Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Ian Thomas

Saturday, October 11, 12:04 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith turned in three straight games with fewer than five fantasy points before the team's Week 5 bye and will hope to be more involved in a Week 6 bout with the Cleveland Browns. Though the Browns have allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, Smith could be an important piece of Pittsburgh's passing attack with wide receiver Calvin Austin III (knee) inactive. That said, head coach Mike Tomlin hinted earlier this week at continued usage of fellow tight end Darnell Washington, who out-snapped both Smith and Pat Freiermuth in Week 4. It wouldn't be shocking to see any of the three have a productive outing on Sunday, but fantasy managers can't currently depend on Smith in starting lineups.

Tuesday, March 25, 1:32 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end Ian Thomas (calf) to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Thomas will head to the AFC West after spending the first seven years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers after they selected him in the fourth round (101st overall) in the 2018 NFL draft out of Indiana. The 28-year-old never really established himself as a fantasy asset in Carolina, with his best season coming in his rookie campaign with a 36-333-2 line on 49 targets in 16 games (six starts). Thomas landed on Injured Reserve in 2024 with a calf injury and only caught three of six targets for seven yards in five games (two starts). He scored four touchdowns in his first three seasons but hasn't found the end zone since. In Vegas, he'll provide TE depth behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and will remain off the fantasy radar.