Hunter Long or John Bates: Who Should You Start?

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Hunter Long and John Bates grade out even this week. Long's best edge is availability (a clean report to Bates's Questionable), Bates's best edge is the projection (1.9 to 0.5) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

Hunter Long

TEARIvs LAC

0.30.40.5 Projected Points

Sit

John Bates

TEWSHvs PHI

1.11.51.9 Projected Points

Sit

Why Hunter Long

Sit

Sit — projects TE92 this week: LAC is the 5th-toughest matchup vs TEs, 17.0 implied team total caps the ceiling.

LAC ranks 5 of 32 against TEs (one of the tougher matchups, 17-game sample).
Vegas implies 17.0 team points as 11.5-point underdogs.
Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 47% snap share in 2025.

Latest on Long

Cardinals Add Tight End With Trade For Hunter Long

Veteran played with Mike LaFleur for two seasons in L.A.

azcardinals.com · Aug 30, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why John Bates

Sit

TE2 in blocking role. In-line grinder used in heavy sets and short-yardage.

Sit — projects TE59 this week: PHI is the 2nd-toughest matchup vs TEs, 7% target share in 2025.

Carries a Questionable tag — usually plays, but monitor the final report.
PHI ranks 2 of 32 against TEs (one of the tougher matchups, 17-game sample).
Vegas implies 20.5 team points as 5.5-point underdogs.
Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 55% snap share in 2025.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Hunter Long	John Bates
Projected points	0.30.40.5	1.11.51.9
Opponent vs position	LAC · 5 of 3217-game sample	PHI · 2 of 3217-game sample
Receptions	3 of 32	2 of 32
Receiving Yards	4 of 32	1 of 32
Receiving TDs	9 of 32	1 of 32
Targets	2 of 32	6 of 32
Anytime TD	9 of 32	1 of 32
Target share	8%(2025)	7%(2025)
Reception share	9%(2025)	7%(2025)
Implied total · spread	17.0+11.5	20.5+5.5
Depth chart	TE3	TE2
Snap share	47%(2025)	55%(2025)
Injury designation	—	Questionable