Detroit Lions tight end Tony Scheffler should see an increased role with the team with wide receiver Nate Burleson out with an injury, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. Scheffler was "the forgotten man in the offense," according to McCosky, and it seems like an apt description.
Tony Scheffler could see increased role for Lions, might have some fantasy value
Detroit Lions tight end Tony Scheffler could see an increased role for the team. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Scheffler was in on just 21 offensive snaps against the Washington Redskins. That was a season high for him. Starter Brandon Pettigrew has not been a primary weapon in the offense for Matthew Stafford, either. Receivers Calvin Johnson and the aforementioned Burleson have seen the lion's share of the targets to this point.
But with Burleson out for an indeterminate amount of time because of his broken arm, Scheffler could see an increased role. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him in on the majority of snaps going forward, and it’s likely he’ll get some targets, perhaps even more than Pettigrew, who draws coverage as the starting tight end.
Fantasy Impact: Scheffler is not a top receiving option by any means, but he could be a breakout candidate in the coming weeks. Teams will wise up and eventually cover him, but if you are dealing with possible injuries or something like that at the tight end position, there’s worse options than picking up Scheffler and seeing what he can produce in the interim.
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