Who Should I Start? David Njoku or Kyle Pitts Sr.

Friday, December 26, 4:35 PM

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for the third straight game due to a knee injury. The veteran tight end has been on the shelf since week 15 due to this injury. This week, the 29-year-old was unable to make much progress as he logged three straight non-participations during their practices. Njoku will look to return in their regular-season finale next weekend, when they travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. Before his injury, Njoku was losing his footing in this offense, averaging just 4.3 PPR points per game over his last five contests (Weeks 10 through 14). As a result, managers should expect rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) to continue to remain the team's clear top tight end, if cleared to suit up on Sunday.

Saturday, December 27, 4:20 PM

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. broke out over the last two weeks, combining for 18 catches on 21 targets that amounted to 223 yards and four touchdowns. He's now the second-highest scoring tight end in fantasy, and is arguably Kirk Cousins' favorite target since taking over for Michael Penix Jr. (knee). Drake London (knee) returned to action last week, but Pitts recorded more targets, catches, and yards than London as the team's No. 1 receiver played just 69 percent of the offensive snaps. London has been limited in practice all week and is officially questionable for MNF, while Pitts was a limited participant on Friday and Saturday, but carries no injury designation into the Week 17 contest. Assuming Pitts suits up, he'll take a Rams defense that is so-so defending tight ends, but it's also a defense that's yielded the second-most passing yards per game over their last three contests (277.7) and allowed Seattle's TE AJ Barner to catch four passes for 49 yards and a score in Week 16. The 6-foot-6 tight end projects as a high-end TE1 for Monday Night Football, and if London were to end up missing the game, it would be a boon to Pitts' potential target total.