When Greg Olsen went down with a foot injury in Week 2, Ed Dickson was elevated as the Carolina Panthers’ new starting tight end. Dickson has been a blocking tight end for most of his career and hasn’t reached the 50-reception mark since 2011. He’s taken to his new expanded role, but it hasn’t translated to consistent fantasy value.
Fantasy football, Week 9: Ed Dickson, start or sit?
The Kelvin Benjamin trade opens up some targets in Carolina’s passing game. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Through eight games, Dickson has 22 catches for 349 yards. Most of that yardage came in Week 5, when he exploded for 175 yards on five catches. Dickson has slowed down in recent games, recording a total of just 78 yards in the past three games.
Fantasy impact: The Panthers’ shocking trade of Kelvin Benjamin opens up some target opportunities in the passing game, but Dickson is still a low-end talent who has yet to find the end zone this season. His main value comes in PPR leagues as a checkdown option for Cam Newton.
With the tight end pool so barren this year, Dickson remains on the TE2 streaming radar with a low ceiling but predictable floor. He’ll have a Week 9 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, whose defense is giving up the ninth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Start Dickson if there are no better options, but know the risks at hand.
Recommendation: Start if you’re desperate.
