Who Should I Start? Mike Gesicki or Drew Sample

Friday, October 11, 3:00 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (hamstring) has been cleared to play in the Week 6 contest against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football in Week 6. Gesicki's status for this weekend's game was in question after he didn't suit up for practice on Wednesday, but he returned a day later and was removed from the final injury report on Friday. He will officially be in play on Sunday night as a TE2 for fantasy managers in an offense with a lot of mouths to feed through the air. So far through the first five weeks of 2024, the 29-year-old has a total of 17 catches on 21 targets for 178 yards and no touchdowns. Gesicki posted season-highs in catches (seven) and receiving yards (91) back in the Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but that was also when receiver Tee Higgins was still out with a hamstring injury. The Giants defense has yet to allow a touchdown to a tight end this year.

Monday, March 11, 4:49 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed tight end Drew Sample to a three-year, $10.5 million contract extension on Monday, according to a source. Sample will receive $3.5 million in 2024. In his fifth year with the Bengals in 2023, Sample had 22 catches on 27 targets for 163 yards and a career-high two touchdowns in 17 games (10 starts). Tanner Hudson, Mitchell Wilcox and Irv Smith Jr. are all free agents, but one or more of them could be retained or the Bengals could add competition at the position through the NFL draft. The 27-year-old Sample has accumulated just 80 receptions (103 targets) for 621 yards and three touchdowns in his five years in the NFL with Cincy, so it would be unrealistic to expect the Bengals to utilize him as their unquestioned No. 1 pass-catching TE in 2024.