When bye weeks roll around, the tight end position gets thin. When injuries become an issue amid those byes, then the position becomes even thinner. Ahead of Week 7, Noah Fant, Jonnu Smith, and Robert Tonyan are all dealing with injuries that could draw them the dreaded "questionable" tag in Week 7, so fantasy owners will want to keep an eye on the latest injury updates, especially considering the lack of worthwhile streamers available on the waiver wire.
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WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Is Noah Fant playing in Week 7?
UPDATE 2: Fant is expected to play this week.
UPDATE: Fant practiced in full on Friday.
After missing last week's game against the Patriots with an ankle injury, Fant is expected to be questionable for the Broncos in advance of their Week 7 meeting with the Chiefs. That said, it is good news that Fant, who was declared week-to-week with the ankle injury after suffering it Week 4 against the Jets, started the week by logging a limited practice, per the team's official injury report. If he can continue on that path, he should have a chance to play.
If Fant stays limited all week, that doesn't guarantee that he'll suit up. After all, he was limited all of last week before being called a 50-50 shot and being ruled out by Vic Fangio before the team traveled to New England. But if he can log a full practice, that should signify that he will play against the Chiefs, and either way, he should have a better chance of playing this week after another week off.
Should Fant have to miss just one more week of action, rookie Albert Okwuegbunam will likely be the top receiving TE for the Broncos after seeing six targets and catching two for 45 yards against the Patriots last week. It may be hard to trust him in just his second NFL game, but he could be worth a flier in what could be a tough week for TE streamers between bye weeks and injuries.
WEEK 7 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Is Jonnu Smith playing in Week 7?
UPDATE 2: Smith is not on the Titans final injury report.
UPDATE: Smith practiced in full on Thursday.
Smith (ankle) was limited in Wednesday's practice after suffering an injury in the Titans' Week 6 win over the Texans. The fact that he's limited is a good sign that he might have a chance to suit up for the Titans despite missing the entire second half and overtime against the Texans.
Smith's status will need to be watched, but it seems like he is at least on track to being active barring either a setback or the Titans playing it extra safe with their star tight end. Anthony Firkser, who had eight catches for 113 yards and a TD against the Texans last week in place of Smith, would be a TE1 if Smith doesn't suit up for this game.
WEEK 7 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Robert Tonyan injury update
UPDATE 2: Tonyan is officially "questionable" for Week 7.
UPDATE: Tonyan did drills on the side without pads on Thursday.
Tonyan (ankle) popped up on the Packers' injury report on Wednesday after missing practice. It's unclear what his status will be moving forward, but if he misses Thursday's practice, that will put him in danger of missing the Packers' Week 7 game against the Texans.
If Tonyan can't play, veteran Marcedes Lewis and 2019 third-round pick Jace Sternberger would be the top options at the position for the Packers. It would be hard to trust either of them as anything more than a TD-dependent flex, so in what is a rough week for tight end streamers, Tonyan's owners will be hoping that he can play against Houston and grab a TD after his three-game TD streak came to an end against the Buccaneers.
