Who Should I Start? Richie James or Noah Fant

Saturday, July 19, 11:06 AM

Wide receiver Richie James announced on X on Friday that he is retiring from professional football. "It took time but i have come to realize I am retired from the NFL. Seventh round out of MTSU. I feel like I was just a ballplayer to last that long. Unfortunately, my knee never healed properly. I was playing hurt since 2022. Oh well. I gave everything I got to the game of football," James wrote. The 29-year-old was originally selected 240th overall in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2018 NFL draft out of Middle Tennessee State. He played the first three years of his career in the Bay Area before joining the New York Giants in 2022. James last played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. He will finish his five-year career with 105 catches on 143 targets for 1,372 yards and seven touchdowns in 66 regular-season games (15 starts).

Friday, October 17, 9:11 AM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Noah Fannt caught all four of his targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in Thursday night's 33-31 win over the Steelers. Fant expectedly played his highest snap share of the season so far (68.4%) with top tight ends Mike Gesicki (pectoral) and Tanner Hudson (concussion) both ruled out for this game. The 27-year-old capitalized on a Pittsburgh defense that has struggled against tight ends, finding the end zone for the first time since Week 1 and recording a season-high in receiving yards. The Bengals' offense looked much improved with newly acquired Joe Flacco under center, putting Fant back into streamer consideration next week if he gets another start.