NFL Player News

Boston reunites with Carolina after having spent two unsuccessful stints with the Chargers and Cardinals. Only 27, perhaps Boston can conjure the same pedigree that resulted in him being drafted in the fourth-round just five seasons ago.

Pipkins had his midsection wrapped at halftime and then aggravated the injury in the second half. He road the cart to the locker room for x-rays and returned to the sideline with a questionable designation. He was starting at right tackle after the Chargers made Rashawn Slater inactive and moved Joe Alt to the left side for this game. If Slater is back for the Wild Card Round, Pipkins’ injury will not be a major concern for the Chargers.

Schoonmaker got more run in his second season after a low-volume rookie year. He got the bulk of his opportunities when starter Jake Ferguson missed time due to injury, with Schoonmaker’s best game coming in Week 11. He caught 6-of-10 passes for 56 yards that week, and scored his sole touchdown of the season in Week 12. Schoonmaker is a serviceable top-15 tight end when starting, but looks to be stuck behind Ferguson again next season.

Acquired from the Panthers mid-season, Mingo entered the reserve receiver mix for the Cowboys. He caught two passes in Week 18, bringing his Cowboys totals to five catches on 16 targets for 46 yards in seven games. Mingo is a former second-rounder headed into bust territory, though the Cowboys spent a fourth-round pick to acquire him. He will certainly be in the mix for Dallas next season, but fantasy managers should stay away outside of a deep Dynasty stash for Mingo.

The fourth-year tight end had increased his yardage totals in back-to-back seasons heading into 2024, giving Colts fans some hope that he would take the next step in a contract year. Instead, the 26-year-old played fewer snaps than veteran Mo Alie-Cox and peaked at 47 yards in a game. His yardage total fell from 368 in 2023 to 182 this year. The Colts are all but certain to add a big name at tight end either via free agency or the draft. Even if they re-up with Granson, he will not be on the fantasy radar in 2025.

Alie-Cox had been deployed in a committee for years before Shane Steichen took over as head coach in 2023. Some thought the new regime would commit to a full-time starter at tight end. Nothing was further from the truth last year and little changed in 2024. Alie-Cox led the team in tight end snaps but didn’t take the field for even half of the offensive reps. He topped out at 41 yards in a single game and only surpassed 30 yards twice. Alie-Cox heads into free agency after catching 12 passes for 147 yards and a single touchdown in his seventh NFL season.

Pierce flashed big-play potential as a rookie but was crushed by the Colts’ low-adot passing attack under backup Gardner Minshew last year. His numbers fell across the board and the Colts spent a second-round pick on Adonai Mitchell to compete with him for the No. 3 role. Pierce left nothing to chance and hit the ground running with 125 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Though his production, coming almost entirely from deep shots, was never predictable, it persisted throughout the year and across multiple starting quarterbacks. Pierce hit triple-digits three times en route to a 37/824/7 receiving line. The yardage and touchdown totals were easily career-highs. Pierce also led the NFL in yards per catch at 22.3. While it’s hard to recommend such a volatile player for redraft purposes, Pierce has a profile that early best ball drafters will fawn over in the final rounds.

A standard Kraft statline even with Romeo Doubs (illness) out and Christian Watson (knee) injured. Kraft heads into postseason best ball tournaments and DFS lineups as a floor option who rarely provides ceiling.

Cooks also had a carry for a loss of five yards, finishing Week 18 with four touches for 10 yards. He dealt with knee issues, missing seven games in 2024. Catching just 7-of-17 targets between Weeks 17 and 18, Cooks finishes the season with 26 catches for 259 yards and three scores. The 31-year-old is set to hit free agency in the offseason. Though he was once an electric producer, Cooks’ fantasy outlook will depend on his 2025 landing spot and will likely be a low-end fantasy producer.