Who Should I Start? Ian Thomas or Jake Tonges

Tuesday, March 25, 1:32 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end Ian Thomas (calf) to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Thomas will head to the AFC West after spending the first seven years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers after they selected him in the fourth round (101st overall) in the 2018 NFL draft out of Indiana. The 28-year-old never really established himself as a fantasy asset in Carolina, with his best season coming in his rookie campaign with a 36-333-2 line on 49 targets in 16 games (six starts). Thomas landed on Injured Reserve in 2024 with a calf injury and only caught three of six targets for seven yards in five games (two starts). He scored four touchdowns in his first three seasons but hasn't found the end zone since. In Vegas, he'll provide TE depth behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and will remain off the fantasy radar.

Friday, February 13, 7:21 AM

Heading into the 2025 season, San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges had not recorded a single catch across 20 career NFL games. However, the 26-year-old took advantage of his opportunity in San Francisco, recording 34 receptions for 293 yards and five touchdowns across 17 games played. The majority of Tonges' production came in a five-week stretch from Weeks 2 through 6 when star 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) was sidelined by a hamstring injury. In that span, Tonges hauled in 22 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 31 targets. However, Tonges may see a similar opportunity in 2026, as Kittle suffered a torn Achilles tendon in San Francisco's NFC Wild Card round win over the Philadelphia Eagles and is expected to miss time next season. Tonges is set to hit restricted free agency this spring, but it seems likely that the 49ers prioritize bringing him back, given Kittle's injury situation. In dynasty formats, Tonges may be a tight end to target for his chance at 2026 production and the possibility that he could be the long-term successor to Kittle in San Francisco.