Syracuse Alum Benched by Dad in Fantasy Football Despite Strong NFL Performance
A former standout at Syracuse University is making headlines in the NFL, yet he remains benched on his father’s fantasy football team. Oronde Gadsden II, son of former NFL wide receiver Oronde Gadsden, has shown impressive performance this season, but his father still refuses to start him in his fantasy lineup.
Gadsden II’s NFL Breakout
During a recent interview on Miami’s 1043 WQAM, Gadsden Sr. expressed his reasons for keeping his son benched. Despite Gadsden II scoring a touchdown with seven receptions for 164 yards in his latest game, the elder Gadsden shared his struggles in fantasy football. “It’s the second week in a row I’ve lost by under 10 points,” he stated. His friends questioned why a dad would bench his own son in fantasy football.
Record-Setting Performance
In the 38-24 defeat against the Indianapolis Colts, Gadsden II made history. He became only the fourth rookie tight end in Super Bowl history to achieve over 150 receiving yards in a game. His performance garnered him 29.4 fantasy points for Week 7, making him the most added player in ESPN Fantasy. His roster percentage skyrocketed from 2.4% to 53.4% in just one week.
A Promising Rookie Season
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Gadsden II has quickly emerged as a key player for the Los Angeles Chargers. During his college career at Syracuse, he recorded two 900-yard seasons as both a wide receiver and tight end, averaging 6.5 touchdowns over those seasons. He concluded his college career with 13 touchdowns in total.
Breaking Records and Making History
- Gadsden II has caught 22 passes for a total of 308 yards this season.
- He is a favored target for quarterback Justin Herbert.
- His 164 receiving yards in a game set a new team record for a rookie tight end, surpassing Antonio Gates’ previous record of 117 yards set in 2003.
His father, Oronde Gadsden, played professionally for six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins and was part of the Cowboys team that won Super Bowl XXX in 1996. As a result, the Gadsden family legacy continues to thrive in the realm of professional football.
