Who Should I Start? Ja'Tavion Sanders or Harold Fannin Jr.

Monday, July 21, 9:19 PM

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders "lost 10 pounds during the offseason and looked faster during OTAs," according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. Carolina drafted Sanders in the fourth round out of Texas in 2024. He appeared in 16 games (eight starts) as a rookie, logging 33 catches for 342 yards and one touchdown. Sanders should have an opportunity to earn significant playing time in his second season. His main competition at tight end in Carolina is Tommy Tremble, who has recorded 23 receptions in each of the past two seasons, and Mitchell Evans, a fifth-round selection by the team in this year's draft. With a good training camp and preseason, Sanders could be an intriguing late-round dart throw at the tight end position in deeper leagues.

Friday, June 13, 3:10 PM

Cleveland Browns rookie third-round tight end Harold Fannin Jr. had a busy day earlier this week at mandatory minicamp and could have a big role in his first season in the NFL with the Browns expected to use more two-tight end sets in 2025. "He's got really strong hands," tight ends coach Christian Jones said. "He tracks the ball well and you see it on tape every time he's been playing when you study him and we're getting ready to see what he'd be for us. The guy catches everything, tracks the ball well and really adjusts to the ball in the air." Fannin is on the small side for a TE, but his production last year at Bowling Green speaks for itself (117 catches, 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns). It's unclear if he has the athleticism to exceed regularly in the NFL, though, and he'll have a tough time making a fantasy impact in 2025 as long as David Njoku stays healthy.