Who Should I Start? Josh Oliver or Mason Taylor

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, June 9, 12:22 PM

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reports that New York Jets rookie second-round tight end Mason Taylor is starting to make waves during offseason workouts and looks like the tight end most ready to make an impact in the passing game for the Jets. However, if he's going to be on the field more than the team's other TEs, Rosenblatt thinks he needs to show more as a blocker. "I think he's been doing an outstanding job," head coach Aaron Glenn said. "It's not just the pass-catching that's what you guys see. But it's the blocking that really gets me going." The 21-year-old was a three-year starter in the SEC and could make an immediate impact for the Jets and fantasy managers as a starter sooner than later in his rookie season. Taylor has a real opportunity to see significant targets behind receiver Garrett Wilson, although New York's offense could lean on the ground game.