Former Syracuse University football player Oronde Gadsden II is carving out an impressive start to his NFL career, but it seems his father, former NFL wide receiver Oronde Gadsden, is not quite ready to put his son on his fantasy football team. During an appearance on Miami sports radio station 1043 WQAM, the elder Gadsden humorously revealed that he has benched his son despite Jr.’s standout performance, which included a touchdown and an impressive seven receptions for 164 yards during the last game against the Indianapolis Colts.
“It’s the second week in a row I’ve lost by under 10 points, and in my league they were like, ‘What dad leaves his son on the bench?’” remarked the elder Gadsden, highlighting the friendly banter that comes with balancing family ties and fantasy league fun.
Despite this light-hearted rivalry, the performance of Gadsden II is nothing short of remarkable. According to ESPN, he became only the fourth rookie tight end in the Super Bowl era to record over 150 receiving yards in a single game. During Week 7, he amassed 29.4 fantasy points, propelling him from just 2.4% to an impressive 53.4% of fantasy rosters, making him the most added player this week.
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Gadsden II has quickly made a name for himself after showcasing his talents at Syracuse, where he had multiple 900-yard seasons and averaged 6.5 touchdowns over two years. He is the first offensive skill-position player from Syracuse to be drafted since the school joined the ACC in 2013. So far in the NFL, he has caught 22 passes for a total of 308 yards, emerging as a key target for Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. His impressive 164 yards in the recent game also set a franchise record for rookie tight ends, surpassing the previous record held by Hall of Famer Antonio Gates.
While the elder Gadsden continues to have some fun with his son’s success in fantasy football, both father and son are making headlines for their achievements. Gadsden II’s rising performance signals a bright future ahead, and fans eagerly anticipate what this promising young player will bring to the field in the weeks to come.