Who Should I Start? Ian Thomas or Oronde Gadsden

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, October 3, 6:31 PM

Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden experienced a significant drop in his target volume against the New York Giants, catching only two passes on three targets for 16 yards after his seven-target debut. This low output was primarily due to the Chargers' offense struggling to sustain drives. Facing Week 5 against the vulnerable Washington Commanders, Gadsden aims to regain the momentum he showed in his debut two weeks ago. The potential return of Will Dissly (knee), who missed the last game and carries a Questionable status entering this match, adds some uncertainty, but Gadsden's youth and size suggest he will still see playing time. RotoBaller ranks Gadsden as TE24. He remains a promising stash because of his size and the trust Justin Herbert has in him, but fantasy owners should consider other options at the position for now.