Who Should I Start? Darren Waller or Mason Taylor

Tuesday, July 1, 12:10 PM

The Miami Dolphins are finalizing a trade with the New York Giants on Tuesday for former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, who is coming out of retirement, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Waller retired last summer after catching 52 of his 74 targets for 552 yards and just one touchdown in 12 games (11 starts) with the G-Men in 2023. Miami was desperate for an addition at tight end after trading Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins and Giants are also swapping late-round draft picks in the Waller trade. Waller will turn 33 in September and hasn't played more than 12 games since his Pro Bowl season in 2020, but he should automatically become Miami's top pass-catching tight end. The volume alone should make him at least a TE2 target with upside in fantasy, but don't expect him to replicate Smith's numbers from last year in Miami.

Monday, June 9, 12:22 PM

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reports that New York Jets rookie second-round tight end Mason Taylor is starting to make waves during offseason workouts and looks like the tight end most ready to make an impact in the passing game for the Jets. However, if he's going to be on the field more than the team's other TEs, Rosenblatt thinks he needs to show more as a blocker. "I think he's been doing an outstanding job," head coach Aaron Glenn said. "It's not just the pass-catching that's what you guys see. But it's the blocking that really gets me going." The 21-year-old was a three-year starter in the SEC and could make an immediate impact for the Jets and fantasy managers as a starter sooner than later in his rookie season. Taylor has a real opportunity to see significant targets behind receiver Garrett Wilson, although New York's offense could lean on the ground game.