Who Should I Start? Donald Parham Jr. or Oronde Gadsden

Tuesday, June 3, 8:31 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Donald Parham Jr. (Achilles) suffered a torn Achilles tendon on Tuesday and is in danger of missing the entirety of the 2025 season. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the injury. News came through earlier today that the Steelers removed themselves from conversations with the Miami Dolphins for tight end Jonnu Smith, but their tune quickly changed, and now we know why. It's unfortunate news for the 27-year-old, as he's now set for a lengthy recovery process. It's no secret that Pittsburgh has a glaring need at quarterback, though the lack of weapons on the offense is quickly becoming an understated issue. It's unlikely that Parham Jr. would have made a massive impact in 2025. Still, the team's skill players are relatively thin behind wideout DK Metcalf, tight end Pat Freiermuth, and running back Jaylen Warren.

Friday, December 26, 10:08 AM

Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden saw his involvement crater last week, recording just one catch for seven yards on a season-low 3.5% target share. This drop in usage stems from the Chargers prioritizing extra pass protection for their battered offensive line, leaving non-blocking Gadsden on the sidelines for significant stretches. The Week 17 matchup against the Houston Texans offers little hope for a rebound. While Houston is occasionally susceptible to tight end touchdowns, they rank top-10 in yards allowed to the position and lead the league in EPA/Pass. With Gadsden's routes and targets trending sharply downward, he cannot be trusted during the most important week of the fantasy season. He should remain on your bench as a low-end TE2.