TE Troy Niklas has inked a 1-year deal with the Patriots. A 2nd-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2014, Niklas has totaled just 19 receptions across 4 NFL campaigns, missing time with 4 separate ankle sprains and a wrist injury. He's still just 25, though, and goes 6'6, 270 pounds with a 70th percentile SPARQ score. Niklas will push Dwayne Allen for #2 TE duties in New England.

Darren Fells, not Troy Niklas or Jermaine Gresham, is the favorite for starting TE duties in Arizona this season.  “It’s going to really, really hard to beat him out," HC Bruce Arians said Monday.  Fells played basketball in college and then professionally overseas before heading to the NFL in 2013.  He saw his 1st regular-season action last year and totaled 6 catches, 72 yards and a TD in the Cardinals' final 4 contests (including playoffs).  Fells is a monstrous 6'7, 281-pounder with some red-zone upside.  But he spent 73.4% of his snaps blocking last season.  He figures to play a similar role in 2015.  Niklas and Gresham could still both finish with more fantasy points than Fells.  The takeaway here, though, is that you should avoid all Cardinals TEs in your draft.

Cardinals TEs Jermaine Gresham (back) and Troy Niklas (ankle) have been activated for training camp.  The duo figures to share receiving duties in an offense that's averaged just 92.5 TE targets in HC Bruce Arians' first 2 seasons.  Gresham and Niklas will likely need an injury to the other to provide any fantasy value.  And even then, they'd be just low-upside spot starters.

The Cardinals placed TE Jermaine Gresham on the PUP Wednesday, a day after signing the free agent. Gresham had back surgery in March. He can come off the list whenever he's ready, though staying on into the regular season would cost at least 6 games. TE Troy Niklas also landed on the active/non-football injury list with hamstring trouble. That follows a right ankle issue that cost him the final day of minicamp this spring and offseason surgery on the left ankle that "removed a tightrope," according to ESPN.com. Bottom line for fantasy owners: Don't draft a Cardinals TE.

The Cardinals have signed TE Jermaine Gresham.  The former Bengal needed offseason back surgery, but Arizona is clearly satisfied with his recovery so far.  Gresham caught 62 balls last year but averaged just 7.4 yards per catch.  His career average sits at 9.7.  There's not much physical upside here, and Gresham will now be battling Troy Niklas for targets in an offense that doesn't feature the TE in its passing game.  Neither Cardinal TE is worth drafting in standard-sized fantasy leagues.

Cardinals TE Troy Niklas will undergo what insider Mike Jurecki calls a "minor procedure" on his ankle on Thursday.  Niklas reportedly rolled the ankle in practice on Tuesday.  He's expected to be ready for the start of camp, but remember that he also required ankle surgery last year after suffering a pair of high-ankle sprains.  It's unclear if this issue is related, but it's a situation worth monitoring.  Niklas is expected to serve as Arizona's lead TE this season, although that spot doesn't bring much fantasy upside.

Cardinals TE Troy Niklas (ankle) has been placed on IR.  He suffered his 2nd high-ankle sprain of the year last week.  This one will reportedly require surgery.  Niklas finishes his rookie campaign with 3 catches for 38 yards.  He's just a low-upside stash in dynasty leagues.

Cardinals TE Troy Niklas suffered a high-ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Broncos.  He'll be out multiple weeks.  The rookie has just 1 catch through 4 games and is well off the fantasy radar.  He's only worth rostering in dynasty leagues.

Cardinals TE Rob Housler worked with the 1st-team offense in Saturday's preseason opener, making this catch-and-run for 38 yards.  Previous reports had him 4th on the depth chart.  It now looks like he'll at least see time in 2-TE sets with John Carlson.  Rookie Troy Niklas figures to open the season 3rd on the depth chart but could work his way up.  None of these guys are likely to emerge as reliable fantasy assets this year.

Cardinals insider Josh Weinfuss believes TE Rob Housler is 4th on the depth chart heading to training camp.  "He's just not the type of tight end head coach Bruce Arians prefers," Weinfuss writes.  Housler is an athletic pass-catcher but doesn't offer much in the blocking department.  Weinfuss believes the current pecking order at TE is John Carlson, Jake Ballard, Troy Niklas and then Housler.  We just adjusted our projections for the Arizona TEs, but none of them are worth drafting in fantasy football right now.

Cardinals TE Troy Niklas broke his hand last week when it got caught up in a jersey.  HC Bruce Arians expects the rookie to be ready for training camp, but the missed time is still bad news.  Remember that Niklas was sidelined earlier this offseason after undergoing sports hernia surgery.  If nothing else, expect him to get off to a slow start this season.  We're not optimistic about his chances of emerging as a reliable fantasy option at all this year.  Niklas will be battling for snaps with TEs Rob Housler and John Carlson.

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians revealed that rookie TE Troy Niklas is currently recovering from sports hernia surgery.  It's unclear when the procedure took place or when Niklas will get back on the field.  Any sort of missed time for a rookie is bad news.  Niklas -- a big, athletic, well-rounded TE -- has a chance to earn significant playing time this season.  But he'll battle with TEs Rob Housler and John Carlson for snaps.

The Cardinals selected TE Troy Niklas with the 52nd pick of the draft.  A country strong 6'6, 270-pounder, Niklas is a ready-made blocker.  NFL Network's Mike Mayock believes Niklas could even develop into the best run-blocking TE in the NFL.  Of course, that doesn't help us much in fantasy.  Niklas has some pass-catching potential with that big frame and sneaky athleticism.  But he'll be fending for targets with WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd and TEs Rob Housler and John Carlson.