Ross

Dwelley

The Lions placed No. 1 TE Sam LaPorta (back) on injured reserve earlier this year. Now the No. 2 tight end joins him. Unfortunately, fellow backup TE Shane Zylstra (knee) has also been ruled out for Week 14 against the Cowboys, leaving TE Ross Dwelley as the team’s starter. The team also signed CB Nick Whiteside to the 53-man roster.

Fellow Lions TE Shane Zylstra (knee) is also out. With No. 1 TE Sam LaPorta (back) on injured reserve, TE Ross Dwelley will get the start. Dwelley warrants consideration in DFS tournaments, given the game’s expectedly high-scoring environment but he is just a touchdown-dependent TE2 in re-draft formats.

Dwelley has evidently lost the battle for the 49ers’ No. 3 tight end role. Dwelley spent the first six seasons of his career with the 49ers before venturing to Atlanta for a one-off season with the Falcons last year. He re-signed with the 49ers in May. He turned 30 in January. The 49ers correspondingly signed DT Shakel Brown, with three of their defensive linemen currently working through injuries.

Dwelley entered the NFL as a 2018 UDFA with the 49ers and spent six seasons there before completing a one-off campaign with the 2024 Falcons. Dwelley has failed to earn more than five targets in a single season, dating back to 2020. He can be safely expected to settle in as a rotational blocker in his age-30 season.

The Falcons also signed Charlie Woerner earlier in the offseason, another former 49ers tight end. Both should serve as primary blockers behind and alongside the electric Kyle Pitts, who should have the best opportunity of his professional career for a true breakout season.

Dwelley’s best chances at offering meaningful fantasy contributions come when George Kittle is sidelined. Through five seasons with the 49ers, Dwelley has served primarily as a backup, catching 43 passes for 506 yards and five touchdowns. He’s managed just seven receptions over the last two seasons.

This only matters for one-game DFS purposes after Dwelley played 28% and 37% of the snaps Weeks 1-2 when George Kittle was sidelined. Dwelley played 7% of the snaps Week 3. Inactive for the 49ers are WR Danny Gray (hip), RB Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle), S Tarvarius Moore, OL Nick Zakelj, LT Trent Williams (ankle), TE Tyler Kroft (knee), and DT Javon Kinlaw (knee).

Kroft drew the start for San Francisco with George Kittle sidelined in Week 2. He was not targeted before going down in the third quarter. Ross Dwelley is the next man up at tight end.

Dwelley, 27, appeared in all 17 games last season, seeing action on 18% of the offensive snaps and 42% of the special teams downs. One of George Kittle’s key backups, Dwelley reeled in just four catches for 51 yards and one touchdown in 2021 after catching 19 balls the previous year.

TE Charlie Woerner got the start over Dwelley with George Kittle on injured reserve. Dwelley can be safely dropped in all formats as it appears he no longer even has contingent value.