Xavier Grimble Fantasy Stats

The Pittsburgh Steelers placed tight end Xavier Grimble (calf) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday. It's the corresponding move after the team traded for Nick Vannett on Tuesday night. Starter Vance McDonald (shoulder) is dealing with an AC sprain but night miss any games. Vannett will serve as depth for the time being and is a blocking-first tight end that won't be of much appeal to fantasy owners, even if McDonald is inactive on Monday night against the Bengals.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Xavier Grimble signed his restricted free-agent tender offer on Tuesday. Grimble played in all 16 games last year and 44 of his 48 games with the team in the last three years. He has 22 catches for 236 yards and three touchdowns in his career and is mainly a blocking tight end behind pass-catcher Vance McDonald in Pittsburgh. You don't need to know his name in fantasy.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Xavier Grimble (thumb, wrist) underwent surgery to fix a ligament in his thumb/wrist area, according to a source. The hope is that he can return for Week 1, but he will be out a few weeks. Vance McDonald (foot) is also hurt, so the Steelers are hurting at the position with the regular season approaching. Jesse James should see more repetitions in the final few preseason games.

Pittsburgh Steelers backup tight end Xavier Grimble could push for the top spot at the position if he proves to be more consistent catching the football. Jesse James is the current starter and is primed for a big role as a pass catcher, but Grimble has flashed special abilities at times. About the only way Grimble will come into fantasy relevance this year is if James goes down with an injury.

The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed exclusive rights free-agent tight end Xavier Grimble to a one-year, $540,000 deal Wednesday. Grimble had 11 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games in his rookie season in 2016. Even with the injury prone Ladarius Green a big question mark for next year, Grimble is a long shot to become fantasy relevant in 2017. Jesse James could be in line for a bigger boost in playing time if Green doesn't pan out in Pittsburgh.