Who Should I Start? Harold Fannin Jr. or Mason Taylor

Friday, September 5, 10:11 PM

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. will make his NFL debut at home against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Fannin drew rave reviews for his pass-catching skills throughout training camp and hopes to carry that over to the field once the regular season starts. The rookie tight end was insanely productive in 2024, setting an FBS record for tight ends with 117 receptions and 1,555 yards. Fannin draws a nice matchup for his debut game as the Bengals allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends in 2024. That being said, Fannin's role on offense could be limited with David Njoku ahead of him on the depth chart. For now, Fannin is a player worth keeping tabs on in case he gets a larger-than-expected role on the team's offense.

Saturday, September 6, 11:05 AM

New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor will make his Jets debut this Sunday when his team hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. The 21-year-old rookie was an ascending talent during his time with LSU, garnering the role of a three-year starter. Taylor set the Tigers' single-season tight end reception record in his final campaign (55) and will get an opportunity to impact the NFL field immediately. New York's passing game is lacking in strong options behind wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall, leaving a significant portion of quarterback Justin Fields' passing volume ripe for the taking. It remains to be seen how often the Jets will air it out, but Taylor is an above-average athlete and runs a diverse route tree. He's one to watch early on, even if it might take him a bit to get going. The first-year pro comes in at RotoBaller's PPR TE30 for his NFL debut.