Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Chris Manhertz

Saturday, August 23, 1:37 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith (knee) is back in uniform at practice on Saturday after missing the entire preseason with a knee injury, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. This will be Smith's first practice since tweaking his knee on Aug. 5. The 30-year-old should be on track to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the New York Jets. However, after a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, Smith's fantasy value took a huge hit after being traded to Pittsburgh in the offseason. He should still be involved in offenive coordinator Arthur Smith's system, but he's expected to take a back seat to incumbent Pat Friermuth. In single-TE fantasy formats, managers can avoid Smith on draft day. Outside of his 88-884-8 line last year, Smith's best season was a 50-582-3 line the year prior in Atlanta.

Friday, March 15, 3:42 PM

Free-agent tight end Chris Manhertz is signing with the New York Giants, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Giants have Darren Waller and Daniel Bellinger on the roster and signed former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Jack Stoll this week, so the position is getting crowded behind Waller. Manhertz has caught just 26 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns in his eight-year career with the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Denver Broncos, so he will not be on the fantasy radar in 2024. He is primarily a blocking tight end, and he could be buried on the depth chart.