Who Should I Start? George Kittle or Brock Bowers

Wednesday, September 24, 9:58 AM

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) remains on injured reserve after exiting in Week 1. Kittle scored an early touchdown before leaving the game and was placed on IR shortly afterward. His earliest return date is Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though his fantasy outlook is now clouded in the 49ers' crowded receiver room. With rookie Ricky Pearsall emerging, Jauan Jennings performing when healthy, and Christian McCaffrey leading the team in targets, Kittle may not return to the same dominant workload he had in 2024. Brandon Aiyuk is also tracking toward a late-season return, which could further limit his target share. While Kittle still carries name value and touchdown upside, he might not reclaim elite fantasy status. If he returns strong in midseason, he could be a smart sell-high candidate before the 49ers' offense becomes even more crowded.

Friday, September 26, 2:50 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers looks primed for a breakout performance after logging a full week of practice ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Bears. Despite battling a knee injury early in the season, the All-Pro talent has still hauled in 14 receptions for 179 yards, showcasing his ability to produce even when less than 100 percent. Now fully healthy, Bowers should return to his role as the centerpiece of the Raiders passing attack against a Chicago defense that has struggled to contain the passing game. He enters Week 4 as the overall TE1 option and is a must-start in all formats.