Who Should I Start? Darren Waller or Jonnu Smith

Friday, September 12, 12:14 PM

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that tight end Darren Waller (hip) will be out in Week 2 against the division-rival New England Patriots. Waller has not practiced this week and will miss his second straight game in 2025 after coming out of retirement to join the Dolphins. The 32-year-old was ramping up all summer during training camp after not playing at all in 2024, and he suffered a hip injury in practice last week. His injury doesn't appear to be very serious, but the Dolphins aren't going to take any chances with a player who sat out all of last year. It remains to be seen if Waller will be able to make his Dolphins debut in Week 3 against the division-rival Buffalo Bills, but it's probably unlikely, given that it will be on a short week next Thursday night. Tanner Conner and Julian Hill will continue to fill in at TE, but neither player will be an acceptable fantasy streamer in Week 2.

Friday, September 12, 9:57 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith led the team in designed targets in Week 1, per Fantasy Points Data. Despite an inefficient outing, he salvaged his day by scoring on an end-around from inside the five-yard line. Smith drew four designed looks, ranking ahead of notable receivers such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, and Travis Hunter. The Steelers acquired Smith this offseason, reuniting him with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who helped rejuvenate his career during their time together in Atlanta. In Week 2, Smith draws a matchup with Seattle -- a defense that finished middle of the pack against tight ends in 2024. With Pat Freiermuth still in the mix, Smith's role remains capped, making him difficult to trust outside of deeper leagues. He's more of a touchdown-dependent flier than a reliable fantasy starter heading into Pittsburgh's home opener.