Two-time Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph announced on Monday that he will officially retire as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Rudolph makes the decision after playing 12 seasons in the NFL. Originally a second-round pick of the Vikings in 2011 out of Notre Dame, Rudolph played the first 10 seasons of his career in Minnesota before joining the New York Giants in 2021 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year. He'll finish with 482 career receptions on 709 targets for 4,773 yards and 50 touchdowns in 165 games (145 starts). In just nine games (zero starts) for Tampa in 2022, the 33-year-old had three catches for 28 yards and one touchdown. Both of his Pro Bowl campaigns came in Minnesota -- in 2012 and in 2017.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph (knee) is officially inactive on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card playoff game. Wide receiver Breshad Perriman is also a healthy scratch for Tampa. Rudolph caught his first touchdown of the season in the meaningless Week 18 regular season finale and will now be sidelined to start the postseason. He was well off the fantasy radar all year with only three catches on five targets in nine games. Rookie Cade Otton and Cameron Brate will operate as quarterback Tom Brady's two best pass-catching tight ends on Monday night, with Otton likely having more DFS upside over Brate, who has yet to find the end zone this season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph (knee) is considered doubtful for Monday's Wild-Card game against the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran tight end suffered a knee injury during the regular season finale. He has been sitting out of practice, which isn't a good sign heading into Wild-Card weekend. His absence would mean a bigger workload for Cade Otton and Cameron Brate in the offense. Rudolph hasn't been a great option even when healthy. Fantasy managers should stay away from Rudolph for this weekend's slate.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph (knee) did not take part in the team's first practice of the week on Thursday. Rudolph injured his knee in the Week 18 regular season finale and could be in danger of missing wild-card weekend if he's unable to return to practice in the next two days. The 33-year-old was expected to have a much bigger role in his first year in Tampa, but he's been buried on the TE depth chart behind rookies Cade Otton and Ko Kieft and Cameron Brate. Rudolph found the end zone in a meaningless Week 18 game last Sunday and has just three receptions on five targets for 28 yards and the one TD in nine games played for Tampa. Even if Rudolph is active against Dallas, fantasy managers should stay away.
Kyle Rudolph Catches 50th Career Touchdown Before Injury
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph caught his only target for an eight-yard touchdown but suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the remainder of the game. The 33-year-old tight end totaled just three catches for 28 yards in five games played this season, but he was able to record the 50th touchdown reception of his career. Ultimately, Rudolph is way beyond his prime, and even if he can return to the field, he won't be anywhere near the DFS radar except as a cheap throw-in option with an expensive lineup. That said, he might not even be active if he can play in the postseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Week 18 versus the Atlanta Falcons. Rudolph caught an eight-yard touchdown earlier in the game, giving him his 50th career score. With the catch, Rudolph also became the 99th player to ever haul in a touchdown from Tom Brady.
Cameron Brate Active Sunday, Kyle Rudolph A Healthy Scratch
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate (neck) is active for Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks. As a result, Kyle Rudolph (coach's decision) is inactive. Brate hasn't played since Week 6 when he caught two passes for 14 yards before exiting with a scary upper-body injury. In total, he has 13 catches for 114 yards through five contests. Although he's not on the fantasy radar, his return to the lineup could detract from rookie Cade Otton's fantasy value this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph (coach's decision) is inactive for Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. He is a healthy scratch for the second consecutive week. Tampa Bay will have tight ends Cameron Brate, Cade Otton, and Ko Kieft active on Sunday, but none of them are worth starting in fantasy football.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kyle Rudolph is inactive for Sunday's matchup against Dallas. The Bucs are high on Cameron Brate and Cade Otton, so both men figure to get some targets from Tom Brady in the opener. Unfortunately for them, Chris Godwin (knee) is active, so their outlook for Week 1 isn't as bright as it could have been. That said, Otton and Brate should remain viable fantasy options heading into this one.
Cameron Brate, Kyle Rudolph May Not Be Featured Much
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that the tight end production this year will be made up with the wide receivers and running backs without Rob Gronkowski in the picture. That's not good news for Cameron Brate, Kyle Rudolph or rookie Cade Otton. Brate figures to take over most of Gronk's production, especially in the red zone, but Bowles' statement and the presence of Rudolph will give him a very low floor for fantasy purposes. The 31-year-old probably went undrafted in most 12-team leagues, and he'll only be a touchdown-dependent streaming option in much deeper leagues in the right matchups. Trying to predict Brate's and Rudolph's production on a weekly basis could wind up being a futile task.
