Eli Raridon or Oronde Gadsden: Who Should You Start?
Historical comparison from 2026 Week 4 — one of these players isn’t on the current board.
Start Gadsden — Raridon is ruled out.
Eli Raridon is ruled out, which settles it: Oronde Gadsden is the only startable side of this call. Gadsden projects 7.1 PPR points.
Eli Raridon
1.31.72.2 Projected Points
Oronde Gadsden
4.15.67.1 Projected Points
Why Eli Raridon
Sit· highRookie TE2 / developmental piece. Big-framed in-line body with limited prior sample.
Ruled Out this week, and even when active he's a 37% snap, 4% target share TE projected for 2.2 PPR points.
- Currently ruled out — not a viable start until his status changes.
- BUF ranks 11 of 32 against TEs (one of the tougher matchups, 3-game sample).
- Vegas implies 23.3 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
- Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 37% snap share.
The call
- Availability is listed as Out, which settles it. He can't score from the bench, so he can't be in a lineup.
- The role is marginal anyway: a 37% snap share and 4% target share across 2 games make him a non-factor in PPR formats.
- The matchup doesn't help. BUF ranks 11 of 32 vs TEs, a tougher-than-average draw, though that's on a thin 3-game sample at 0.25 confidence.
- The unverified patriots.com headline about him making the trip is dated 2026-09-26 and concerns a Jaguars game. It doesn't override this week's Out designation. This confirms the model's sit-lean.
Latest on Raridon
Raridon (thigh) and Woodson (shoulder) are both questionable for Week 3 in Jacksonville.
Mike Reiss breaks down Eli Raridon's return to practice as the Patriots monitor his status ahead of Sunday's matchup with Jacksonville.
New England wants Maye to be patient but aggressive. Can he have success against the daunting Pittsburgh defense?
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Oronde Gadsden
SitSecond-year starting TE and primary receiving threat at the position. Big-bodied move tight end with WR-like route running, coming off a productive rookie season.
Sit — bench-tier TE at consensus TE26: 8% target share, 7.1 PPR projected vs SEA.
- SEA ranks 12 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
- Vegas implies 21.3 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
- Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 40% snap share.
Latest on Gadsden
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Eli Raridon | Oronde Gadsden |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 1.31.72.2 | 4.15.67.1 |
| Consensus rank | — | TE26 |
| Opponent vs position | BUF · 11 of 323-game sample | SEA · 12 of 323-game sample |
| Receptions | 13 of 32 | 13 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 9 of 32 | 3 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 10 of 32 | 18 of 32 |
| Targets | 16 of 32 | 9 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 9 of 32 | 18 of 32 |
| Target share | 4% | 8% |
| Reception share | 6% | 8% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.3+3.0 | 21.3+3.0 |
| Depth chart | TE2 | TE2 |
| Snap share | 37% | 40% |
| Injury designation | Out | — |
| Start/Sit record | — | 1–0 |
Recent form
Eli Raridon — last 3 weeks
| Week 3 | vs JAX | DNP |
| Week 2 | vs PIT | 3.03.54.0 |
| Week 1 | vs SEA | 6.26.77.2 |
Oronde Gadsden — last 3 weeks
| Week 3 | vs BUF | 0.00.00.0 |
| Week 2 | vs LV | 7.88.89.8 |
| Week 1 | vs ARI | 3.24.25.2 |
Signal breakdown
- 2.2 vs 7.1 projected PPR pointsOronde Gadsden +
- Consensus position rankeven
- Opponent DvP rank 11 vs 12 (32 = softest)Oronde Gadsden +
- Implied 23.3 vs 21.3 team pointsEli Raridon +
- A ruled-out player cannot be a startOronde Gadsden +
- 37% vs 40% snap shareOronde Gadsden +
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