Who Should I Start? Noah Fant or Mason Taylor

Wednesday, December 17, 9:45 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Noah Fant (ankle) was a non-participant during Wednesday's practice session. Fant was forced to leave during the first half of Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Fant is now trending in the wrong direction for this weekend's game against the Miami Dolphins due to a right-ankle issue. Fant hasn't been much help to fantasy managers recently anyway. He has been held to one reception or fewer in each of his last four games. The absence of Fant would mean a larger workload for Mike Gesicki, while Tanner Hudson would serve as the No. 2. Gesicki will be an intriguing streaming option with an expanded role against the Dolphins in Week 16.

Wednesday, December 17, 3:50 PM

New York Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor (neck) has been ruled out for a second straight game for Week 16 action against the hosting New Orleans Saints, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Taylor suffered a neck injury in the Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins, when he had five catches for 51 yards. The 21-year-old's next chance to play will come in a Week 17 divisional contest against the visiting New England Patriots. Jeremy Ruckert, who just signed a two-year, $10 million extension with the Jets on Wednesday, will make a second straight start for Gang Green as their top pass-catching TE against the Saints in the Big Easy. Ruckert caught both his targets for 13 yards in last week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fantasy managers should be able to find much better streaming options at the position. Taylor has averaged 5.0 half-PPR fantasy points per game in 13 contests in 2025, making him the TE35.