Who Should I Start? Jeremy Ruckert or Cade Stover

Wednesday, December 17, 9:45 AM

NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday morning that the New York Jets have agreed to terms with young tight end Jeremy Ruckert, locking him in for the future. He gets a 2-year, $10M extension with upside to $11M. Ruckert, the fourth-year player out of Ohio State, has underwhelmed in the receiving game since joining the Jets. This year, he has hit career highs in receptions (20) and receiving yards (163), but was drafted in the third round and is an asset to the team primarily because of his willingness and effectiveness to block in the run game. The Jets now have Ruckert and a rookie out of LSU, Mason Taylor, as their top tight end options for years to come. From a fantasy football standpoint, Ruckert is well off the radar and shouldn't be rostered in any formats.

Saturday, December 6, 6:57 AM

Houston Texans tight end Cade Stover had a new role in Week 13, serving as the team's short-yardage specialist and taking four carries for three yards in addition to catching both of his targets for 16 yards as the team's second tight end. Stover's four carries came on 3rd- or 4th-and-one situations, and he converted two of the four chances for first downs. Three of the carries came in the red zone, and he has the potential to score a short-yardage touchdown in the package if the opportunity arises in the coming weeks. Stover has played three games this season and has six catches for 38 yards, so he's a little involved in the passing game as well. The second-year tight end from Ohio State is only the No. 48 TE in RotoBaller's rankings in Week 14 against the Chiefs, so he can be left on the waiver wire in most formats, but it is interesting that he's getting short-yardage work since it does raise his potential production.