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FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

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
DeVonta Smith Oct 7 2:20pm CT
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According to NFL Insider James Palmer, the Philadelphia Eagles expect superstar wide receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) to return to action in Week 6. It's excellent news for the Eagles and fantasy managers. Brown has been on the shelf since a five-catch, 119-yard performance in Week 1 after popping up later that week with a hamstring issue, and Smith since Week 4 when he was forced from Philly's loss to the Buccaneers -- failing to record a target. They'll be a welcome sight for quarterback Jalen Hurts, who struggled to get much going down both athletes when the team fell to Tampa Bay 33-16. The wideouts will immediately slot back into their elite WR1 and high-end WR2 roles in the Eagles' offense, providing a significant boost to the team when Philadelphia hosts the visiting Cleveland Browns this coming Sunday. Fantasy managers can confidently return them to their starting lineups.

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Brandin Cooks Oct 7 2:13pm CT
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Dynasty | Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert had seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in a win against Pittsburgh. Dynasty Analysis: Tolbert led the team in catches and targets while the Steelers focused much of the defensive game plan on CeeDee Lamb. Tolbert now has double digit fantasy points in three of four games and is quickly emerging as a legitimate option in fantasy leagues. With Brandin Cooks on injured reserve, Tolbert has a chance to take the WR2 job in Dallas and run with it. He'll be a flex consideration moving forward and maybe more if he can keep it up.

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Dalvin Cook Oct 7 2:13pm CT
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Dynasty | Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle had 87 rushing yards, two catches, 27 receiving yards, and a touchdown in a win against the Steelers. Dynasty Analysis: After beginning the season in a rotation with Ezekiel Elliott, Dowdle has now taken over the backfield in Dallas. He had 22 touches this week compared to just six for Elliott. While his production has been far from dominant, his workload merits him to be in consideration each week. The Cowboys could still bring up Dalvin Cook but it seems Dowdle is going to finally get a chance to earn the job. He's a solid hold in dynasty leagues.

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Anthony Richardson Oct 7 2:10pm CT
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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that when quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) is healthy, he will remain the team's starter. Richardson was forced from the Colt's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers with what was initially labeled a hip injury. In his absence, Joe Flacco has thrown for 527 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in less than two full games of action. Despite this, Indianapolis will continue to roll with their second-year quarterback, who has yet to eclipse three passing scores on the year while already tossing six interceptions. As exciting as the 22-year-old is to watch, it would appear that Flacco gives the Colts a better chance to win games and is a bigger boost to his surrounding skill players -- particularly the wide receivers -- for fantasy. The Florida product isn't expected to be sidelined long, and projects to be back this Sunday when Indianapolis faces the Tennessee Titans on the road. This situation will become more evident when the Colts release their week's first injury report on Wednesday.

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Xavier Legette Oct 7 2:10pm CT
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Per Joe Person of the Athletic, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (shoulder) said he is expected to undergo imaging on Monday for his AC Joint injury. The rookie wideout exited Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Chicago Bears late in the first half, ending his day with one catch on one target for eight yards. Earlier reports from Legette confirmed he expects to play in Week 6 when the team lines up to face the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday. However, Carolina is at least moderately concerned about the 23-year-old's shoulder. In his absence, wide receiver Jalen Coker saw an uptick in snaps, leading the team in receptions (4) and yards (68). Coker would likely play in three wide receiver sets again, along with Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo, if Legette were to miss more time. For now, the former first-round pick is considered day-to-day.

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DeMarvin Leal Oct 7 1:50pm CT
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The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed 20 points while logging two sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a blocked field goal in a Week 5 Loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Led by T.J. Watt, the Steelers' defense was on fire to begin the contest, forcing two turnovers and holding Dallas to just six points in the first half. Pittsburgh managed some big plays late, such as an interception by cornerback Joey Porter Jr. that eventually led to a go-ahead touchdown, but the defense struggled to put pressure on quarterback Dak Prescott in the second half. Edge rushers Nick Herbig (hamstring) and DeMarvin Leal (neck) were both injured in the contest, leaving Pittsburgh depleted at outside linebacker with Alex Highsmith (groin) inactive. The Steelers DST will hope to get healthy in a spot to bounce back against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.

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Devon Achane Oct 7 1:40pm CT
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According to Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Monday that running back De'Von Achane (concussion) is in the NFL's concussion protocol. The 22-year-old exited Sunday's contest against the New England Patriots early after taking an end around and colliding head-on with a Pats' defender. Achane had racked up 18 yards on his three carries before his exit and seemed to be in store for a big game. In his stead, running backs Raheem Mostert and rookie Jaylen Wright handled the majority of the backfield touches, with the veteran amassing six more carries but six fewer yards than the latter. That duo would likely lead the backfield again if Achane missed time. Fortunately, Miami is heading into their Week 6 bye, which will afford the second-year back an extended recovery period. He is probably able to clear protocol ahead of an enticing Week 7 road matchup against a sieve-like Indianapolis Colts defense, but this will be a situation for fantasy managers to monitor.

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Chris Boswell Oct 7 1:20pm CT
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Pat Freiermuth Oct 7 1:10pm CT
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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth came down with all three of his targets for 22 yards and a score in a Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Freiermuth was quiet for much of the contest but was called upon when it mattered most. The 25-year-old was on the receiving end of a six-yard shovel-pass-touchdown from quarterback Justin Fields that put the Steelers up 17-13 with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, Freiermuth was credited with a lost fumble on the last play of the game, on which he lateralled the ball in a desperate attempt to score as time expired. Freiermuth has had a sizeable role in the offense all season and has proven to be a threat near the goal line over the past two weeks. He'll continue to project as a low-end TE1 heading into a Week 6 bout with the Las Vegas Raiders.

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David Njoku Oct 7 1:00pm CT
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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) played 25 offensive snaps in the Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday in his first game since suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. However, Njoku suffered a knee injury against Washington, and head coach Kevin Stefanski said he will get an MRI exam on Monday to determine the extent of his new injury. The 28-year-old had just one reception for 14 yards on three targets in his return, while Jordan Akins caught all three of his targets for 22 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Njoku's status for a Week 6 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles is now up in the air until we know more about his knee injury. Even if his knee injury isn't serious and he's able to play this weekend, Njoku's stock has fallen to a low-end TE1/high-end TE2 in what has become an ugly Browns offense.

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George Pickens Oct 7 1:00pm CT
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens recorded three receptions for 26 yards on seven targets in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. It was an oddly quiet night for Pickens, who was out-snapped by fellow wideouts Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III. When asked about the situation, head coach Mike Tomlin labeled it "snap management" and stated that there was no underlying reason for Pickens' minimal role. With Pickens on the sideline, it was made apparent that the Steelers are lacking explosive pass-catchers, making his limited utilization all the more confusing. He did manage to contribute on a pivotal possession late in the fourth quarter, gaining 21 yards on a short pass from Justin Fields that set up a go-ahead touchdown. The 23-year-old should be more involved in a Week 6 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Davante Adams Oct 7 12:50pm CT
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The Las Vegas Raiders' preference as an organization is to trade wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) "sooner rather than later," according to multiple sources. However, the Raiders aren't just going to do any deal just for the sake of trading Adams, and their preference has been not to take on any of the money remaining on his contract. Trade talks involving Adams are expected to heat up this week, with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints being the most likely destinations for the 31-year-old. Adams has missed the last two games with the Raiders due to a hamstring issue, but he's expected to be ready to play in Week 6 if he's traded by then. In three games this year, he has caught 18 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown. Moving out of Vegas and their ugly quarterback situation should be a plus for Adams' rest-of-season fantasy outlook. Stay tuned on this high-profile situation.

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Will Levis Oct 7 12:40pm CT
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Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) likely won't practice on Monday, but he expects the young signal-caller to return to his practice routine later in the week. Levis is "improving" and is better than he was after last Monday's win over the Miami Dolphins. The 25-year-old suffered a right AC-joint sprain in his throwing shoulder in Week 4. He was relieved by Mason Rudolph, who stayed in for the remainder of the game and led the team to an easy win over Miami. It sounds like Levis should have a chance to play in Week 6 against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts coming out of the bye week, but nothing is official as of right now. The Titans said last week that Levis remains their starting QB as long as he's healthy, but he could be on a short leash moving forward after leading the league with six interceptions through his first four games.

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Justin Fields Oct 7 12:30pm CT
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed 15 of 27 pass attempts for 131 yards and two touchdowns while adding 27 rushing yards on six attempts in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Steelers' offense struggled in this one, but Fields was able to execute with some success in the second half. He found tight end Connor Heyward for a 16-yard score early in the third quarter and later hit Pat Freiermuth on a six-yard shovel pass for a touchdown that gave the team a 17-13 lead with less than five minutes to go in the fourth. Like his performance in Week 4, Fields' efforts to mount a comeback salvaged his fantasy output even though the Steelers came up short. Assuming he remains the starter, the 25-year-old will be a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 for fantasy purposes in Week 6 when he takes on the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Zack Moss Oct 7 12:30pm CT
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Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (ankle) is believed to be OK after injuring his right ankle late in the Week 5 overtime loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, according to sources. Moss got twisted in an awkward way and had to leave the game late, but it looks like he dodged a bullet. The 26-year-old could very well be on the injury report this week, but he appears to have a good shot at playing in Week 6 versus the New York Giants on the road. In the 41-38 loss, Moss had a season-low-tying nine carries for only 24 yards while catching three of his four targets for 28 yards. Moss has found the end zone three times (two rushing, one receiving) in his first five games with the Bengals in 2024, but backfield mate Chase Brown has gotten more involved in recent weeks as the Bengals offense has come alive a bit. If active, he'll be an RB3/flex in fantasy in Week 6.

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Najee Harris Oct 7 12:30pm CT
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris handled 14 carries for 42 yards and hauled in both his targets for 35 yards in a Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Although the numbers don't necessarily reflect it, Harris was the focal point of Pittsburgh's offense on Sunday night. He managed to lead the team in receiving yards despite seeing just two opportunities in the passing game. His biggest play of the contest came on a screen pass from quarterback Justin Fields that resulted in a 20-yard gain. With Jaylen Warren (knee) inactive the past two weeks, Harris has seen the vast majority of touches in the Steelers' backfield but has been underwhelming from a fantasy perspective. The fourth-year pro will hope to turn things around against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.

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Aaron Jones Oct 7 12:20pm CT
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Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (hip) left the Week 5 win over the New York Jets in London in the first half with a right-hip injury and is undergoing an MRI exam on Monday to determine the extent of his injury. Jones was ruled out pretty quickly after he departed Sunday's game. For what it's worthy, head coach Kevin O'Connell said after the game he thought Jones' injury would be a short-term one. And with the Vikings having a bye in Week 6, there's a good chance Minnesota will have Jones back for a Week 7 tilt with the division-rival Detroit Lions. Before getting hurt, the 29-year-old played 16 offensive snaps and had seven carries for 29 yards while adding a 24-yard catch. We'll keep a close eye on Jones' status coming out of the bye week, but if he's forced to miss additional time coming out of next week's bye, Ty Chandler figures to be in line for lead-back duties for the Vikings in Week 7.

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Rashee Rice Oct 7 12:10pm CT
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There remains hopes that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) could return this season and be sidelined six to eight weeks, according to league sources, but nothing will be determined until early this week once he has a procedure on his injured knee. Once the Chiefs have more clarity on Rice, they can move into action in terms of looking for a trade to help improve their receiving depth in the meantime. A trade makes even more sense with Marquise Brown (shoulder) lost for the year. KC explored signing DeAndre Hopkins in the 2023 offseason before he signed with the Tennessee Titans. Now that he's in the last year of his contract, the Titans could entertain offers for him. The Chiefs aren't expected to trade for Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams for a number of reasons, but they could reach out to the Jets if they land him to see if they'd be interested in moving one of their other wideouts.

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Josh Allen Oct 7 12:10pm CT
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Diontae Johnson Oct 7 11:36am CT
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Dynasty | Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson had three catches for 23 yards, adding six rushing yards in a loss against Chicago. Dynasty Analysis: This was a major buzzkill after Johnson had posted two monster games with Andy Dalton at the helm. Chicago took control of the game rather early and made life miserable for Dalton and the offense most of the day. Johnson should be much better moving forward, but this could open up a quick window to buy in dynasty leagues if you believe he's truly turning the corner.