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Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football TE Draft Strategy: Focus on the players who cosplay as wide receivers
I love going to gaming conventions. I know. Shocker, right? The guy with an engineering background who writes about fantasy football likes video games. And, yes, seeing new ways to get my sons into RPGs or real-time strategy adventures will always pique my interest. But I'm there for the cosplay. You can tell who's into bringing their favorite characters to life by their costume. Anything with LEDs, moving parts, or a frame-altering structure stands out. Or, said differently, we know what matters when we see it. The same is true for the tight end position. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Our draft strategies around TEs focus on the guys who cosplay as receivers. The traits to prioritize are hard to miss. But only so many make a true difference each season. However, by knowing what to target throughout the draft, you can address the position without impacting your roster. Taking a TE in the Early Rounds Pros: Weekly upside at a onesie position Cons: Potential for weaker starters at WR or RB On the one hand, taking an early-round TE makes in-season roster decisions a breeze. You're only concern is their bye week. Plus, with how often they get the ball, you'll see their highlights plastered across social media. Players like Brock Bowers are receivers with a TE designation. They're the cheat code at the position. Luckily, like most good cosplayers, they're easy to spot. 'Athletic' is the common descriptor. But after looking at the last five seasons of data, I'll call them 'opportunistic.' Avg. Target Share (for Top-3 TEs): 21.7% Targets per Route Run: 23.6% Yards per Route Run: 1.97 Since 2020, only four TEs to cap the fantasy season with a top-3 finish have had a target share under 20.0%. Unsurprisingly, their volume and efficiency metrics align with most of our favorite receivers. Bowers and CeeDee Lamb generated almost the same amount of yards after the catch on a per-reception basis (5.3 and 5.4). Trey McBride (8.7) saw more targets per game than Amon-Ra St. Brown (8.1). And George Kittle ranked fourth amongst receivers and TEs in red-zone TDs. All three would've had top-20 seasons in PPR leagues if they had a 'WR' next to their name. However, if you want one of them this year, you'll have to pay up. I talked about being cognizant of opportunity cost last week as I went over my QB draft strategy. Essentially, we're giving up a shot at a starting RB or WR to fill a onesie spot. And our chances of hitting on a productive player diminish each round. But if the data doesn't sway you, let's play a game of Either/Or. Either Brock Bowers or one of Drake London/Bucky Irving Either Trey McBride or one of Ladd McConkey/Chase Brown Either George Kittle or one of Tee Higgins/James Cook By Yahoo's ADP, the early-round TEs will force you to choose between them and a weekly staple at either core position. But there's a workaround. Contextualizing each player's potential workload allows you to find one or multiple options later with a similar range of outcomes. Instead of Chase Brown, draft Kenneth Walker (for rushing volume) and James Conner (with pass-catching upside). As a result, you can escape the first six rounds with a high-end TE along with a viable nucleus of WRs and RBs. [Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Plus and unlock Instant Mock Drafts today] Mark Andrews, Ravens Drafting a Mid-Round TE Pros: Enables a strong starting roster with minor depth Cons: Weekly projections will favor holding your TE despite weak production I went to PAX East once dressed as a Black Mesa scientist (shoutout to my nerds who know the reference). All I needed was a lab coat with the logo on it. I looked sharp, even got some comments. But I wasn't anything compared to the guy with a full-on Transformers costume. Like my attempt at cosplay, mid-round TEs are the next best thing to the elite options. They play the part well, but they've got at least one glaring issue keeping them out of the early rounds. Last year's TE10 is a perfect example. First off, I wasn't a Motorhead fan before today. I get it now. Anyway, Tucker Kraft exploded onto the scene as the value TE to draft. His pre-draft testing signaled he could be a menace on the field. And the South Dakota State product delivered. Kraft's absurd average of 9.3 yards after the catch per reception is the second-most of any TE over the last 10 years. The only problem is his situation. Target Share: 15.1%, 13th (out of 27 qualifying TEs, min. 50.0% route rate) Targets per Route Run: 16.1%, 21st Yards per Route Run: 1.63, 6th Kraft is part of an offense featuring multiple WRs, sitting around the league average in pass rate over expectation. Simply put, the pie is small, and so is his slice of it. But you can find warts on his peers. Zach Ertz saw the seventh-most targets of any TE, but (famously) has trouble generating more yards past the catch. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith keep Dallas Goedert's ceiling in check. Kyle Pitts ... never mind. However, the silver lining is their usage in the red zone. Zach Ertz: 26 (RZ targets), T-3rd (out of 27 qualifying TEs, min. 50.0% route rate) Jonnu Smith: 25, 5th Hunter Henry: 23, T-7th Kyle Pitts: 17, T-11th Tucker Kraft: 17, T-11th Falling into the end zone (with the ball) is what gives a mid-round TE fantasy relevance. For the tight ends in the back half of 2024's top 12, touchdowns alone accounted for 18.8% of their scores. David Njoku's five scores allowed him to sneak into the TE11 spot after nearly matching career lows in receiving efficiency. Cole Kmet finding the paint seven times in '22 propelled him to TE8 despite only having 544 receiving yards on the season. In either case, identifying TEs that are still a part of the passing game when their team is in scoring position offers not only a weekly floor, but access to a ceiling with top-12 upside each week. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys; Tyler Warren, Colts; Chig Okonkwo, Titans Gambling at TE in the Late Rounds Pros: Supports a (mostly) full roster build with starters and depth Cons: Week-to-week variability at TE will require constant matchup evaluation Consider late-round TEs as matchup-based starters. Every Tuesday night (or whichever night is before your waivers process), you'll need to look at the defense your starter will face in the coming days. From there, it's either keep him or stream another in a better environment. However, instead of putting in claims based on vibes, I've got some math to guide you. Target Share: 0.62 (r-squared) TPRR: 0.34 Route Rate: 0.27 (Team-Level) Yards per Drive: 0.18 (Team-Level) EPA per Play: 0.12 (Team-Level) Pass Rate Over Expectation: 0.11 I ran a study using five years of data to examine the correlation between each metric and fantasy points. The closer to 1.0, the stronger the connection. Intuitively, more targets get you more points. Surprisingly, their team situation isn't much of a factor. However, most (read all) of the TEs with secure target shares are off the board. So, let's drop down to another stat worth valuing. Routes signal intent by a play-caller to have a receiver involved in a play concept. Afterward, it's on the player to get the ball thrown their way. But it won't happen with them on the sideline. Accordingly, we have to do some detective work to see which TEs will even be on the field. Practice reports can help in this regard. Yes, the Jets' offense is a work in progress at best. However, Mason Taylor profiles as an athletic outlet for Justin Fields on a team featuring 30-year-old Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson, who signed a $1.3M contract in free agency. In other words, Taylor's potential to see the field should be high. We'll need to see his rapport with Fields to assess his value over the season, but starting with his participation within the offense should be our first clue. Theo Johnson, Giants; Ja'Tavion Sanders, Panthers
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Disney Stock a Magical Buy After Earnings?
Entertainment leader The Walt Disney Company (DIS) recently reported solid profitability gains in its third-quarter results. The company also stands on the cusp of a significant acquisition of the NFL Network. With Q3 results in the rearview and an exciting deal on the way, should investors play DIS stock now? Or should they hold off on buying shares of the entertainment giant? More News from Barchart Why This Cannabis Penny Stock Could Be Wall Street's Next Meme Trade Breakout Apple Stock Is Gaining Momentum, Is AAPL Stock a Buy? Peter Thiel-Backed Bullish Is About to IPO. Should You Buy BLSH Stock? Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! About Disney Stock Founded in 1923, the Walt Disney Company is a global leader in the entertainment and media industries. Headquartered in Burbank, California, the company owns iconic brands such as Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. Its operations encompass television broadcasting, film production, merchandise licensing, and digital platforms, including Disney+. The company also runs internationally renowned theme parks and resorts. Disney has a market capitalization of $209 billion. A transformation is underway in Disney's sports segment, with its ESPN subsidiary launching a sports streaming service for customers on Aug. 21. This service brings the full suite of ESPN's network under one umbrella. The launch of the service is timed to coincide with numerous sports events, including the start of the NFL season. This also brings the bombshell news that ESPN would be acquiring the NFL Network, which has nearly 50 million subscribers, and other media assets. The addition of the NFL streaming rights gives the company more leverage for its upcoming sports streaming service. Over the past 52 weeks, DIS stock has gained 34% as the company experiences growth in subscribers. DIS stock reached a 52-week high of $124.69 in late June but is now 8% off that mark. So far this year, the stock is up by nearly 4%. Right now, shares of Disney trade at an attractive valuation. Its price sits at 19.3 times forward earnings, which is lower than the current industry average. Disney's Profits Climbed in the Third Quarter Disney reported robust third-quarter results for fiscal 2025 on Aug. 6. The company's revenue increased by 2% from the prior-year period to $23.65 billion. However, this figure fell just short of the $23.68 billion that Wall Street analysts were expecting. At the heart of the growth was Disney's growing subscriber count in its streaming services and growth in its domestic theme parks segment. The company's total Disney+ subscribers for the quarter were 127.8 million, increasing 1.4% from the prior quarter. This subscriber growth was, in turn, fueled by a 2.5% sequential increase in international subscriber count, while domestic subscriber growth (in the U.S. and Canada) remained flat. Its total Hulu subscriber count grew by 1.5% sequentially to 55.5 million. Disney's direct-to-consumer (DTC) segment's operating income stood at $346 million, representing a significant turnaround from the $19 million operating loss it had reported a year earlier. On top of that, the experiences segment's operating income climbed by 13% year-over-year (YOY) to $2.52 billion. The company also reported gains in its profitability as its operational metrics grew. Adjusted EPS grew by 16% YOY to $1.61, which was higher than the $1.46 per share that Wall Street analysts were expecting for the quarter. For Q4, Disney expects total Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions to increase by more than 10 million compared to the third quarter. The majority of the growth is likely to come from Hulu due to its expanded Charter deal, while the Disney+ subscriber count is expected to grow modestly. For the current fiscal year, Disney expects adjusted EPS to be $5.85, representing an 18% increase from the prior year. Its DTC segment is forecast to report an operating income of $1.30 billion. Wall Street analysts are soundly optimistic about Disney's future earnings. For the current fiscal year, EPS is projected to increase 18.3% annually to $5.88, followed by 10% growth to $6.47 in the next fiscal year. What Do Analysts Think About Disney Stock? In the eyes of Wall Street analysts, Disney remains a sweetheart in the entertainment industry. Recently, Rosenblatt raised its price target on DIS stock from $140 to $141, while maintaining a 'Buy' rating. The price target revision came after the company's Q3 report, with Rosenblatt analysts highlighting its theme park growth. Needham analyst Laura Martin also maintained a 'Buy' rating on DIS stock with a $125 price target. The rating is based on several positive developments, such as Disney's recent profitability gains. Reflecting positive sentiment, Evercore ISI Group analyst Vijay Jayant maintained an 'Outperform" rating, hiking the price target from $134 to $140. Expecting the company to continue its track of sustained earnings growth, Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne raised the price target from $120 to $140 as well, with an unchanged 'Outperform' rating. Disney remains a favorite on Wall Street, with analysts awarding it a consensus 'Strong Buy' rating overall. Of the 28 analysts rating the stock, a majority of 20 analysts rate it a 'Strong Buy,' two analysts suggest a 'Moderate Buy,' and six play it safe with a 'Hold' rating. The consensus price target of $134.52 represents 17% potential upside from current levels. The Street-high price target of $152 indicates 32% potential upside from here. The Bottom Line Disney's operations might be in a growth phase at the moment, with growing subscribers and additions in theme parks, such as the company's planned seventh theme park set to be built in Abu Dhabi. Disney's bottom-line gains are also notable. Therefore, investors may want to consider DIS stock now. On the date of publication, Anushka Dutta did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Taylor Swift disabled Instagram comments 10 years ago and never looked back. Should you?
Taylor Swift is bejeweled — with gems of "energy," that is. On the Aug. 13 episode of the Kelce brothers' "New Heights" podcast, Swift gave some advice to listeners, saying they should consider their attention to be a precious commodity and not place a lot of importance on interactions that don't serve their well-being. "You should think of your energy as if it's expensive, as if it's a luxury item," Swift said. "Not everyone can afford it. Not everyone has invested in you in order to be able to have the capital for you to care about this. What you spend your energy on, that's the day." Protecting her diamonds of energy is a reason why she disabled Instagram comments about 10 years ago — and doesn't "miss" being online. "I do detach from the internet in a huge way," she said during the episode, in which she announced her 12th studio album "The Life of a Showgirl" set to release Oct. 3. While her high-profile relationship and career are all over headlines and social media, Swift said she's reached a point of balance and grown a tough skin: "I've been able to mediate a really healthy relationship with not seeing a whole lot." So rather than miss out on what could be a good day to "obsession" over one person calling you "mid" in the comments, the pop star said we should tune it all out. "We're in the era of distraction," says digital wellness expert Mark Ostach. "Taylor is modeling a great digital wellness practice ... realizing your purpose in life doesn't come from the impressions you get online. Your identity and worth isn't rooted in how many followers you have." Is it time to take Taylor's advice? Here's how to tell if you need to take a step back from social media — and how to do it. Protecting 'diamonds' of energy Swift shared sage advice for when to know it's time to step away from digital discourse. "If your algorithm is giving you either criticisms of yourself or adulation or praise you're creating an ecosystem in which you're the center piece of the table," she said. "I just don't think that's healthy." Many of us struggle from this "post-traumatic scroll disorder," Ostach says. The endless digital diet we consume overwhelms us with fear or anxiety from the second we wake up. As a first step to disrupt this cycle, Ostach recommends we turn off comments, keep our phones out of site, block apps or set time constraints for social media. "When we're customizing our mood based on the moment we're scrolling, we're susceptible to insecurities, self-esteem issues or lacking motivation," he says. Swift has been vocal about her struggle balancing mental health with her public persona. On the podcast, she said "The Life of a Showgirl" will peel back the curtain on how she really felt while performing the epic 149-show Eras Tour before sold-out crowds. Swift has learned to separate the noise from the music. Anything online that doesn't serve her is "not my business." These boundaries fuel Swift's creativity, Ostach says. "When you are looking to modify behavior, be it smoking or scrolling, you need to replace it with something," Ostach says. In the way that Taylor puts pen to paper or attends Chiefs' games with friends, we should find intentional actions outside the ecosystem of comparison, Ostach says. "Those will rejuvante your mind body and spirit," he says. "What you bring into the world is the light of what you've done in your dark space (offline)." While not all of us are pop stars with microscopic attention on our lives, it's easy for anyone to fall into favoring social media over real relationships. If people in your life complain you're too online, or your focus on being loved online outshines real connection, that's a sign to step away, Ostach says. To get find genuine connection, he suggests we ask "how are you"? and actually pause for a response. Or swap DMing posts to friends for a walk together outside. Smell, hear and feel the nature around you in that moment. Swift said she prioritizes connections with boyfriend Travis Kelce and their hobbies, from her obsession with sourdough creations to his love for wild otters. Their own intimacy defines the relationship, not the projections online. "Can you imagine if we just talked about what people said about our relationship?" she said on the podcast. "If we talked about that, that would be all we talked about because there's so much chatter. We're busy having an actual relationship."
