Tommy

Tremble

Tremble logged 12 routes on the day while Ja’Tavion Sanders ran 14 routes and did not catch either of his targets. Neither Tremble nor Sanders are fantasy relevant unless one of the tight ends misses time. Tremble had been a viable streaming option while Sanders was sidelined with an ankle injury.

He added one Liu Kang flying kick against a Cowboys defender in the open field, though nothing was called. Tremble appears and disappears from the Panthers passing game depending on the matchups, and when Ja’Tavion Sanders comes back he’ll likely lose most of his pure passing-game snaps. He can be left on waiver wires heading into Week 7.

Tremble entered the game with only six targets all year but was needed for more with Ja’Tavion Sanders sidelined and provided some volume. His score was a seven-yarder to cap the Panthers’ opening drive. The Panthers would then give up 42 unanswered points before Tremble took a massive hit to bring them to the one-yard line with 2:20 remaining. He was shaken up but said afterward he was fine. The Panthers are so low on quality targets that Tremble could stick in the top 24 for however long Sanders is sidelined, but it is difficult to recommend anyone in this awful overall offense.

Sanders’ usage came back down to earth after a nine-target Week 2 put him on fantasy radars. The 22-year-old didn’t get his first target until the second half, when he caught a Bryce Young pass and hurdled a defender for a seven-yard gain. The Panthers offense is a difficult one to project for consistent fantasy points, but he will have better days in a more pass-heavy game script. Fellow tight end Tommy Tremble caught both of his targets for 16 yards on the day. Sanders is a deep league streamer option at tight end for Week 4 against the Patriots.

Tremble underwent back surgery in May and opened training camp on the PUP list. He returned to practice and was activated from PUP last week. J’Tavion Sanders should slot in as the Panthers’ starting tight end heading into his second season, but Tremble will pitch in for blocking reps and some work in 12-personnel looks. Tremble’s return to the lineup will keep Sanders off the tight end streaming radar for now.

The Associated Press’ Steve Reed adds that it “sort of sounds like he will be the primary pass receiver at that position,” but he notes nothing is “etched in stone.” Sanders has decent odds of etching it in stone if his improved play translates to early-season success. Tommy Tremble, Sanders’ primary competition at the position, “hopes” he will be ready for Week 1 but has not yet returned to practice after undergoing back surgery in May. Sanders is a worthwhile dart throw, who can be paired with a reliable, if unexciting, veteran option in drafts.

It’s probably a step too far to be “concerned” about this, but it does make it seem like Tremble won’t be a real threat to be activated until late in training camp. Ja’Tavion Sanders will be the beneficiary of extra work with the starters and seems to be in a good spot to grab a strong role in his second season.

Tremble is recovering from a back surgery he underwent in May, and was expected to open camp on the PUP list with hopes that he’d return at some point during camp. The active/PUP listing means he can come off at any time during camp. The fifth-year tight end re-signed with the Panthers to a two-year deal this offseason and will likely compete with Ja’Tavion Sanders for the TE1 role once healthy. Tremble has caught 85 passes for 782 yards and nine touchdowns over 61 games in his career and shouldn’t be considered a high-end fantasy option should he eventually secure a starting role.

Tremble re-signed with the Panthers early this offseason after finishing his rookie deal out as mostly a blocking tight end. He’s expected to start camp on the PUP list. We’ll keep an eye on this one as August rolls around, but given the optimistic initial timeline, Tremble probably isn’t at risk of missing much time once the season starts.

Tremble currently sits atop the tight end depth chart in Carolina but we saw the team deploy multiple personnel in rotation a season ago, something that could transpire again in the coming season considering the continuity of coaching. Tremble has yet to clear a modest 35 targets in a any of his four years in the league.