Who Should I Start? Jaheim Bell or Oronde Gadsden

Tuesday, August 20, 9:58 PM

New England Patriots rookie tight end Jaheim Bell suddenly found himself at the top of the depth chart early this week with Hunter Henry (lower body) and Austin Hooper (undisclosed) held out of practice and Mitchell Wilcox (calf) leaving practice early with his injury. Bell has taken a lot of reps and caught touchdowns from three different quarterbacks as he is making the most of the opportunity on the field with several tight ends ahead of him out for recent practice sessions. While Bell should not be drafted in fantasy football for 2024, he could be somebody to keep an eye on if injuries continue to strike the tight end room. The 23-year-old from Florida State should get plenty of work in the Patriots' final preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.

Monday, October 20, 6:33 PM

Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden shined in the team's 38-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, catching seven of nine targets for 164 yards and his first career touchdown. The 6-foot-5 former receiver looked explosive, using his size and athleticism to break through the Colts secondary all day. Herbert clearly trusts him, and with 55 pass attempts in the loss, Gadsden made each one of his targets count. The rookie faces a tough Minnesota Vikings defense on a quick turnaround this Thursday, that's top-five against the pass and has only allowed three touchdowns to tight ends all year. But his breakout could earn him a bigger role moving forward, especially if there are any further injuries to Chargers playmakers. With six teams on bye, Gadsden could be a smart streaming option in Week 8.