Who Should I Start? Tyler Higbee or Kyle Pitts Sr.

Monday, December 22, 4:35 PM

Head Coach Sean McVay said that the Los Angeles Rams will not activate tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) from injured reserve for Monday night's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. Higbee was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury he sustained in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks. The 32-year-old was eligible to return to play in Week 16 but will remain on injured reserve. Before his injury, Higbee had hauled in 20 catches for 190 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 30 targets. In his absence, Colby Parkinson has stepped into the TE1 role for the Rams offense and has been a reliable streaming option for fantasy managers. With a playoff spot secured, the Rams will want to make sure Higbee is fully healthy before rushing him back into action.

Saturday, December 27, 4:20 PM

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. broke out over the last two weeks, combining for 18 catches on 21 targets that amounted to 223 yards and four touchdowns. He's now the second-highest scoring tight end in fantasy, and is arguably Kirk Cousins' favorite target since taking over for Michael Penix Jr. (knee). Drake London (knee) returned to action last week, but Pitts recorded more targets, catches, and yards than London as the team's No. 1 receiver played just 69 percent of the offensive snaps. London has been limited in practice all week and is officially questionable for MNF, while Pitts was a limited participant on Friday and Saturday, but carries no injury designation into the Week 17 contest. Assuming Pitts suits up, he'll take a Rams defense that is so-so defending tight ends, but it's also a defense that's yielded the second-most passing yards per game over their last three contests (277.7) and allowed Seattle's TE AJ Barner to catch four passes for 49 yards and a score in Week 16. The 6-foot-6 tight end projects as a high-end TE1 for Monday Night Football, and if London were to end up missing the game, it would be a boon to Pitts' potential target total.