Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Drew Sample

Wednesday, October 15, 9:43 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith has seen underwhelming utilization through his first five games with the team but will look to make a bigger impact against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7. The Bengals have given up the second-most targets and the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this year, leaving the door open for Smith to produce on Thursday night. Although he played behind Darnell Washington in Week 6, it was encouraging to see his snap share rebound to nearly 70% after logging just 25% in his previous game. With wide receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder) sidelined again, Smith could earn a handful of looks from Aaron Rodgers. While he can't be started with any real confidence, the 30-year-old offers some upside to desperate fantasy managers this week.

Saturday, September 27, 2:08 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample has only three catches this season, with one resulting in a trip to the end zone. The 29-year-old has logged more snaps than Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant (foot) through the first three weeks of the 2025 campaign. However, both have received more attention from quarterbacks Joe Burrow (toe) and Jake Browning. The Bengals offense is a mess, which has been a surprise to most. As a result, it's hard to trust anyone on that side of the ball. Granted, Sample should continue to lead the position in snaps, especially with his abilities as a blocker. Still, while he will likely add a few more scores to his resume before the end of the season, he's not consistent enough to be considered a starting fantasy option in any format in Week 4 versus the Broncos.