Denver’s defense is under the microscope as penalties and miscommunications cost close games. Vance Joseph demands a four-quarter, cleaner brand of football after back-to-back late losses, stressing pre-snap discipline and fewer aggressive penalties. Week 1 showed promise, but the last two outings featured costly flags by Bonitto, Tillman, Moss and Surtain II that helped fuel opponent late drives. The upcoming Monday night test against Cincinnati centers on finishing drives, not waiting for one final stand.

Players acknowledge the need for execution under pressure. Bonitto and Moss emphasize smarter alignment and reaction, while Joseph pledges to coach a smarter fourth quarter. With targets like Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Gesicki looming for Cincinnati, the Broncos must translate practice rigor into late-game restraint and consistent performance across all four quarters.

Ramsey's clutch fourth-down jar clinched the Steelers' 34-32 comeback over the Jets, while Week 1 showcased his hybrid safety/slot usage beside DeShon Elliott and a stout Steelers secondary. Pittsburgh leaned on tight end activity in a 37-snaps-at-TE role for Smith, behind Freiermuth and Washington, signaling tight-end rotation volatility for fantasy setups. Across the league, ex-Dolphins like Long (Jacksonville), Smythe (Chicago), and Gesicki (Cincinnati) shuffled rosters, nudging Week 4 outlooks. Jets QB Justin Fields flashed, raising early Week 4 narrative stakes.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins' Week 1 fallout ripples through the fantasy landscape, as Ramsey’s return and new supporting casts shape IDP floors and offensive splits for Week 4 divisional matchups. The ripple effects touch Ng Jets playmakers Garrett Wilson and Justin Fields, plus ex-Dolphins in Cincinnati and Chicago, underscoring how personnel moves alter value across the league.

Gesicki sits as a sleeper in Cincinnati’s high-powered 2025 offense, with Burrow explicitly targeting him in free agency and slot duties leaning his way. The move could push Gesicki into solid fantasy value, especially in DFS where his route-running niche and Burrow’s volume reduce risk. With Chase and Higgins drawing top coverage, Gesicki could feast on targeted opportunities as the primary in-slot option.

Last season Gesicki piled up 83 targets for 665 yards and 2 touchdowns; another year in the system may unlock more, while the Bengals’ TE mix (Sample, Fant) isn’t projected to siphon a huge share. Higgins’ injury risk adds potential upside for Gesicki, making him a shrewd value in drafts around TE27 and priced well for DFS leverage and weekly upside.

Tyler Warren sits at the top of 2025’s TE avoid list as Indy’s QB play remains unreliable and targets in a crowded Colts offense threaten his rookie year. David Njoku, Dallas Goedert, Mike Gesicki and Pat Freiermuth also carry red flags tied to quarterback instability, scheme fit, or incoming competition. The column nudges managers toward safer bets like Brock Bowers, Trey McBride and Sam LaPorta, while tempering rookie hype around Warren in standard formats.

Ultimately, anchoring your draft with patience at tight end matters: the right TE can add consistent Week-to-week value, but chasing Alonso-level upside early often backfires. The piece highlights that safer early-round targets exist in the college-to-pro pipeline (Bowers, McBride, LaPorta) and that Williams, Downs and Pittman’s roles in Indy shape Warren’s path far more than his college pedigree alone.