Who Should I Start? Ian Thomas or Noah Fant

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.

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.