Minnesota Vikings tight end Robert Tonyan is building chemistry with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy at OTAs, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The 30-year-old signed a one-year, $1.23 million deal to join the team this offseason, and he could compete for snaps while T.J. Hockenson (knee) works his way back from a late-season ACL tear. Tonyan spent five seasons with the Green Bay Packers and one year with the Chicago Bears and racked up 148 receptions for 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns in 85 games. He led all tight ends with 11 touchdowns in 2020. Although his one season of fantasy upside looks to be an outlier and a result of playing with Aaron Rodgers, he should be slightly on the fantasy radar in deep tight-end premium leagues. He figured to compete with Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, and K'Neal Harry (recently moved to tight end) for early-season reps. Whoever earns the temporary TE1 job will likely have limited upside catching passes from Sam Darnold or McCarthy in 2024.
Former Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan signed an undisclosed deal with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. Tonyan will stay in the NFC North after playing in all 17 regular-season games with the Chicago Bears in 2203, catching just 11 of 17 targets for 107 receiving yards and no touchdowns. The 30-year-old's addition in Minnesota will give the Vikings a little more depth at the position with T.J. Hockenson (knee) trying to return this fall from a serious knee injury. If Hockenson isn't ready to go for Week 1, Tonyan, Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt would be competing for playing time. Even if Hockenson is delayed to start the 2024 campaign, Tonyan probably won't be anything more than a touchdown-dependent TE2 option in fantasy for a short period of time. He has a total of 148 catches (193 targets) for 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns (11 in 2020) in his six years in the NFL.
Chicago Bears tight end Robert Tonyan (back) is officially active for Week 1 versus the Green Bay Packers. He had been listed as questionable but will ultimately suit up as Cole Kmet's backup. He can be left on fantasy football waivers.
Robert Tonyan Could Have Substantial Role In Bears Offense
Chicago Bears tight end Robert Tonyan was pretty involved with the first-team offense during offseason practices, setting up an expectation for more 12 personnel in 2023 with two tight ends on the field -- Tonyan and Cole Kmet. There hasn't been much of a learning curve for Tonyan this spring either, thanks to his familiarity with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. The two were together in Green Bay from 2019-21. The 29-year-old had a career-high 586 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020 with the Packers, but he's never come that close to replicating that season, and Kmet will still likely remain the favored pass-catching tight end in Chicago in 2023. Tonyan will only be worth a waiver-wire pickup if Kmet misses time due to injury.
Free-agent tight end Robert Tonyan agreed to a one-year deal with the Bears. The 28-year-old totaled two touchdowns in his first two seasons. However, after finding the end zone 11 times during the 2020 season, he tore his left ACL the following year, limiting him to just eight games. With the Bears acquiring D.J. Moore, Chicago has a few capable options on the receiving end, so Tonyan could get lost in the crowd. At the same time, the former Packer will also be battling Cole Kmet for targets from Justin Fields in 2023-24, lowering his fantasy expectations even more.
Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan could be headed elsewhere this offseason. The 28-year-old hasn't brought the same production since his 11-touchdown season in 2020. Tonyan finished with 53 receptions, 470 yards, and two touchdowns through 17 games (three starts) with the Packers last season. This is reportedly a deep draft for tight ends, so the Packers could decide to go young and let Tonyan walk. The veteran tight end is likely seeking a multi-year deal, which is something the Packers probably don't want to commit to doing right now. He could have fantasy value elsewhere, but it'd have to be the right team.
Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan caught all three of his targets and gained 29 yards during the team's 20-16 loss to the Detroit Lions. It ends an outright disappointing season for the veteran who came into the year with a chance to see an increased target share due to the departure of star receiver Davante Adams. Tonyan finished with 67 targets, a total of eight more than his previous career-high of 59 in 2020. However, that season, the 28-year-old was the TE4 overall due to a high touchdown total. He finished with just two this season, capping his upside and holding him to just three top-12 fantasy finishes. After losing valuable reps to backups Joshua Deguara and Marcedes Lewis, and the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers up in the air, Tonyan can safely be left off of draft boards heading into the 2023 season.
Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan will face the division rival Detroit Lions Sunday night. The 28-year-old found the end zone for the first time since Week 4 last week against Minnesota, finishing inside the top 12 for only the second time this season. However, despite his recent success, Tonyan remains off the fantasy radar in the majority of fantasy leagues. He has topped three targets just two times over the past seven games and will need to score to finish as a viable streaming option in Week 18. The matchup against Detroit is great, as the Lions allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the tight end position. However, with a lack of consistent volume and all of the Packers wide receivers set to suit up on Sunday, the veteran tight end is a boom-or-bust back-end TE2 at best in Week 18.
Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan caught 3-of-4 targets for 52 yards and one touchdown during the team's 41-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The veteran tight end found the end zone for the first time since Week 4 and caught the only receiving touchdown of the night. The Packers' defense took this game over, leading to only three offensive touchdowns, with two coming on the ground. Tonyan had not been a viable fantasy option for months prior to this week, so the performance likely helped very few people. Even after scoring this week, the 28-year-old will not be a recommended streamer next week against Detroit for those who are playing their fantasy football title games in Week 18.
Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan will take on the division-rival Minnesota Vikings in Week 17. The 28-year-old has been off the fantasy radar for weeks, topping three targets once over the past six games and consistently losing valuable targets in the red zone to teammate Marcedes Lewis. Minnesota is middle of the pack against fantasy tight ends this season, and the Packers could be without top target Christian Watson (hip). However, you can't trust a player like Tonyan, who has struggled to be targeted over the past six games, while there are plenty of better options widely available on the waiver wire. It is better to look elsewhere for a streaming option in Week 17.
