Who Should I Start? Josh Oliver or Ja'Tavion Sanders

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, August 4, 11:13 AM

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders continues to impress during training camp this year. Sanders has been the Panthers' offensive MVP thus far in camp, according to the Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye. Sanders "is catching passes in droves and is adding yards after the catch with regularity," Kaye wrote in his Stock Watch piece on Monday. Sanders, heading into his second NFL season, also looks leaner and more muscular this year after playing at 255 pounds as a rookie. The young tight end appears primed for a breakout in 2025 on an ascending Panthers offense, making him an interesting dart-throw as a late-round option in fantasy drafts later this summer.