Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Michael Mayer

Saturday, December 13, 1:48 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith has just five receptions over his past five games but will look to get more involved against his former team, the Miami Dolphins, in Week 15. This is an enticing matchup for Smith, as Miami has surrendered the third-most fantasy points per contest to opposing tight ends this season. While Smith's biggest concern remains his inconsistent utilization, he could draw additional looks on Monday night if fellow tight end Darnell Washington (concussion) is ruled out. The potential for cold temperatures and strong winds also works in Smith's favor, as he primarily operates near the line of scrimmage and generates yards after the catch. He's far from a reliable fantasy starter, but the 30-year-old could surprise in this revenge game and has some appeal as a streaming option in deeper leagues.

Friday, December 19, 11:58 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer remains off the fantasy radar ahead of Week 16 against the Houston Texans. Mayer was productive during his short stint as the team's starting tight end earlier this season, but he fell off the fantasy radar when superstar tight end Brock Bowers returned to the mix mid-year. Mayer has dealt with his own injury problems, too, as the 24-year-old was sidelined for Weeks 13 and 14. In his return to action last week, he played just 19% of the offensive snaps and wasn't targeted in Vegas' Kenny Pickett-led offense. Geno Smith will return as the Raiders' starting quarterback this upcoming Sunday, but that shouldn't change Mayer's fantasy outlook much. He is averaging just 2.0 catches, 15.3 yards, and zero touchdowns in games where Bowers is active.