Who Should I Start? Chris Manhertz or Jake Tonges

Friday, March 15, 3:42 PM

Free-agent tight end Chris Manhertz is signing with the New York Giants, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Giants have Darren Waller and Daniel Bellinger on the roster and signed former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Jack Stoll this week, so the position is getting crowded behind Waller. Manhertz has caught just 26 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns in his eight-year career with the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Denver Broncos, so he will not be on the fantasy radar in 2024. He is primarily a blocking tight end, and he could be buried on the depth chart.

Wednesday, January 21, 4:51 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that tight end Jake Tonges (foot) suffered a plantar-fascia injury in the Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week and will need three weeks to recover, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Before his injury on Saturday, Tonges caught five of his six targets for 59 yards, with George Kittle suffering a season-ending torn Achilles the week prior in the Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old saw an expanded role during the regular season, too, with Kittle missing time with injuries, and he finished with career highs across the board in catches (34), targets (46), receiving yards (293), and touchdowns (five) in 17 regular-season contests. Tonges should be fully healthy for next season, and he should be back in the Bay Area as a restricted free agent.