Who Should I Start? Mike Gesicki or T.J. Hockenson

Wednesday, October 15, 11:11 AM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (pectoral) has been placed on Injured Reserve due to a pectoral injury, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 30-year-old has recorded eight catches for 61 yards on 16 targets through his first six games of 2025. He will now miss at least the next four games for Cincinnati. With Gesicki sidelined and tight end Tanner Hudson (concussion) questionable to play in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals will likely turn to Noah Fant and Drew Sample to handle the tight end snaps. Fant has recorded 16 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown on 18 targets across five games this season and could be a low-end streaming option for fantasy managers in Week 7.

Friday, October 31, 4:34 PM

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson should be viewed as a TE2 option when he takes on his former team, the Detroit Lions, in Week 9. It's been a disappointing season so far for Hockenson, who hasn't quite looked the same since an ACL tear in late 2023 and now ranks as the No. 22 fantasy tight end at the halfway point of this season. None of the Vikings played well in a Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but Hockenson had just three targets, two catches, and 26 yards receiving. The veteran tight end and the Vikings will now turn back to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed the past five games with an ankle injury. In McCarthy's two starts this year, Hockenson had just four catches for 27 yards, and both of those took place before receiver Jordan Addison returned from a suspension. With the Vikings struggling and Hockenson set to be the team's third option, at best, he should be played only in formats that start two tight ends.