Adkins
TE · DEN vs KC
Kickoff Sun 4:25 PM ET
Projected points3.0ptsUsage estimate
Cuevas
TE · BAL @ BUF
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points3.1pts
Toss-up
Bench
Josh Cuevas or Nate Adkins: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Nate Adkins gets the nod over Josh Cuevas.
- Confidence
- Lower
- The two projections come from different sources; one is a Nuvela estimate
Adkins'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 19.8) and a safer floor (1.4 to 0.8).
Flips if
Start Josh Cuevas instead if you need a safe week: he has a safer floor (1.4 to 0.8).
Risk
The risk: Cuevas plays in the highest scoring game on the slate.
Highlights
AdkinsToss-upTE · DEN vs KCUsually 2.9+0.0pts this week
Helps him
- KCvs TEsEdgeKC is the 3rd softest defense for tight ends.
Hurts him
- 2%targetsHe draws only 2% of his team’s targets.
- 0.7per gameHe sees only 0.7 targets a game.
CuevasFirst outTE · BAL @ BUFUsually 3.8−0.8pts 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
ProjectionAdkins: 3.0Cuevas: 3.1 (best)
TD pointsof the projectionAdkins: Our estimateCuevas: 0.5
Expected TDsthis weekAdkins: Our estimateCuevas: 0.09
Projected team pointsAdkins: 19.8Cuevas: 25.8 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameAdkins: 0.4 (best)Cuevas: 0.3
Role
Snap shareAdkins: 32% (best)Cuevas: 23%
Usage worthptsAdkins: 1.6Cuevas: 2.7 (best)
Target shareAdkins: 2%Cuevas: 5% (best)
Targets / gameAdkins: 0.7Cuevas: 1.6 (best)
Air yards shareAdkins: 2%Cuevas: 3% (best)
Vacated targets this weekAdkins: 3.0 (best)Cuevas: 0.7
RZ target shareAdkins: 12% (best)Cuevas: 7%
Inside 10 target shareAdkins: 25% (best)Cuevas: 8%
Catch rateAdkins: 80%Cuevas: 82% (best)
SeparationAdkins: Not trackedCuevas: 4.3 yds
YAC over expectedAdkins: Not trackedCuevas: +2.0
Usage worth vs scoredAdkins: Earned by usage 1.6Scored 2.9Cuevas: Earned by usage 2.7Scored 3.8
Receiving TDs vs RZ targetsAdkins: AboveCuevas: 2 RZ targets
WOPRAdkins: 0.05Cuevas: 0.10 (best)
Range
FloorAdkins: 0.8Cuevas: 1.4 (best)
CeilingAdkins: 6.2 (best)Cuevas: 5.4
Points from TDssteadier when lowerAdkins: 58%Cuevas: 22%
Big weeks (15+ pts)Adkins: 0%Cuevas: 0%
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterAdkins: 67% (best)Cuevas: 75%
SteadinessAdkins: Volatile±5.5 pts · 6 gamesCuevas: Volatile (best)±6.3 pts · 4 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 6 gmAdkins: A (best)Cuevas: D+
Game scriptAdkins: Expected to trail (best)Cuevas: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterAdkins: 1.7Cuevas: 1.0 (best)
Defense funnelAdkins: NeutralCuevas: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedAdkins: 12th (average)Cuevas: 31st (soft) (best)
Starting QBAdkins: Nix (Active)Cuevas: Huntley (Active)
Roof / surfaceAdkins: OpengrassCuevas: Openturf
Rest / scheduleAdkins: NormalCuevas: Normal
Opp paceAdkins: 24th (slow)Cuevas: 24th (slow)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameAdkins: 0.8 (best)29th (soft)Cuevas: 0.723rd (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedAdkins: 70% (best)11th (average)Cuevas: 68%8th (tough)
Form
Last 3 avgAdkins: 0.0Cuevas: 8.2 (best)
Last 5 avgAdkins: 1.6Cuevas: 5.4 (best)
vs seasonAdkins: −2.9 (Cooling)Cuevas: +4.3 (Rising) (best)
Yards per route runAdkins: 1.25Cuevas: 2.70 (best)
Receiving aDOTAdkins: 6.0Cuevas: 4.5
Target share trendAdkins: No usage yetCuevas: Steady
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterAdkins: TE47Cuevas: TE45 (best)
Yards linereceivingAdkins: Our estimateCuevas: 10.5
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.