Who Should I Start? Tyler Conklin or John Bates


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.5 0.0 0.0 0.2 2.1 0.0

Tyler Conklin News

Tyler Conklin Signs One-Year Deal With Lions

Friday, March 13, 12:49 PM

Free-agent tight end Tyler Conklin is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Detroit Lions on Friday, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. Conklin will join the Lions, his fourth different team, for his ninth NFL campaign in 2026. The 30-year-old veteran played for the Los Angeles Chargers last year and caught only seven of his 10 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns in 13 regular-season games (five starts) as a depth option. The former fifth-round pick (157th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 out of Central Michigan will likely be in a depth role again in his move to Motown, behind both Sam LaPorta (back) and Brock Wright (neck), leaving him avoidable in all fantasy football leagues. Conklin had a career-high 621 receiving yards in 2023 with the New York Jets, and he's never scored more than four times in a single season. He's caught a total of 270 passes in his career for 2,645 yards and 11 touchdowns across his eight seasons.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
1.9 0.0 0.0 0.8 7.4 0.1

John Bates News

John Bates Not a Fantasy Option in Week 17

Wednesday, December 24, 10:23 AM

Washington Commanders tight end John Bates was outsnapped 37 to 27 by second-year tight end Ben Sinnott in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Bates has served as Washington's No. 2 TE for most of the season, primarily as a blocker. He posted his highest route share (50%) of the season in Week 15 with Zach Ertz (knee) out for the season, but that mark cratered in Week 16, falling to just 16%, his lowest since Week 2. Sinnott profiles as the better receiving option and is seeing his role increase in that area. He jumped to a season-high 56% route share last week. Bates seems to be trending back toward his typical role as the top blocking tight end and shouldn't be considered a fantasy option on Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys, especially considering Washington's starting QB is likely to be Josh Johnson with Marcus Mariota (hand, quadriceps) injured.


Tyler Conklin vs. John Bates

Still trying to decide between Conklin and Bates? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Tyler Conklin is projected to score 0.5 points this week while John Bates is projected to score 1.9 points.