Who Should I Start? Tyler Higbee or Jonnu Smith

Wednesday, January 7, 7:36 PM

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) was listed as a limited participant again in practice on Wednesday, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Higbee missed six games while on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury before he was activated and played in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. The 33-year-old veteran played 64% of the offensive snaps and caught five of his six targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. While Higbee saw fewer snaps than fellow TEs Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen, it was, all in all, a very successful return. The Rams are likely just managing Higbee's ankle this week, and he should be active on Saturday to face the Carolina Panthers in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. Higbee could be on the field more this weekend for a high-scoring Rams offense, putting him in play as a low-end TE1 option in fantasy playoff formats.

Tuesday, December 30, 7:55 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith will be set up as a more attractive TE2 streamer in fantasy football for the final week of the regular season this Sunday night against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, with Darnell Washington done for the year after breaking his forearm in Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns. With Washington getting hurt, Smith ended up leading the Steelers with five receptions (five targets), although it amounted to only 18 receiving yards on a day in which Pittsburgh's offense couldn't get into the end zone. After a career year in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, the 30-year-old Smith has predictably struggled in Arthur Smith's offense, posting a 37-220-2 line in 16 games. Smith's five targets in Week 17 were his most since Week 9, though, and he's now topped 20 scrimmage yards in three straight games. In deeper fantasy leagues, Smith will be slightly more attractive as a TE2 streamer in Week 18 versus the Ravens.