Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Ja'Tavion Sanders
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Jonnu Smith News
Wednesday, March 4, 2:14 PM
The Pittsburgh Steelers are releasing tight end Jonnu Smith on Wednesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move will save the Steelers $7 million against the salary cap, and Smith will now become an unrestricted free agent. Smith, 30, was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, putting up career-highs in catches (88), targets (111), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (eight) in 17 games. He came crashing back down to Earth in 2025 with Pittsburgh while sharing targets with Pat Freiermuth, though, as he finished with only 38 receptions for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 54 targets in 17 regular-season games. Smith may never be as good as he was in 2024 in Miami, but a move out of the Steel City is a good thing for his fantasy value going into the 2026 campaign. Smith's departure is also great news for Freiermuth's ceiling.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 14.2 | 0.1 |
Ja'Tavion Sanders News
Friday, July 24, 5:39 AM
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was limited to only 12 games in 2025 as he dealt with a high-ankle sprain early in the year before breaking his fibula in Week 17. While he showed some promising flashes, whether because of his injuries or an offensive system that has not asked much of its tight ends in the passing game, Sanders was never a consistent contributor, failing to reach 35 receiving yards in any game after Week 2 and being held out of the end zone until Week 16. Sanders is fully recovered from his late-season injury, and while the Panthers did not make any meaningful additions to the position through free agency or the draft, head coach Dave Canales has never had a tight end reach 50 receptions, 500 yards, or five touchdowns in his time as play caller for either the Panthers or Buccaneers. Despite his obvious physical abilities, any calls for a Year 3 breakout from Sanders involve a fair amount of wishful projection, and he is likely a player that will start the year on waivers in most 2026 redraft leagues.
Jonnu Smith vs. Ja'Tavion Sanders
Still trying to decide between Smith and Sanders? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Jonnu Smith is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Ja'Tavion Sanders is projected to score 3.8 points.
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