Who Should I Start? George Kittle or Mike Gesicki

Monday, October 21, 7:24 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that tight end George Kittle (foot) is day-to-day due to a foot sprain that he picked up in the Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Kittle broke a streak of four straight games with a touchdown but still had six receptions for a season-high 92 yards on Sunday. Receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is out for the year with a torn right ACL and MCL, while receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness) is currently in the hospital with pneumonia. It means that the 31-year-old Kittle could be quarterback Brock Purdy's favorite target once again if he's able to play in Week 8 on Sunday night in a great matchup against a banged-up Dallas Cowboys defense. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Kittle's practice status this week, but if he's able to play on Sunday in primetime, he'll be a must-start, high-end TE1.

Friday, October 11, 3:00 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (hamstring) has been cleared to play in the Week 6 contest against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football in Week 6. Gesicki's status for this weekend's game was in question after he didn't suit up for practice on Wednesday, but he returned a day later and was removed from the final injury report on Friday. He will officially be in play on Sunday night as a TE2 for fantasy managers in an offense with a lot of mouths to feed through the air. So far through the first five weeks of 2024, the 29-year-old has a total of 17 catches on 21 targets for 178 yards and no touchdowns. Gesicki posted season-highs in catches (seven) and receiving yards (91) back in the Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but that was also when receiver Tee Higgins was still out with a hamstring injury. The Giants defense has yet to allow a touchdown to a tight end this year.