This is by far the worst week of the season for tight ends. The entire position has been absolutely decimated by the bye weeks. Not only are studs like Rob Gronkowski and Jordan Reed out, but you have on-the-rise players like Zach Miller, C.J. Fiedorowicz and Tyler Eifert unavailable as well. There is still a good-sized middle class of options who are all okay, so if you don’t want to pay for a premium option, which will likely be my strategy, there are plenty of midpriced options who should be just fine. This is also a good week to compare prices across sites. As I have noted, there are a few players who are nice values on one site but cost quite a bit more on others.
| Pts | Opp Pa | Opp Ov | Opp Pa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tgts | Tgt% | Tgt/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTD | YPC | Allow | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $LINE | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | A | LA | 7 | 495 | 63 | 24.7% | 9 | 40 | 5.7 | 63.5% | 621 | 2 | 16 | 9.8 | 15 | 11 | 239 | 45 | 140 | $7,500 | $6,200 | $4,700 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | H | BUF | 7 | 332 | 46 | 19.0% | 6.6 | 30 | 4.3 | 65.2% | 442 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 241.9 | 44 | -300 | $6,700 | $5,700 | $4,900 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | H | JAC | 7 | 415 | 45 | 18.0% | 6.4 | 34 | 4.9 | 75.6% | 377 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 224.6 | 44 | -330 | $6,600 | $5,300 | $4,850 |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | A | SD | 7 | 324 | 42 | 17.1% | 6 | 28 | 4 | 66.7% | 405 | 3 | 15 | 12.3 | 6 | 7 | 275.1 | 47 | -210 | $6,400 | $4,600 | $4,750 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | A | SF | 7 | 322 | 41 | 13.5% | 5.9 | 25 | 3.6 | 61.0% | 317 | 2 | 13 | 12.8 | 20 | 23 | 222.4 | 53 | 170 | $5,800 | $3,400 | $4,350 |
| Julius Thomas | JAC | A | KC | 6 | 316 | 34 | 11.8% | 5.7 | 19 | 3.2 | 55.9% | 224 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 2530.6 | 44 | -330 | $5,600 | $3,200 | $4,250 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | H | TEN | 6 | 226 | 39 | 13.5% | 6.5 | 21 | 3.5 | 53.8% | 152 | 3 | 7.2 | 10 | 24 | 22 | 259.5 | 47 | -210 | $5,500 | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | H | TEN | 8 | 336 | 33 | 11.4% | 4.1 | 22 | 2.8 | 66.7% | 340 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 24 | 22 | 259.5 | 47 | -210 | $5,500 | $3,300 | $4,150 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | A | MIN | 5 | 291 | 35 | 12.7% | 7 | 25 | 5 | 71.4% | 289 | 1 | 12 | 8.2 | 4 | 5 | 204.6 | 41 | -260 | $5,400 | $3,100 | $4,200 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | A | GB | 6 | 286 | 27 | 8.9% | 4.5 | 18 | 3 | 66.7% | 192 | 2 | 11 | 14.2 | 16 | 8 | 247.1 | 54 | -330 | $5,300 | $2,900 | $3,800 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | A | GB | 8 | 386 | 36 | 11.9% | 4.5 | 31 | 3.9 | 86.1% | 318 | 4 | 10 | 14.2 | 16 | 8 | 247.1 | 54 | -330 | $5,300 | $3,600 | $4,100 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | H | PIT | 7 | 373 | 57 | 18.7% | 8.1 | 38 | 5.4 | 66.7% | 335 | 0 | 8.8 | 10.7 | 21 | 25 | 283.4 | 43 | -107 | $5,200 | $3,800 | $4,300 |
| Jason Witten | DAL | A | CLE | 7 | 488 | 45 | 20.5% | 6.4 | 30 | 4.3 | 66.7% | 290 | 1 | 9.7 | 15.1 | 30 | 30 | 277.8 | 49 | 250 | $5,200 | $3,700 | $4,400 |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | H | DAL | 8 | 526 | 47 | 16.0% | 5.9 | 33 | 4.1 | 70.2% | 403 | 0 | 12 | 16.1 | 17 | 14 | 255.9 | 49 | 250 | $5,200 | $3,900 | $4,200 |
| Jesse James | PIT | A | BAL | 7 | 361 | 31 | 11.4% | 4.4 | 22 | 3.1 | 71.0% | 159 | 3 | 7.2 | 5.2 | 14 | 6 | 220 | 43 | -107 | $5,100 | $2,800 | $4,100 |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | H | DET | 7 | 436 | 54 | 23.1% | 7.7 | 31 | 4.4 | 57.4% | 322 | 3 | 10 | 18.4 | 32 | 32 | 259.4 | 41 | -260 | $5,000 | $4,000 | $4,550 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | A | NYG | 5 | 267 | 20 | 8.8% | 4 | 15 | 3 | 75.0% | 150 | 0 | 10 | 10.3 | 9 | 10 | 267.4 | 43 | -135 | $4,900 | $3,500 | $4,100 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | A | SEA | 8 | 428 | 42 | 18.7% | 5.3 | 26 | 3.3 | 61.9% | 274 | 0 | 11 | 3.8 | 5 | 3 | 229.7 | 44 | -300 | $4,800 | $2,700 | $3,900 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | H | DEN | 7 | 309 | 27 | 8.5% | 3.9 | 19 | 2.7 | 70.4% | 186 | 1 | 9.8 | 8.3 | 2 | 5 | 183.9 | 44 | -125 | $4,700 | $2,500 | $3,700 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | H | IND | 7 | 272 | 17 | 6.2% | 2.4 | 9 | 1.3 | 52.9% | 84 | 1 | 9.3 | 7.6 | 29 | 31 | 287.8 | 54 | -330 | $4,700 | $2,700 | $3,800 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | A | MIA | 2 | 52 | 3 | 2.2% | 1.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 100.0% | 44 | 1 | 15 | 10.2 | 10 | 13 | 231.4 | 44 | -185 | $4,600 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | H | CAR | 7 | 414 | 40 | 17.1% | 5.7 | 25 | 3.6 | 62.5% | 241 | 1 | 9.6 | 14.3 | 27 | 16 | 286.9 | 45 | 140 | $4,500 | $2,900 | $3,750 |
| Jordan Cameron | MIA | H | NYJ | 3 | 97 | 11 | 5.3% | 3.7 | 8 | 2.7 | 72.7% | 60 | 1 | 7.5 | 12.2 | 31 | 27 | 289.1 | 44 | -185 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,800 |
| Jared Cook | GB | H | IND | 3 | 93 | 11 | 4.0% | 3.7 | 6 | 2 | 54.5% | 53 | 0 | 8.8 | 7.6 | 29 | 31 | 287.8 | 54 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,700 |
| Will Tye | NYG | H | PHI | 7 | 228 | 25 | 9.3% | 3.6 | 18 | 2.6 | 72.0% | 149 | 0 | 8.3 | 2.4 | 1 | 1 | 214.1 | 43 | -135 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | A | OAK | 5 | 186 | 18 | 6.7% | 3.6 | 14 | 2.8 | 77.8% | 150 | 0 | 11 | 10.8 | 25 | 28 | 285.4 | 44 | -125 | $4,500 | $2,600 | $4,100 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | H | PHI | 6 | 179 | 21 | 7.8% | 3.5 | 15 | 2.5 | 71.4% | 92 | 1 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1 | 1 | 214.1 | 43 | -135 | $4,500 | $2,600 | $3,500 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | H | NO | 7 | 257 | 23 | 11.0% | 3.3 | 12 | 1.7 | 52.2% | 139 | 0 | 12 | 7.2 | 28 | 29 | 286.7 | 53 | 170 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Trey Burton | PHI | A | NYG | 6 | 107 | 19 | 8.4% | 3.2 | 10 | 1.7 | 52.6% | 86 | 1 | 8.6 | 10.3 | 9 | 10 | 267.4 | 43 | -135 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Vance McDonald | SF | H | NO | 5 | 183 | 15 | 7.1% | 3 | 8 | 1.6 | 53.3% | 142 | 2 | 18 | 7.2 | 28 | 29 | 286.7 | 53 | 170 | $4,500 | $2,600 | $3,500 |
| Marcedes Lewis | JAC | A | KC | 7 | 200 | 20 | 6.9% | 2.9 | 13 | 1.9 | 65.0% | 131 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 2530.6 | 44 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Demetrius Harris | KC | H | JAC | 7 | 192 | 17 | 6.8% | 2.4 | 10 | 1.4 | 58.8% | 80 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 224.6 | 44 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,200 |
| Luke Willson | SEA | H | BUF | 5 | 186 | 12 | 5.0% | 2.4 | 6 | 1.2 | 50.0% | 50 | 0 | 8.3 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 241.9 | 44 | -300 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Xavier Grimble | PIT | A | BAL | 7 | 104 | 16 | 5.9% | 2.3 | 8 | 1.1 | 50.0% | 83 | 1 | 10 | 5.2 | 14 | 6 | 220 | 43 | -107 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Crockett Gillmore | BAL | H | PIT | 7 | 197 | 14 | 4.6% | 2 | 8 | 1.1 | 57.1% | 71 | 1 | 8.9 | 10.7 | 21 | 25 | 283.4 | 43 | -107 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | H | NYJ | 6 | 228 | 12 | 5.8% | 2 | 8 | 1.3 | 66.7% | 94 | 0 | 12 | 12.2 | 31 | 27 | 289.1 | 44 | -185 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Jace Amaro | TEN | A | SD | 2 | 28 | 4 | 1.6% | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 75.0% | 59 | 0 | 20 | 12.3 | 6 | 7 | 275.1 | 47 | -210 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Josh Hill | NO | A | SF | 4 | 149 | 7 | 2.3% | 1.8 | 4 | 1 | 57.1% | 32 | 1 | 8 | 12.8 | 20 | 23 | 222.4 | 53 | 170 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Erik Swoope | IND | A | GB | 8 | 101 | 11 | 3.6% | 1.4 | 6 | 0.8 | 54.5% | 123 | 0 | 21 | 14.2 | 16 | 8 | 247.1 | 54 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
Premium Options
.jpg)
Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
With four of the top five tight ends in fantasy points on bye this week, Greg Olsen stands out by a wide margin over the other premium options. Olsen isn’t even the most expensive tight end on Fantasy Aces, where he is approaching must-play territory. Even after he caught just one pass for 11 yards last week, Olsen leads all tight ends in fantasy points for the season.
Value Options
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
I don’t know if Norv Turner’s resignation helps Kyle Rudolph, but it probably doesn’t hurt. Rudolph hasn’t found the end zone since Week 4, but he did have five receptions in each of his last two games. The Lions have allowed more fantasy points to opposing tight ends than any team in the NFL despite not exactly facing a who’s who of fantasy tight ends. Rudolph is a solid option on most sites, but he is ridiculously cheap on FanDuel.
Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints
Fleener’s price varies quite a bit across the different sites, which indicates just how volatile he is. Of course, his upside is as high as anyone’s, and San Francisco’s defense is not scary. Fleener seems like a great value on DraftKings, but he is a solid GPP play on FantasyAces as well.
Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions
Ebron may not quite have Fleener’s upside, but he is cheaper and probably safer. It is easy to forget Ebron had at least four receptions and 42 yards in each of his four games before a knee injury knocked him out. Ebron returned with seven receptions for 79 yards on 10 targets last week, and Minnesota’s defense looks far less scary after it surrendered 88 yards on seven receptions to Zach Miller Monday night.
Bargain Options
Virgil Green, Denver Broncos
Green quietly had his best game of the season Week 8 with four receptions for 55 yards, and now he gets another nice matchup, in Oakland. Green was a popular sleeper before injuries derailed him, but he is a punt play with a solid floor and a decent chance to find the end zone.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, New York Jets
There is an excellent chance I am a week or two too early with this call, but Austin Seferian-Jenkins wouldn’t cost so little if we could trust him. That being said, the Jets could use a third receiver to complement Brandon Marshall and Quincy Enunwa, and it is pretty clear Robby Anderson isn’t the answer. No one questions Seferian-Jenkins’s ability, and I suspect he would have broken out already in New York if he had stayed healthy.