Who Should I Start? Ian Thomas or Noah Fant

Saturday, September 7, 1:42 PM

The Carolina Panthers placed tight end Ian Thomas (calf) on Injured Reserve on Saturday after already ruling him out for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. In addition to putting Thomas on IR, the team also waived cornerback Keenan Isaac and signed tight end Feleipe Franks and defensive tackle Jayden Peevy to the active 53-man roster from the practice squad. Thomas will now miss at least the first four weeks of the 2024 season after being sidelined since early in training camp with a calf injury. Tommy Tremble (back, hamstring) has already been ruled out for Week 1 as well, so Carolina is entering the regular season already thin at the TE position, meaning rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders will mostly likely be thrust into the top pass-catching role right away.

Sunday, January 5, 8:19 PM

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant scored his first touchdown since 2022 in a Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Fant's touchdown was a flipping effort at the goal line that put the Seahawks ahead in this game. The touchdown would turn out to be the game-winner. Fant finished the day with five receptions for 63 yards in addition to the touchdown. He recorded exactly 500 receiving yards this season on 48 catches. Fant was due for a touchdown. It is only fitting that it came on a day in which quarterback Geno Smith threw four touchdown passes. The Seahawks clearly value Fant as a contributor in their offense and that should continue moving forward. If Smith can bounce back in the touchdown department next season, Fant will be an interesting fantasy asset given how high-powered Seattle's offense is.