FEBRUARY 10, 2022 • LATIMES.COM
KENDALL BLANTON
Kendall Blanton's hard work paying off in Rams' road to Super Bowl Kendall Blanton says he's ready to step in for Tyler Higbee if the tight end if out for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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Steps up in key moment Blanton brought in all five targets for 57 yards during the Rams' 20-17 win over the 49ers in their NFC Championship Game matchup Sunday.
Impact Tyler Higbee exited the game for good due to a knee injury in the first half, thrusting Blanton into the top role at tight end just a week after scoring his first career touchdown. Blanton performed admirably, making some key grabs and ultimately checking in third on the team in receptions, receiving yards and targets behind Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham. If Higbee's injury is serious enough to keep him out of the Super Bowl LVI matchup versus the Bengals, Blanton, despite having just 11 career catches to his name, presumably will log starting duty in the contest.
JANUARY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Highlights: Rams end third quarter with pass to TE Kendall Blanton for 20 yards vs. 49ers in NFC Championship matchup The Los Angeles Rams end the third quarter with a pass to tight end Kendall Blanton for 20 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC...
JANUARY 31, 2022 • THERAMS.COM
Rams end third quarter with flea-flicker pass to Blanton for 20 yards The Los Angeles Rams end the third quarter with a flea-flicker pass to tight end Kendall Blanton for 20 yards.
JANUARY 31, 2022 • NFL.COM
Kendall Blanton on catching his first touchdown of his NFL career vs. Bucs Rams TE Kendall Blanton talks about what it meant to him to get the first touchdown of his NFL career in Sunday's Divisional Round playoff w...
JANUARY 25, 2022 • THERAMS.COM
Scores first career touchdown Blanton caught both of his targets for 18 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 30-27 win over Tampa Bay. He played just eight of 71 offensive snaps.
Impact This was the first career touchdown for Blanton, as the backup tight end has played sparingly all season. He's unlikely to see an uptick in playing time as long as fellow tight end Tyler Higbee is healthy, but Blanton could receive a target or two next week against the 49ers.
JANUARY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Highlights: Rams QB Matthew Stafford's no-look pass finds TE Kendall Blanton for his first career touchdown catch in Divisional Round vs. Buccaneers Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's no-look pass finds Rams tight end Kendall Blanton for his first career touchdown catch in th...
JANUARY 23, 2022 • THERAMS.COM
Stafford's no-look pass finds Kendall Blanton for TE's first career TD catch Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's no-look pass finds Rams tight end Kendall Blanton for his first career touchdown catch.
JANUARY 23, 2022 • NFL.COM
Not targeted in win Blanton failed to see a single target in Sunday's 30-23 win over the Vikings.
Impact Blanton reverted back to his role as the Rams' No. 2 tight end with starter Tyler Higbee activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Week 16. The 26-year-old played on just eight of the team's 70 offensive snaps. With Higbee and the Rams' pass catchers healthy, Blanton will likely continue to be a non-factor on offense.
DECEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Headed back to backup role Blanton is expected to move into a reserve role Sunday in Minnesota after the Rams activated Tyler Higbee from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, Nicholas Cothrel of SI.com reports.
Impact While COVID-19-related protocols kept Higbee out the past two weeks, Blanton picked up his first pair of NFL starts. Though he logged 79.3 percent of the Rams' offensive snaps between those contests, Blanton didn't see much involvement as a pass catcher, producing a 2-29-0 receiving line across four targets. Look for Higbee to dominate the playing time at the position over the final three games, with Blanton's opportunities mostly coming when the Rams want to get an extra blocker on the field.
DECEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Quiet in second start Blanton started and played 43 of 66 offensive snaps but failed to secure his only target during Tuesday's 20-10 win over Seattle.
Impact This was the second consecutive start for Blanton with Tyler Higbee on the reserve/COVID-19 list the past two weeks. When Higbee returns, Blanton's fantasy value will take a notable hit. Furthermore, Blanton did little with his increased opportunity the past two weeks. He caught two of four targets for 29 yards. There aren't many fantasy formats where Blanton warrants a roster spot.
DECEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Set for another start Blanton is expected to start at tight end Tuesday against the Eagles, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Impact With Tyler Higbee stuck on the reserve/COVID-19 list for the second straight game, Blanton is once again in line to serve as the Rams' primary tight end. In his first NFL start during last week's win over the Cardinals, Blanton played 93 percent of the offensive snaps, but he served primarily as a blocker and finished with two receptions for 29 yards on three targets.
DECEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Receives first career start Blanton caught two of his three targets for 29 yards during Monday's 30-23 win over the Cardinals.
Impact With Tyler Higbee being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list before the game, Blanton started and played 52 of 58 offensive snaps Monday. Obviously, Blanton's final stat line didn't make a notable fantasy impact, but it's likely he would again see a huge boost in playing time if Higbee were to miss another game. Fellow tight end Brycen Hopkins played 20 offensive snaps Monday, but he wasn't targeted in the passing game.
DECEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Matthew Stafford slings no-look pass to Kendall Blanton Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throws a no-look pass to tight end Kendall Blanton.
DECEMBER 14, 2021 • NFL.COM
Should help replace Higbee Blanton is expected to start at tight end in Monday's game against the Cardinals after the Rams placed Tyler Higbee on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Impact Blanton, an undrafted rookie out of Missouri, was added to the Rams' roster Week 7 and has played just 37 offensive snaps on the season, drawing three targets. The 6-foot-6, 262-pound Blanton has served mainly as a blocker during his time on the field, so he likely won't be tasked with matching Higbee's output as a pass catcher, even though he's the frontrunner to absorb most of the snaps at tight end. Behind Blanton on the depth chart are 2020 fourth-round draft pick Brycen Hopkins and practice squad call-up Jared Pinkney, who profile as better receiving threats than Blanton but have played just 16 offensive snaps between them during their NFL careers.
DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
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Catches pass in garbage time Blanton caught one of his two targets for six yards during Sunday's 37-7 win over Jacksonville. He played 10 offensive snaps.
Impact This was the second reception of the season for the 26-year-old tight end. However, it came with Los Angeles up 30-7 and in complete control of the game. Blanton has primarily been utilized on special teams this season, and he's likely to continue playing sparingly on offense.
DECEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Catches first career pass Blanton caught a two-yard pass during Monday's 31-10 loss to San Francisco.
Impact The reception came when the Rams faked a field-goal attempt that was snuffed out immediately by the 49ers at the end of the first half, so you don't need to read into it much. Additionally, Blanton only played two of 55 offensive snaps during the game. He's off the fantasy radar at this point of the season.
NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
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Joins active roster The Rams have promoted Blanton to their active roster ahead of Sunday's tilt against the Texans, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Impact Blanton reverted to the practice squad earlier this week after suiting up for his first game of the season in Week 7. He will now make that back-to-back appearances, as he is expected to contribute on special teams and provide depth at tight end.
OCTOBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Reverts to practice squad Blanton reverted to Los Angeles' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Impact Blanton was active for the first time this season for Sunday's win over the Lions. The tight end logged just two offensive snaps and six snaps on special teams. Blanton will now rejoin the practice squad and await another opportunity to be elevated to the active roster.
OCTOBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Elevated to active roster Blanton was elevated to the Rams' active roster off the practice squad Saturday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Impact Blanton will be active for the first time this season and for the first time since 2019. He will likely operate primarily on special teams with Johnny Mundt (knee) on injured reserve.
OCTOBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
