Who Should I Start? John Bates or Max Klare

Tuesday, June 2, 8:26 AM

Los Angeles Rams tight end Max Klare has an intriguing dynasty outlook as a second-round pick, but a crowded position room adds an extra wrinkle to his fantasy stock. The Rams spent a second-round pick on a tight end for the second year in a row, pairing Klare with Terrance Ferguson (as well as veterans Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson). The Rams are a pass-heavy offense, which is encouraging, but there's no denying that there is still plenty of competition for targets. In addition to the four tight ends, Matthew Stafford will be busy throwing to Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, and to a lesser extent, Konata Mumpfield and CJ Daniels. Managers find themselves in a predicament when trying to forecast Klare's role. On one hand, we know the coaching staff wants to get him involved, since they spent a 2026 second-round pick on him. On the other hand, as a rookie, he's at a disadvantage relative to the other tight ends who have more experience in the Rams' system. Managers will likely have to be patient, as Klare has the potential to be the Rams' No. 1 tight end down the road, but he'll presumably struggle to achieve weekly fantasy relevance in 2026. For what it's worth, the experts are equally intrigued by his long-term outlook. He ranks as RotoBaller's TE20 in the latest dynasty rankings, and he projects as a late third-round pick in most 2026 rookie drafts.