Bartholomew
TE · MIN @ DET
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ETLatest report: DNP
Projected points3.3ptsUsage estimate
Cuevas
TE · BAL @ BUF
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points3.1pts
Toss-up
Bench
Gavin Bartholomew or Josh Cuevas: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Gavin Bartholomew gets the nod over Josh Cuevas.
- Ahead by
- +0.2pts
- over Cuevas
- Confidence
- Lower
- The two projections come from different sources; one is a Nuvela estimate
Bartholomew's number is our own estimate because his prop lines aren't posted yet, so this call is less sure than the gap looks.
Case for Cuevas
The case for Cuevas is an offense expected to score more (25.8 points to 21.3) and more of the snaps (23% to 17%).
Flips if
If Gavin Bartholomew is ruled out or inactive, start Josh Cuevas.
Risk
Gavin Bartholomew was DNP in practice: check the final injury report and the inactives, posted about 90 minutes before kickoff. As of Fri 10:00 PM ET
Highlights
BartholomewToss-upTE · MIN @ DETUsually 2.1+1.3pts this week
Helps him
- +1.0ptspaceMost players at his position produce more than he has, so we expect him to bounce back some.
- DETvs TEsEdgeDET is the softest defense for tight ends.
Hurts him
- 5%targetsHe draws only 5% of his team’s targets.
- 1.3per gameHe sees only 1.3 targets a game.
CuevasFirst outTE · BAL @ BUFUsually 3.8−0.7pts this week
Helps him
- +4.3last 3 vs avgHis last three games run 4.3 points above his season average.
Hurts him
- −0.7ptsrec yardsHis lines put him at 10.5 receiving yards, below his usual 17.0.
- 5%targetsHe draws only 5% of his team’s targets.
- 1.6per gameHe sees only 1.6 targets a game.
Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.
Stat comparison
Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.
Stat
Scoring
ProjectionBartholomew: 3.3 (best)Cuevas: 3.1
TD pointsof the projectionBartholomew: Our estimateCuevas: 0.6
Expected TDsthis weekBartholomew: Our estimateCuevas: 0.10
Projected team pointsBartholomew: 21.3Cuevas: 25.8 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameBartholomew: 0.2Cuevas: 0.3 (best)
Role
Snap shareBartholomew: 17%Cuevas: 23% (best)
Usage worthptsBartholomew: 2.2Cuevas: 2.7 (best)
Target shareBartholomew: 5%Cuevas: 5%
Targets / gameBartholomew: 1.3Cuevas: 1.6 (best)
Air yards shareBartholomew: 2%Cuevas: 3% (best)
Vacated targets this weekBartholomew: 1.7 (best)Cuevas: 0.7
RZ target shareBartholomew: 5%Cuevas: 7% (best)
Inside 10 target shareBartholomew: 20% (best)Cuevas: 8%
Catch rateBartholomew: 88% (best)Cuevas: 82%
SeparationBartholomew: 3.9 ydsCuevas: 4.3 yds (best)
YAC over expectedBartholomew: −0.2Cuevas: +2.0 (best)
Usage worth vs scoredBartholomew: Earned by usage 2.2Scored 2.1Cuevas: Earned by usage 2.7Scored 3.8
WOPRBartholomew: 0.09Cuevas: 0.10 (best)
Range
FloorBartholomew: 1.7 (best)Cuevas: 1.5
CeilingBartholomew: 5.7 (best)Cuevas: 5.5
Points from TDssteadier when lowerBartholomew: 0%Cuevas: 22%
Big weeks (15+ pts)Bartholomew: 1 gameCuevas: 0%
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterBartholomew: 1 gameCuevas: 75%
SteadinessBartholomew: 1 gameCuevas: Volatile±6.3 pts · 4 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 6 gmBartholomew: A+ (best)Cuevas: D+
Game scriptBartholomew: Expected to trailCuevas: Expected to trail (best)
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterBartholomew: 1.0Cuevas: 1.0
Defense funnelBartholomew: NeutralCuevas: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedBartholomew: 32nd (soft) (best)Cuevas: 31st (soft)
Starting QBBartholomew: Murray (Active)Cuevas: Huntley (Active)
Roof / surfaceturfBartholomew: DomeCuevas: Open
Rest / scheduleBartholomew: NormalCuevas: Normal
Opp paceBartholomew: 4th (fast) (best)Cuevas: 24th (slow)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameBartholomew: 1.3 (best)32nd (soft)Cuevas: 0.723rd (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedBartholomew: 77% (best)27th (soft)Cuevas: 68%8th (tough)
Form
Last 3 avgBartholomew: 4.1Cuevas: 8.2 (best)
Last 5 avgBartholomew: 2.5Cuevas: 5.4 (best)
vs seasonBartholomew: +2.1 (Rising)Cuevas: +4.3 (Rising) (best)
Yards per route runBartholomew: 2.35Cuevas: 2.70 (best)
Receiving aDOTBartholomew: 3.3Cuevas: 4.5
Target share trendBartholomew: SteadyCuevas: Steady
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterBartholomew: TE41 (best)Cuevas: TE44
Yards linereceivingBartholomew: Our estimateCuevas: 10.5
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