Who Should I Start? Drew Sample or Jackson Hawes

Saturday, September 27, 2:08 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample has only three catches this season, with one resulting in a trip to the end zone. The 29-year-old has logged more snaps than Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant (foot) through the first three weeks of the 2025 campaign. However, both have received more attention from quarterbacks Joe Burrow (toe) and Jake Browning. The Bengals offense is a mess, which has been a surprise to most. As a result, it's hard to trust anyone on that side of the ball. Granted, Sample should continue to lead the position in snaps, especially with his abilities as a blocker. Still, while he will likely add a few more scores to his resume before the end of the season, he's not consistent enough to be considered a starting fantasy option in any format in Week 4 versus the Broncos.

Saturday, October 11, 2:49 PM

Buffalo Bills rookie tight end Jackson Hawes could see a small uptick in opportunities if Dalton Kincaid (oblique) is ruled out ahead of Monday night's matchup against Atlanta. The fifth-round pick has appeared in every game this season but has been used sparingly in the passing game, seeing just four targets through five weeks--hauling in all of them. While Hawes' strong blocking skills have earned him steady snaps, he remains a distant option in Buffalo's offensive pecking order. Even with a potential increase in playing time, his fantasy value is negligible, and he should be avoided in all formats unless his role expands dramatically in the coming weeks.