Who Should I Start? Tyler Higbee or Ja'Tavion Sanders

Thursday, October 2, 7:06 PM

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (hip) has officially been ruled out for the Thursday night divisional matchup in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Higbee was listed as doubtful coming into Thursday's game after missing practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. His next chance to return on game day will come in Week 6 on the road against the Baltimore Ravens. With Higbee out against San Francisco, the Rams could go with a committee approach at tight end with Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, and rookie Terrance Ferguson. Fantasy managers who have been streaming TEs this year should probably look elsewhere in Week 5. Higbee hasn't been much of a streamer himself through four weeks, catching only six of 11 targets for 62 yards, with receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams getting the bulk of all the targets.

Friday, October 3, 1:31 PM

The Carolina Panthers have officially ruled out tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) for the Week 5 matchup on Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins, per The Athletic's Joe Person. Sanders will miss his second straight game after suffering the dreaded high-ankle sprain back in Week 3. High-ankle sprains can keep players out up to four to six weeks, so Sanders could end up missing a third straight contest next week against the Dallas Cowboys. Even before his injury, Sanders wasn't much of an option for fantasy managers in 12-team leagues. With Sanders sidelined in last week's loss to the New England Patriots, Tommy Tremble stepped up for five catches on eight targets for 42 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Tremble is known as more of a blocking TE, though, so expecting more relevant fantasy production might be a mistake. Still, he'll at least be in play as a TE2 streamer this weekend in a good matchup against Miami. Head coach Dave Canales said the hope is that Sanders is ready to go next week.