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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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Player Notes
David Njoku Oct 5 11:50pm CT
David Njoku

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Commanders. The 28-year-old began the 2024-25 campaign by catching four of his five targets for 44 yards in the Week 1 loss to Dallas. However, he's been sidelined by a high-ankle sprain and has been working his way back since. Schefter added that Njoku could be limited in Week 5. Still, he's hard to trust even if he were handling his usual workload, so fantasy managers should consider keeping him out of the starting lineup. The same goes for Jordan Akins, who has been starting in Njoku's place for the last few games.

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Dameon Pierce Oct 5 11:40pm CT
Dameon Pierce

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) isn't expected to suit up on Sunday versus the Bills. The 24-year-old is coming along, considering he practiced in a limited capacity on Friday. However, since he had only three carries for 16 yards in Week 1 versus the Colts, the last time he was on the field, there aren't many fantasy managers looking for an update, even with Joe Mixon (ankle) ruled out. In the meantime, the Texans will continue to roll with Cam Akers to handle the bulk of the work out of the backfield. While Akers hasn't done much with his enhanced role in Houston, he deserves some consideration for fantasy lineups due to the favorable matchup on the horizon versus a Bills defense that's struggled to stop the run this season.

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DeAndre Hopkins Oct 5 9:20pm CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Per Adam Schefter, Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins could be a candidate to be traded to the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The news comes on the back of a report that Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) is scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic knee procedure early this week that will determine his status for the remainder of the season. Per Schefter, if Rice is ruled out, the team may eventually turn to the trade market to seek veteran help to bolster their receiving corps. Hopkins was reportedly linked to Kansas City and spoke "extensively" with the team before ultimately signing with Tennessee two seasons ago. Whether this comes to fruition remains to be seen, but the change of scenery would benefit the 32-year-old. The long-time Texan currently ranks second on his team in receiving yards (121) and third in receptions (10) and targets (14). However, most of that production has come over the last two games, and Hopkins has yet to play more than 46% of Tennessee's snaps -- ranking fourth amongst the team's wideouts in that category.

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Christian McCaffrey Oct 5 9:00pm CT
Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) will not be activated when eligible to return for the team's Week 6 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football, per Adam Schefter. McCaffrey, who has been on injured reserve since Week 2 with nagging calf and bilateral Achilles tendinitis, was a candidate to return to the team this week, but it's looking like that won't come to fruition. However, there is optimism surrounding the 28-year-old after his calf and Achilles issues did not flare up upon his return to on-field work this past week. It's a notable development, considering this is the superstar back's first work on the field since being placed on IR. Per Schefter, if McCaffrey can continue ramping up his participation with no setbacks, he would have a chance at suiting up for San Francisco's Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20. He could also return to action the following week when the team takes on the Dallas Cowboys. Additionally, the 49ers could continue to play it safe with their All-Pro running back with their bye week following the matchup against Dallas. We're at least a few weeks away from clarity on this situation. Still, fantasy managers have to be encouraged regarding the consensus first-overall pick's status with the recent news.

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Rashee Rice Oct 5 8:40pm CT
Rashee Rice

According to Ian Rapoport, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) is scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic knee procedure early this week. Rice is set to meet with heralded knee expert Dr. Dan Cooper to ascertain the extent of damage to his knee and determine whether or not he will be a candidate to play again this year. Currently, there is only a small chance he'll be healthy enough to do so. The second-year wideout went down with a gruesome hyper-extension of his right knee when quarterback Patrick Mahomes attempted to make a tackle after tossing an interception in the team's 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. If the electric pass-catcher cannot play again this season, it would be a massive blow to fantasy managers and the Chiefs' offense as he has quickly evolved into Mahomes' most reliable playmaker. If Kansas City must move on without the 24-year-old, they may still seek veteran help via the trade market. A notable possibility would be Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who spoke extensively with the team before signing with Tennessee. For now, expect wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson to help pick up the slack in KC's passing attack, along with tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Gray.

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Davante Adams Oct 5 8:10pm CT
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has potentially played his last snap under head coach Antonio Pierce. Adams' trade saga continues as talks surrounding the superstar wideout begin to ramp up ahead of the NFL's Week 5 slate of action. As per Ian Rapoport, the 31-year-old is nearing full health and is expected to be able to be healthy enough to play in Week 6 despite being ruled out for Sunday's contest. The former second-round pick's top landing spot is reportedly in New York with the Jets, where he'd be reunited with longtime teammate Aaron Rodgers. However, the New Orleans Saints have been the most aggressive in pursuit of the star receiver, which would also spell a reunion with another former quarterback (Derek Carr). Additionally, the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers have stayed in touch and closely monitored the situation. It's anyone's guess where Adams will eventually end up, but it would seem a handful of teams have separated themselves as legitimate contenders in his sweepstakes. Las Vegas is content to wait it out if no team matches their price, but if a deal does get done, this coming Tuesday would be the deadline, according to Rapoport.

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Harrison Butker Oct 5 6:30pm CT
Harrison Butker

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Week 5. Butker made one of his two field goal attempts and both of his extra-point attempts in last week's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. The field goal that Butker missed in that game was his first missed field goal this season, but it was also an attempt from 65 yards away, so it would've been one of the longest field goals in NFL history had it gone through. Butker has made eight of his nine field goal attempts and eight of his nine extra-point attempts this season. The Saints have been the top-scoring offense in 2024, so the Chiefs may need to score a lot to keep up. Butker should be heavily involved in this contest and remain a must-start kicker.

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Xavier Worthy Oct 5 6:20pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will face the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Week 5. The Chiefs rookie receiver had three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in last week's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Worthy has seen exactly four targets in the previous three games and has yet to surpass 100 receiving yards this season. With the loss of Marquise Brown and, more recently, Rashee Rice to injured reserve, the Chiefs may need Worthy to step up. Worthy has also had five carries this season, so the Kansas City coaching staff is finding ways to get the ball into his hands. The Saints defense should also be a favorable matchup for the rookie receiver this week. The Saints have given up the ninth-most passing yards to opposing offenses this season, so Worthy should have the opportunity for a big game this week. Despite the matchup and loss of receivers, Worthy's role in the passing attack is not clearly defined yet. The Chiefs rookie should remain in the flex range, given his small role thus far, but that could easily change after this week's contest.

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Kareem Hunt Oct 5 6:10pm CT
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will take on the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Week 5. Hunt took over the backfield last week after rookie Carson Steele fumbled on the game's first drive. Hunt had 14 carries for 69 yards and two catches for 16 yards. The veteran running back displayed his dual-threat ability in last week's contest and will likely do so again this week. Despite giving up the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game this season, the Saints defense has given up the fifth-most yards per carry to opposing rushers. The coaching staff knows Hunt from his previous stint with Kansas City, so it is conceivable that they trust him enough to carry the load. If Hunt leads the backfield again, he should find himself firmly in the RB2 range. Given that Clyde Edwards-Helaire is doubtful for this week's contest, there should be enough touches for Hunt to be a valuable fantasy asset on Monday night.

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Travis Kelce Oct 5 6:00pm CT
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will face the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Week 5. Kelce was the top target in the Chiefs offense after star receiver Rashee Rice went down with a knee injury in the first quarter. Kelce finished the game with seven catches for 89 yards on nine targets in Week 4. With Kansas City officially placing Rashee Rice on injured reserve, Kelce should regain his role as the top target for Patrick Mahomes. The Saints should be a favorable matchup for the Chiefs passing attack, and Kelce could be in for a big game. Mahomes will likely involve Xavier Worthy and the other receivers, but Kelce should be the favorite to lead the team in targets and receptions this week. Kelce is also without a touchdown through four games, so look for that to change in this primetime matchup. Fantasy managers should feel much more confident about starting Kelce this week.

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Trent Taylor Oct 5 5:50pm CT
Trent Taylor

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Taylor will join the active roster for the first time this season with fellow wideout Jacob Cowing (shoulder) unlikely to play. Taylor will serve as depth at wide receiver, but will likely be used more frequently as a punt and kick returner. He hasn't recorded a reception in an NFL game since 2022. He's unlikely to see much action in the receiving game with a majority of the 49ers wideouts healthy right now. Taylor will likely just return kicks, which means he won't have much fantasy appeal for this weekend.

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Patrick Mahomes Oct 5 5:50pm CT
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take on the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Week 5. Mahomes will be without his favorite receiver, Rashee Rice, for the foreseeable future as the Chiefs placed him on injured reserve due to a severe knee injury. The remaining Chiefs receiving corps will be asked to step up in his absence. The primary beneficiary figures to be Travis Kelce, who should vacuum up those middle-of-the-field targets that Rice was feasting on. Rookie Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman all figure to play a role in the passing attack, but their volume is to be determined. Mahomes has not been a great fantasy quarterback by any stretch of the imagination this season, as he has thrown for less than 300 yards and at least one interception in every contest. The loss of his best receiver should also decrease his production, making him an undesirable start in fantasy football most weeks. Despite his poor start and few game-changing pass catchers, Mahomes could find success against the Saints this week. The Saints have given up the ninth-most passing yards to opposing offenses this season but have also given up the fewest passing touchdowns. If Mahomes does not find a way to get it done in this matchup, fantasy managers may need to readjust their expectations for him this season.

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Isaiah Hodgins Oct 5 5:40pm CT
Isaiah Hodgins

New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Hodgins started with the Giants last season, but failed to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. Despite that, Hodgins decided to remain with the organization and go to the practice squad. He'll be elevated for the first time this season with fellow wideout Malik Nabers (concussion) ruled out. Hodgins hauled in 21 receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns across 17 games last season. He figures to be a depth option behind Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton in this offense.

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Maxx Crosby Oct 5 5:30pm CT
Maxx Crosby

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) is expected to return to the field for the Week 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos. The star pass rusher returned to practice on Friday and appears to be in line to play this weekend. Crosby missed his first game of his career last week after playing in 86 straight games. His return to the field is a welcoming sight for this defensive unit. Crosby has 14 tackles and three sacks through three games this season.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Badie Oct 5 5:20pm CT
Tyler Badie

Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) has been placed on the injured reserve prior to the Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Badie went down with a back injury during last week's game. It appears the injury is somewhat significant considering the team has placed him on the IR, so Badie will miss at least the next four games. The young back hasn't done a ton this season outside of his 70-yard performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin figure to split up the workload in the backfield going forward.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Oct 5 4:30pm CT
Brian Robinson Jr.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) will suit up for Sunday's game versus the Browns. He was officially labeled as questionable heading into this contest. However, with Austin Ekeler (concussion) also cleared to play, the Commanders will have their top options out of the backfield. While Robinson's presence should mean fewer touches for Ekeler, the knee injury could still jeopardize the former's volume in Week 5. As a result, both should be considered flex options against Cleveland, although Robinson's ceiling is still considerably higher.

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Marcus Mariota Oct 5 4:10pm CT
Marcus Mariota

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (chest) was removed from the injured reserve list on Saturday. The veteran signed a one-year deal with Washington during the offseason. However, he hasn't stepped on the field for the Commanders. For now, Mariota is questionable for the Week 5 meeting with the Browns. Still, Jayden Daniels is the team's starting signal-caller, so anyone behind him will only have fantasy value for insurance purposes.

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Chad Ryland Oct 5 4:00pm CT
Chad Ryland

The Arizona Cardinals elevated kicker Chad Ryland to the active roster for Sunday's game against the 49ers. The 24-year-old had a rough season in 2023, making only 64% of his field goal attempts. While that type of production won't land him on most fantasy rosters, Saturday's move could mean Matt Prater, who is questionable, (knee) won't be healthy enough to get on the field versus the Niners.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Oct 5 3:50pm CT
Joe Flacco

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco came off the bench to help the Colts in Week 4, completing 16 of his 26 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the team's win. Now, reports suggest that Flacco will get the start again in Week 5, with Anthony Richardson (hip) marked as doubtful. Flacco gets a favorable matchup against Jacksonville, a team that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season and the second most passing yards. Although Flacco doesn't provide the same ceiling as some other potential streaming options, he provides a very safe floor going up against Jacksonville's defense. He is the QB23 in our staff rankings this week.

From RotoBaller

Mecole Hardman Oct 5 3:50pm CT
Mecole Hardman

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (knee) is questionable for Monday's matchup with the Saints. The veteran didn't practice on Friday. However, he was a full-participant on Saturday, so there's a good chance he'll suit up. With that said, despite the absences of Rashee Rice (knee) and Marquise Brown (shoulder), Hardman likely won't get more involved, considering he's primarily used on special teams. As a result, it will likely be business as usual versus New Orleans, with Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy expected to see the most attention from Patrick Mahomes.

From RotoBaller