Will

Tye

Donnell was disappointing last year even before a neck injury ended his season, and Tye showed superior playmaking ability after taking over the starting job. Both players should be involved, but Tye is shaping up as the much better fantasy bet. He is a good late-round flier.

If he was targeted, we didn’t see it. Tye ominously played in the fourth quarter of the preseason finale, which could hint that his roster spot is not secure. We are guessing Tye still makes the 53, but it’s not quite a given. Larry Donnell looks poised to open the season as the Giants’ starting tight end.

Tye shined in Larry Donnell’s absence last year, logging 42 catches for 464 yards and three touchdowns. With Donnell still recovering from a neck injury, Tye should have the inside track to start Week 1. In addition to Tye and Donnell, the Giants also have Matt LaCosse, who Ranaan considers the team’s the best all-around tight end, and sixth-round pick Jerell Adams as depth options.

It is a sign of just how open the competition for the starting job is. Larry Donnell and Will Tye, who took over after Donnell went down with a neck injury last season, are still the clear favorites, but neither has established himself to this point. It is possible the duo ends up sharing snaps during the regular season. Tye has much more fantasy upside, but he needs to win the job outright to enter the TE1 conversation.

Larry Donnell spent more time with the first-team offense, but Tye also got some run with the 1s before catching a pass from Ryan Nassib. Donnell appears to be ahead in the competition for No. 1 duties, but hasn’t exactly separated. Both players figure to have Week 1 roles, making for a situation to avoid for TE2 streamers.

Schmeelk added Tye “showed remarkable consistency for a second-year player.” An undrafted sophomore out of Stony Brook, Tye came on strong filling in for an injured Larry Donnell late last season. He caught 32 passes for 368 yards and three scores over his final seven games and was the TE9 over that stretch. He needs to beat out Donnell for the lead role, but he has legit TE1 upside if given the opportunity.

Tye didn’t do much outside of a 27-yard second quarter catch. He had potential for a huge play, but couldn’t come down with a would-be 61-yard TD. Tye will only have low-end streaming value if Larry Donnell (concussion) doesn’t return next week.

Tye also took over the starting job when Donnell went down last season, and he was the TE10 in PPR scoring over the final eight games. He also finished inside the top 10 in four of the final five weeks. Tye and Donnell have combined for 28 targets this season, and Tye should see almost all of those while Donnell is out. He is a viable streaming option this week.

Tye started over Larry Donnell, who didn’t have a catch. He should continue to see snaps over Donnell going forward. Tye is a low-end streamer for Week 10.

Larry Donnell did not see the field the game after the bye, which is a swap the Giants needed to make. Tye only managed 33 yards on seven targets, but the Eagles are among the toughest defenses in the league against tight ends. He has legitimate streaming appeal this week against the Bengals.