Who Should I Start? Ko Kieft or Joe Royer


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0

Ko Kieft News

Buccaneers Re-Sign Ko Kieft for Tight End Depth

Friday, March 13, 11:27 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht announced on Friday that the team agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal to bring tight end Ko Kieft (leg) back for the 2026 season. Kieft suffered a leg injury in Week 3 of last season and never played again. The 28-year-old former sixth-round selection by the Bucs out of Minnesota in 2022 has played for the team the last four years, catching only eight passes on 15 targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his scores came in his first two years in the league. Kieft will return to Tampa for a fifth season, but he won't be anywhere on the fantasy football radar. He will most likely enter the 2026 regular season this fall as the TE3 behind both Cade Otton and Payne Durham. Kieft's best year was his rookie campaign in 2022, when he had seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. He hasn't caught a pass since 2023.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
1.4 0.0 0.0 0.6 5.8 0.0

Joe Royer News

Browns Select Joe Royer With 170th Overall Pick

Saturday, April 25, 11:28 AM

The Cleveland Browns have selected Cincinnati tight end prospect Joe Royer with the 170th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Royer started his collegiate career at Ohio State before transferring to Cincinnati ahead of the 2024 season. Across two years with the Bearcats, he caught 79 passes for 937 yards and seven touchdowns. He projects best as a rotational depth tight end who can pick up the tough, physical yards needed to move the chains. Royer, Jack Stoll, and Blake Whiteheart will compete for playing time behind incumbent starting tight end Harold Fannin Jr.


Ko Kieft vs. Joe Royer

Still trying to decide between Kieft and Royer? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Ko Kieft is projected to score 0.1 points this week while Joe Royer is projected to score 1.4 points.