Who Should I Start? John Bates or Nate Boerkircher
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 7.4 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 7.2 | 0.1 |
Nate Boerkircher News
Thursday, August 27, 10:27 AM
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Nate Boerkircher has strengthened his redraft outlook by emerging as the clear No. 2 option behind Brenton Strange. The second-round rookie has been listed directly behind Strange on Jacksonville's depth chart throughout the preseason, and the Jaguars gave another indication of how they view him by sitting both tight ends against Carolina last Friday. Boerkircher did play in the preseason opener against New Orleans and went without a target, though his work as a blocker drew positive reviews. His receiving upside has shown up more often in practice. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound rookie caught a red-zone touchdown from Trevor Lawrence during joint work with Carolina, and Jacksonville has discussed using more multiple-tight end packages this season. Boerkircher caught only 38 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns across his college career, but the Jaguars believe those numbers undersold what he can offer as a receiver. Strange remains firmly atop the position and Jacksonville has plenty of other targets, so standard-league value will be difficult to find early. Still, Boerkircher's increasingly secure TE2 role makes him a name to watch in deeper redraft and tight end-premium formats.
John Bates vs. Nate Boerkircher
Still trying to decide between Bates and Boerkircher? 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 1.9 points this week while Nate Boerkircher is projected to score 1.7 points.
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