Who Should I Start? John Bates or Elijah Arroyo
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 8.4 | 0.1 |
John Bates News
Sunday, August 2, 11:54 AM
Washington Commanders tight end John Bates (hamstring) will miss a couple of weeks after straining his hamstring during Thursday's practice, according to Ben Standig. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the timetable Saturday. Bates caught 11 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown in 15 games last season, but his bigger role comes as Washington's primary blocking tight end. That makes his absence more important to the offense than his receiving numbers suggest, especially with new coordinator David Blough expected to use multiple-tight-end sets. Chig Okonkwo and Ben Sinnott should handle more work while Bates is sidelined, while Colson Yankoff and Lawrence Cager could also see additional practice reps. Bates does not carry much standalone fantasy value, and this injury is unlikely to create a clear waiver target. It does give Washington's other tight ends more time to earn roles before he returns. The initial timetable leaves room for Bates to get back during the preseason.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 14.5 | 0.1 |
Elijah Arroyo News
Saturday, September 5, 9:07 AM
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo gave the team plenty to think about with one of the better summers on the roster. His rookie season was quiet, with 15 catches for 179 yards and one touchdown in 13 games before a knee injury sent him to injured reserve in December. He returned for Seattle's Super Bowl run, then spent this camp looking much more like the receiving threat the Seahawks drafted 50th overall in 2025. Arroyo stacked strong practices early in August and carried that into the preseason, catching four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown on just four receptions. The biggest play was a 36-yard score against Tennessee, and Seattle's own roster review called him a potential breakout candidate after final cuts. AJ Barner still leads the tight end room, so Arroyo isn't walking into a featured role. But with former tight ends coach Brian Fleury now coordinating the offense, there should be room for multiple tight ends to matter. Arroyo has done enough to push for more work and is worth tracking in deeper leagues.
John Bates vs. Elijah Arroyo
Still trying to decide between Bates and Arroyo? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that John Bates is projected to score 2.0 points this week while Elijah Arroyo is projected to score 3.2 points.
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