbow, which caused him to miss Tennessee's 31-12 victory over Miami on Monday night. The injury occurred due to "friendly fire" during a collision with a teammate. Fortunately, Simmons was informed that he wouldn't need surgery, but he had to wear a large brace on his left arm last week. He missed practice on Thursday and Friday but still traveled with the team to Miami for "Monday Night Football." On Friday, he informed the Titans' medical staff that he felt ready to play, but the team decided to hold him out to prevent further risk, as he couldn't fully extend his arm. The upcoming bye week is well-timed for Simmons as he focuses on regaining full mobility in his arm. He has been working with the team's training staff to manage the injury and has been doing strengthening exercises. So far this season, Simmons has recorded 12 tackles, including two for a loss, along with a sack and a quarterback hit. He will return in Week 6 when the Titans face the Colts at Nissan Stadium.

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Curtis Samuel Oct 2 2:30am CT
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady emphasized, "Curtis Samuel has to play more. I need to find ways to get the ball in his hands because good things happen." Despite this, Samuel has struggled through four games, failing to record more than three catches in a single game and not exceeding 22 receiving yards. He's averaging just 12 yards per game, which is concerning for a player who signed a three-year, $24 million deal as a free agent. Additionally, Samuel ranks last among Bills receivers with only 68 snaps. During his time with Brady in Carolina, Samuel had his best professional season, totaling 851 receiving yards, three touchdowns, 200 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. However, that productive version of Samuel has yet to appear in Buffalo, making him look like a disappointment early on. As the Bills approach Week 5, Samuel must receive more targets and be more involved to help the offense advance. Until he shows greater involvement, he's not a recommended fantasy option heading into the matchup against the Texans.

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Caleb Farley Oct 2 2:30am CT
Caleb Farley

The Carolina Panthers have signed former Titans first-round cornerback Caleb Farley to their practice squad after he tried out for the team earlier in the day. Drafted by the Titans in 2021, Farley's career was hindered by injuries, limiting him to just 12 games in Tennessee, where he recorded 14 tackles. After releasing him in the offseason, the Titans faced a $4.29 million dead money charge. Now, with the Panthers, Farley has another chance to revitalize his career and become the player the Titans envisioned. Carolina's secondary needs significant help, and if Farley can remain healthy, he could quickly earn a role on the field. He's a player to watch moving forward, aiming to make an impact with this new opportunity.

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Garrett Wilson Oct 2 2:20am CT
Garrett Wilson

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson expressed concerns about the team's offensive approach, stating, "I watch football on Sundays and see a lot of teams mixing it up. I don't think we do that." The Jets' offense struggled during their disappointing 10-;9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4, scoring only nine points in a lackluster performance. Wilson also had a forgettable game, catching five passes on eight targets for just 41 yards, failing to make a significant impact. This season has been a slow start for the third-year receiver, who has recorded 20 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown on 34 targets across four games. He's on track for 764 receiving yards, a drop from his previous two seasons, where he surpassed 1,000 yards. Wilson was expected to thrive alongside a healthy Aaron Rodgers, but so far, he hasn't exceeded 60 receiving yards in any game this year and hasn't caught more than six passes in a single outing. He's reached the end zone once and has not had a reception longer than 26 yards. Speculation about a potential trade for Davante Adams to the Jets could further complicate Wilson's disappointing 2024 season. Ultimately, the Jets need to make changes to revitalize their offense, especially with tough matchups on the horizon.

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Davante Adams Oct 1 9:13pm CT
Davante Adams

Dynasty | Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams has told Las Vegas he prefers to be traded. Dynasty Analysis: Well, that escalated quickly. Adams has seemingly had enough of what the Raiders have had to offer and would like to move on. In addition, the Raiders are reportedly telling teams they'd like at least a second round pick and additional compensation in return. Teams like the Jets, Ravens, Steelers, Commanders and a few others could all be in the market for a top receiver, so this could materialize quickly. Adams' dynasty value will hinge on where he ends up for sure with staying in Las Vegas quickly becoming the worst of all options.

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Justin Watson Oct 1 9:00pm CT
Justin Watson

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson could find himself with a larger role on offense going forward. The Chiefs are going to be shorthanded for some time after Rashee Rice (knee) went down on Sunday. The expectation is that rookie Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce are going to be the focal points in the receiving game. However, Watson might end up seeing more work as well. He hauled in two of his three targets for 27 yards during Sunday's win. Watson knows the offense well and finished with nearly 500 yards in a part-time role last season. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Chiefs give Watson more responsibility with the team limited on offensive weapons. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to add Watson, but keep him on their radar, especially in deep leagues.

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Trey Sermon Oct 1 8:40pm CT
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon is likely to take over as the lead back heading into the Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fellow back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) exited early on Sunday and is now a candidate for the injured reserve. That being said, Sermon figures to see an expanded role in the offense with Taylor undoubtedly going to miss time. Last week, Sermon rushed five times for eight yards in the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sermon has bounced around the league quite a bit since being taken in the third round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. He has never been able to establish himself in the league, but this appears to be his best chance. The 25-year-old is going to be one of the most popular waiver wire additions this week. Fantasy managers who are desperate for help at running back should take a look at Sermon as he could be a viable option due to the volume of carries he could see.

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A.J. Brown Oct 1 8:30pm CT
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) missed his third game in a row on Sunday. Brown missed most of practice last week before returning for a limited session on Friday. The team ultimately held him out for the Week 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luckily, the Eagles have a bye in Week 5 and Brown's injury is not considered to be a long term issue. The hope is that Brown can rest and prepare for their next matchup against the Cleveland Browns on October 13. That is nearly two weeks from now, so the assumption is that Brown should be able to get back on the field by then. When healthy, Brown is a stud and a must-start in fantasy leagues.

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Davante Adams Oct 1 8:20pm CT
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams has reportedly been considering a trade for the last few weeks. The 31-year-old originally came to the organization to be paired with his friend Derek Carr. The Raiders decided to make a change at quarterback and moved on from Carr after the 2022 season. The veteran wideout no longer has a desire to play for the Raiders, so a trade could be coming in the next few weeks. One of Adams' preferred destinations is the New York Jets. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise as Adams could be paired up with former teammate Aaron Rodgers. Both players were together for many years on the Green Bay Packers. A trade to the Jets should be an immediate boost to Adams' fantasy value. He'll have to fight for targets with Garrett Wilson, but the team as a whole is an upgrade over the Raiders current roster.

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Chigoziem Okonkwo Oct 1 8:10pm CT
Chigoziem Okonkwo

Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo recorded one catch for five yards in the team's win over the Dolphins on Monday night. With quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) exiting early, Okonkwo was not a factor, seeing just three targets in the game as the Titans relied heavily on the running game. The three targets were actually a season-high for the tight end, who has not become a big part of the Titans' offense yet. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for options at the position, and Okonkwo can be left on the waiver wire.

Austin Ekeler Oct 1 7:10pm CT
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) said on Tuesday that he is tracking toward being able to play in Week 5 on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. It sounds like Ekeler expects to be back on the field this weekend and said he's feeling more like himself as he goes through all of the steps in the league's concussion protocol. With Ekeler out in the Week 4 blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals, Jeremy McNichols had a fruitful day as the backup to Brian Robinson Jr. while playing 38% of the offensive snaps. McNichols had eight carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns and added a six-yard reception. With Ekeler on his way back sooner than later, fantasy managers may not want to spend too much to pick up McNichols off the waiver wire. Ekeler should dominate passing-game work out of the Commanders' backfield when he returns.

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Salvon Ahmed Oct 1 7:10pm CT
Salvon Ahmed

The Denver Broncos signed free-agent running back Salvon Ahmed to their practice squad on Tuesday. In a corresponding move, the Broncos released wide receiver Kaden Davis from the practice squad. Ahmed will give Denver some more depth at the RB position after Tyler Badie (back) was placed on a backboard and carted off in the Week 4 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. Badie is a candidate to go on Injured Reserve, which would put him out for at least four games, which would make sense why the team would be looking for more RB depth behind Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin on the 53-man roster. The 25-year-old Ahmed was released by the Miami Dolphins in August and will bide his time on the practice squad for now. Even if Ahmed joins the active roster at some point, he belongs on the waiver wire unless one of Williams or McLaughlin are injured.

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Rico Dowdle Oct 1 6:00pm CT
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has seen his touches steadily outpace Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn in 2024, especially over the last three weeks. Dowdle has also far and away seen the higher snap share of the trio this season. Most importantly, Dowdle has been the most effective running back for the Cowboys in 2024. He has 34 carries for 134 yards and nine receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown this season. The steady shift towards Dowdle as the main running back suggests that the Cowboys are starting to trust him and value his production thus far this season. Running back Dalvin Cook has been acclimating to the team on the practice squad and could feasibly eat into Dowdle's workload if he were to be activated. However, for now, Dowdle is a player worth rostering and monitoring on your bench should his role grow even more.

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Gary Brightwell Oct 1 6:00pm CT
Gary Brightwell

The Cleveland Browns released running back Gary Brightwell on Tuesday. Brightwell had played in the team's past two games primarily as a special teams player. He did not record any statistics. The 26-year-old has not played many offensive snaps in his career. He joined the Browns in 2024 after spending his first three seasons with the New York Giants. For now, Brightwell will have to hope he can join another team as a special teams player. This move does not have any implications for fantasy football.

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Drake Maye Oct 1 5:50pm CT
Drake Maye

New York Times reporter Chad Graff stated on Tuesday that conversations with New England Patriots players and head coach Jerod Mayo indicate that the team believes quarterback Drake Maye is ready to be an NFL starter. However, Jacoby Brissett remains the starter in New England due to the lack of talent in the Patriots' offense. The Patriots are taking a cautious approach to protect Maye and ensure that his confidence does not falter. Ever since training camp, reports have indicated that Maye has been outplaying Brissett. As an NFL veteran, Brissett is better equipped to handle the difficult situation that is the Patriots offense. Brissett has stood no chance behind the Patriots' O-line in 2024. He has only managed to throw for 536 yards and two touchdowns. He has also been sacked 15 times in four games. Maye himself was sacked twice on one drive in limited action in Week 3. NFL fans will likely see Maye as the starter at some point in 2024, but the Patriots appear to have no interest in rushing that process.

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Odell Beckham Jr. Oct 1 5:40pm CT
Odell Beckham Jr.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced that the team will open the 21-day practice window for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed). Beckham was placed on the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury following the preseason. He will now have 21 days to practice with the team and return to the field. If he does not return within the 21-day period, he will be ineligible to return for the rest of the season. Beckham has bounced around the league in search of Super Bowl rings in recent seasons. He most recently played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. He recorded 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns in the low-volume passing offense. The Dolphins offense is not devoid of playmakers but they currently have a quarterback problem. Starter Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) has been out for the past two weeks and the Dolphins' offense has suffered as a result. Beckham is not the player he once was so his return may not move the needle for this offense without Tagovailoa behind center.

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Ray-Ray McCloud Oct 1 5:30pm CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III (ankle) was limited in practice on Tuesday. His participation in practice signals that he should be on track to play in Thursday night's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCloud has been a steady contributor for the Falcons in 2024. He has caught 15 passes for 163 yards while working alongside Darnell Mooney and Drake London. Due to the lack of excitement around him, McCloud is currently on a lot of waiver wires. He has been a solid player in PPR formats and should be rostered in case his role with the offense grows or he manages to start scoring more touchdowns. The Buccaneers are 10th in the NFL against opposing wide receivers in fantasy in 2024. As such, this matchup is not ideal but it is not terrible. Should McCloud be active in this game, he should at least deliver flex value for your fantasy team.

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Jalen McMillan Oct 1 5:20pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Jalen McMillan (hamstring) and Trey Palmer (concussion) did not practice on Tuesday. Both players are significant depth pieces for the Buccaneers at wide receiver. Their lack of participation Tuesday does not bode well for their ability to play on Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons. McMillan already missed Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. His absence forced Palmer to step up. Palmer recorded three receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown while filling in for McMillan. If neither player can go on Thursday, the Buccaneers will likely turn to Sterling Shepard and Kameron Johnson (ankle) for depth at wide receiver. What this news most likely means is that Mike Evans (knee/calf) and Chris Godwin should see the lion's share of targets in Week 5.

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Davante Adams Oct 1 5:13pm CT
Davante Adams

Dynasty | Davante Adams could indeed be on the trade block this season. Dynasty Analysis: The Las Vegas Review has a "source" inside the organization that is saying Adams could finally be dealt away this off-season. Adams has only said the rumors are "annoying" at this point, but there is some speculation that Head Coach Antonio Pierce could have "liked" a social media post asking if Adams has played his last game in Las Vegas. This is turning into a mess again and it seems we may be nearing the end of the rocky tenure here. The Jets and Chiefs are obvious trade candidates, but it's still early in the process and this is simply another rumor. Dynasty managers are likely ready for a change as the quarterback situation for the Raiders is a mess and Adams is clearly looking more and more frustrated.

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