Who Should I Start? Stephen Carlson or Oronde Gadsden

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.

Friday, October 3, 6:31 PM

Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden experienced a significant drop in his target volume against the New York Giants, catching only two passes on three targets for 16 yards after his seven-target debut. This low output was primarily due to the Chargers' offense struggling to sustain drives. Facing Week 5 against the vulnerable Washington Commanders, Gadsden aims to regain the momentum he showed in his debut two weeks ago. The potential return of Will Dissly (knee), who missed the last game and carries a Questionable status entering this match, adds some uncertainty, but Gadsden's youth and size suggest he will still see playing time. RotoBaller ranks Gadsden as TE24. He remains a promising stash because of his size and the trust Justin Herbert has in him, but fantasy owners should consider other options at the position for now.