Kyle Rudolph

Although there was a potential "snag" in the signing process due to a medical flag, the Giants and TE Kyle Rudolph officially signed.

Fantasy Impact

With Rudolph officially signing with the New York Giants, it will be interesting to see the dynamic between Rudolph and Evan Engram. Engram will likely be the lead TE here, but it will be interesting to see how his fantasy ceiling will be affected by Rudolph's presence.

Free-agent TE Kyle Rudolph has reportedly encountered a snag with previous agreements to a two-year deal with the New York Giants after undergoing a physical that revealed the potential need for foot surgery.

Fantasy Impact

Rudolph agreed to a two-year deal with the Giants last week, joining several other notable free agents on a team that has been spending in free agency thus far. However, after undergoing a physical with the Giants' medical staff, the veteran tight-end may be in need of foot surgery. This decision has stalled the previous agreement and new discussions of how to proceed are currently underway. Rudolph caught 28 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown in 12 games for Minnesota in 2020 and will fit nicely into the Giants' offense as a TE2 alongside Evan Engram, assuming talks get resolved in the coming days.

The Giants have signed former Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph to a two-year deal with a max value of $14M.

Fantasy Impact

Rudolph is on the back nine of his career and hasn't been the most productive TE the last two seasons, tallying 67 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. He is, however, a strong veteran presence, a good blocker, and a big-bodied red zone target for QB Daniel Jones. This move may say more about how the team feels about Evan Engram. With many mock drafts projecting the Giants to select Kyle Pitts, TE out of Florida at 11 overall, could a draft-day trade of Engram be in the cards? Rudolph should be considered nothing more than a low-end TE2 at this point in his career.

Following his release by the Vikings last week, Kyle Rudolph is now reportedly interested in joining the New England Patriots.

Fantasy Impact

Rudolph would be an interesting addition to the New England tight end room. If Rudolph were to become the starting tight end for the Patriots next season he would be a very interesting weekly streaming candidate for fantasy managers.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is being released from the team, as reported by Ian Rapoport.

Fantasy Impact

Rudolph has spent his entire ten-year career with the Vikings, racking up nearly 4,500 yards and 48 career touchdowns, including a few clutch catches in the postseason. The veteran tight end will surely have suitors as he hits the crowded free-agent market in 2021. Meanwhile, fantasy managers should target Irv Smith Jr., as he becomes the clear-cut TE1 in a Minnesota offense that heavily utilizes the tight end in its passing schemes. Smith Jr. could quickly become a fantasy TE1 and will definitely be rising up fantasy draft boards with the release of Rudolph.