Who Should I Start? Stephen Carlson or John FitzPatrick

Saturday, September 28, 9:17 PM

The Chicago Bears placed tight end Stephen Carlson (collarbone) on injured reserve Saturday ahead of their Week 4 home matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Carlson, who was just signed from the team's practice squad this past Tuesday, suffered a serious collarbone injury during Thursday's practice and will now miss at least the next four contests. The earliest he is eligible to return will be Nov. 3 -- Chicago's Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. It's a crushing blow for the 27-year-old who was slated for his first NFL action since his time back in 2020 with the Cleveland Browns. The Bears will roll out their usual three-man tight-end rotation, with Cole Kmet set to take the majority of the snaps and Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis working in behind him.

Wednesday, November 26, 5:30 PM

Green Bay Packers tight end John FitzPatrick has seen his opportunity with the Packers grow as of late, but is still a player to leave out of fantasy lineups when the Packers head to Detroit to take on the Lions on Thanksgiving. FitzPatrick has supplanted Luke Musgrave in terms of snap share and routes over the last two weeks for the Packers. Despite the increased snaps in the 60 percent range in each of the last two weeks for Green Bay, it's only turned into a combined two receptions and 16 yards on two targets. FitzPatrick's role is not as a receiver, so expecting fantasy production out of the Packers' tight end may not be realistic. Leave FitzPatrick off of your fantasy rosters when the Packers play the Lions on Thanksgiving in Week 13.