Who Should I Start? Josh Oliver or Harold Fannin Jr.

Tuesday, June 10, 1:52 PM

The Minnesota Vikings signed tight end Josh Oliver to a three-year, $23.25 million contract extension on Tuesday with a maximum value of $27.5 million, according to Athletes First's Andrew Kessler. The deal includes $11.9 million in new guarantees and $19.5 million in total guarantees. With T.J. Hockenson missing time due to injury in 2024, Oliver had 22 receptions on 28 targets for a career-high 258 yards and three touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (12 starts), but it still wasn't enough to move the fantasy needle. The 28-year-old former third-rounder (69th overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2019 NFL draft out of San Jose State excels as a run-blocker and will primarily be used in that role again in 2025. And now that Hockenson will be ready for the start of this season, we'd expect Oliver to be less involved as a pass-catcher.

Monday, September 1, 9:14 PM

An AFC scout told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic that he sees Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. "breaking out in 2027." The same scout said that Fannin Jr. has "glue hands" and is "crafty before and after the catch." Finally, Rodrigue writes that Browns quarterback Joe Flacco recently said Fannin Jr. is gaining confidence. A third-round pick out of Bowling Green who led the FBS in receptions and receiving yards in 2024, Fannin Jr. will play his entire rookie season at just 21 years old. Given his age and the relatively low level of competition he saw in college, it wouldn't be surprising to see an adjustment period for Fannin Jr. early in his NFL career. If the scout quoted in Rodrigue's article is correct, now may be the time for dynasty managers to look to stash Fannin Jr.