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As recently as two weeks ago I recommended using a tight end at your flex position. That seems like a distant memory. It used to be you could at least count on the premium options for cash games, but it is nearly impossible to find any tight ends you can feel great about for Week 14. The best DFS strategy is probably to pick a value option with some upside and hope he finds the end zone, since the value options are only slightly riskier than the premium options this week.
| Opp Pts | Opp Pa | Opp Ov | Opp Pa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Tm | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tar | Tar% | Tar/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTD | YPC | Allow | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $Line | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Tyler Eifert | CIN | A | CLE | 6 | 249 | 38 | 8.9% | 6.3 | 23 | 3.8 | 60.5% | 337 | 3 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 31 | 32 | 259.4 | 42.5 | 190 | $6700 | $6000 | $4900 |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | A | PHI | 9 | 502 | 81 | 17.4% | 9.0 | 59 | 6.6 | 72.8% | 630 | 5 | 10.7 | 5.5 | 4 | 4 | 266.7 | 46.5 | 110 | $7500 | $5900 | $5100 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | A | GB | 12 | 553 | 70 | 19.1% | 5.8 | 51 | 4.3 | 72.9% | 706 | 4 | 13.8 | 11.0 | 22 | 18 | 277.4 | 46 | 140 | $6600 | $5500 | $4950 |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | H | SD | 12 | 757 | 90 | 23.4% | 7.5 | 58 | 4.8 | 64.4% | 790 | 3 | 13.6 | 8.3 | 8 | 9 | 295.6 | 49 | -125 | $6400 | $5000 | $4600 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | H | WAS | 10 | 513 | 67 | 14.9% | 6.7 | 47 | 4.7 | 70.1% | 452 | 2 | 9.6 | 10.7 | 20 | 23 | 278.5 | 46.5 | 110 | $5700 | $4900 | $4350 |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | H | DEN | 11 | 525 | 72 | 19.3% | 6.5 | 49 | 4.5 | 68.1% | 657 | 6 | 13.4 | 8.3 | 1 | 1 | 210.2 | 43.5 | -120 | $6200 | $4400 | $4700 |
| Martellus Bennett | NE | H | BAL | 12 | 591 | 58 | 14.0% | 4.8 | 44 | 3.7 | 75.9% | 544 | 4 | 12.4 | 7.2 | 5 | 2 | 242.5 | 45.5 | -300 | $5600 | $4200 | $4600 |
| Cameron Brate | TB | H | NO | 12 | 528 | 66 | 14.9% | 5.5 | 47 | 3.9 | 71.2% | 528 | 6 | 11.2 | 9.5 | 26 | 25 | 302 | 51.5 | -145 | $5600 | $4100 | $4600 |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | A | JAC | 12 | 662 | 90 | 21.2% | 7.5 | 54 | 4.5 | 60.0% | 513 | 5 | 9.5 | 7.2 | 10 | 10 | 213.5 | 39 | 145 | $5500 | $4000 | $4400 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | A | IND | 12 | 492 | 68 | 15.8% | 5.7 | 45 | 3.8 | 66.2% | 473 | 3 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 29 | 30 | 298.2 | 46.5 | -275 | $5100 | $3900 | $4100 |
| Ladarius Green | PIT | A | BUF | 4 | 34 | 20 | 4.4% | 5.0 | 11 | 2.8 | 55.0% | 207 | 1 | 18.8 | 6.8 | 21 | 21 | 251.4 | 46.5 | 130 | $5800 | $3900 | $4300 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | A | CAR | 10 | 350 | 61 | 14.6% | 6.1 | 34 | 3.4 | 55.7% | 327 | 5 | 9.6 | 12.9 | 18 | 14 | 301.9 | 49 | -125 | $5200 | $3800 | $3900 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | H | CHI | 9 | 438 | 55 | 13.0% | 6.1 | 39 | 4.3 | 70.9% | 489 | 1 | 12.5 | 8.2 | 15 | 16 | 240.4 | 43.5 | -330 | $6000 | $3800 | $4200 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | A | TB | 12 | 442 | 65 | 13.2% | 5.4 | 42 | 3.5 | 64.6% | 547 | 3 | 13.0 | 8.5 | 9 | 12 | 272.6 | 51.5 | -145 | $5300 | $3700 | $4200 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | A | NE | 12 | 583 | 87 | 17.7% | 7.3 | 61 | 5.1 | 70.1% | 529 | 2 | 8.7 | 7.1 | 25 | 19 | 265.1 | 45.5 | -300 | $4900 | $3600 | $4350 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | A | PHI | 12 | 412 | 43 | 9.3% | 3.6 | 36 | 3.0 | 83.7% | 497 | 2 | 13.8 | 5.5 | 4 | 4 | 266.7 | 46.5 | 110 | $4800 | $3500 | $4300 |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | H | CIN | 12 | 727 | 63 | 14.5% | 5.3 | 40 | 3.3 | 63.5% | 468 | 1 | 11.7 | 11.2 | 17 | 20 | 273.8 | 42.5 | 190 | $4500 | $3300 | $3800 |
| Jason Witten | DAL | A | NYG | 12 | 746 | 73 | 20.5% | 6.1 | 52 | 4.3 | 71.2% | 553 | 2 | 10.6 | 9.9 | 7 | 7 | 289.5 | 47.5 | 170 | $5100 | $3100 | $4200 |
| Vance McDonald | SF | H | NYJ | 10 | 373 | 45 | 12.2% | 4.5 | 24 | 2.4 | 53.3% | 391 | 4 | 16.3 | 10.9 | 32 | 27 | 288.5 | 44 | -145 | $4700 | $3000 | $4300 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | A | CAR | 11 | 390 | 39 | 9.3% | 3.5 | 27 | 2.5 | 69.2% | 385 | 5 | 14.3 | 12.9 | 18 | 14 | 301.9 | 49 | -125 | $5500 | $2900 | $4000 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | H | ATL | 12 | 613 | 73 | 18.2% | 6.1 | 43 | 3.6 | 58.9% | 433 | 2 | 10.1 | 11.4 | 23 | 28 | 306.4 | 45 | 230 | $4800 | $2800 | $3800 |
| Julius Thomas | JAC | H | MIN | 9 | 453 | 51 | 10.6% | 5.7 | 30 | 3.3 | 58.8% | 281 | 4 | 9.4 | 7.6 | 2 | 6 | 218.1 | 39 | 145 | $5100 | $2800 | $3800 |
| Will Tye | NYG | H | DAL | 12 | 434 | 51 | 11.3% | 4.3 | 33 | 2.8 | 64.7% | 281 | 1 | 8.5 | 10.4 | 27 | 26 | 301.4 | 47.5 | 170 | $4500 | $2800 | $3500 |
| Jared Cook | GB | H | SEA | 6 | 168 | 28 | 5.8% | 4.7 | 16 | 2.7 | 57.1% | 184 | 1 | 11.5 | 6.8 | 6 | 5 | 252 | 46 | 140 | $4800 | $2700 | $4000 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | H | HOU | 12 | 514 | 53 | 12.3% | 4.4 | 43 | 3.6 | 81.1% | 441 | 4 | 10.3 | 6.8 | 14 | 13 | 227.4 | 46.5 | -275 | $4500 | $2700 | $3800 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | H | PIT | 11 | 616 | 57 | 16.8% | 5.2 | 36 | 3.3 | 63.2% | 323 | 0 | 9.0 | 8.7 | 11 | 8 | 279.6 | 46.5 | 130 | $4500 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | H | HOU | 10 | 419 | 41 | 9.5% | 4.1 | 28 | 2.8 | 68.3% | 328 | 5 | 11.7 | 6.8 | 14 | 13 | 227.4 | 46.5 | -275 | $4800 | $2600 | $4000 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | H | SEA | 12 | 433 | 41 | 8.5% | 3.4 | 25 | 2.1 | 61.0% | 219 | 1 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 6 | 5 | 252 | 46 | 140 | $4500 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | A | IND | 12 | 331 | 58 | 13.5% | 4.8 | 38 | 3.2 | 65.5% | 324 | 2 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 29 | 30 | 298.2 | 46.5 | -275 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Jesse James | PIT | A | BUF | 12 | 553 | 48 | 10.5% | 4.0 | 32 | 2.7 | 66.7% | 268 | 3 | 8.4 | 6.8 | 21 | 21 | 251.4 | 46.5 | 130 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | A | CLE | 8 | 276 | 29 | 6.8% | 3.6 | 17 | 2.1 | 58.6% | 193 | 0 | 11.4 | 12.6 | 31 | 32 | 259.4 | 42.5 | 190 | $4500 | $2500 | $3350 |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | A | MIA | 12 | 509 | 43 | 8.7% | 3.6 | 27 | 2.3 | 62.8% | 264 | 2 | 9.8 | 11.4 | 13 | 17 | 264.8 | 43.5 | 110 | $4500 | $2500 | $3750 |
| Trey Burton | PHI | H | WAS | 11 | 150 | 37 | 8.2% | 3.4 | 22 | 2.0 | 59.5% | 218 | 1 | 9.9 | 10.7 | 20 | 23 | 278.5 | 46.5 | 110 | $4500 | $2500 | $3300 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | A | TEN | 9 | 284 | 29 | 7.3% | 3.2 | 18 | 2.0 | 62.1% | 211 | 0 | 11.7 | 9.5 | 24 | 24 | 270.3 | 43.5 | -120 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | H | NYJ | 12 | 354 | 35 | 9.5% | 2.9 | 21 | 1.8 | 60.0% | 275 | 1 | 13.1 | 10.9 | 32 | 27 | 288.5 | 44 | -145 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | H | ARI | 10 | 396 | 25 | 6.9% | 2.5 | 18 | 1.8 | 72.0% | 206 | 1 | 11.4 | 4.2 | 3 | 3 | 217.5 | 43.5 | 110 | $4500 | $2500 | $3900 |
| Josh Hill | NO | A | TB | 9 | 338 | 22 | 4.5% | 2.4 | 15 | 1.7 | 68.2% | 149 | 1 | 9.9 | 8.5 | 9 | 12 | 272.6 | 51.5 | -145 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | H | DAL | 10 | 179 | 22 | 4.9% | 2.2 | 15 | 1.5 | 68.2% | 92 | 1 | 6.1 | 10.4 | 27 | 26 | 301.4 | 47.5 | 170 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Crockett Gillmore | BAL | A | NE | 7 | 197 | 14 | 2.9% | 2.0 | 8 | 1.1 | 57.1% | 71 | 1 | 8.9 | 7.1 | 25 | 19 | 265.1 | 45.5 | -300 | $4600 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | A | LA | 12 | 226 | 23 | 5.6% | 1.9 | 17 | 1.4 | 73.9% | 257 | 2 | 15.1 | 7.8 | 16 | 15 | 252 | 45 | 230 | $4700 | $2500 | $3700 |
| Tyler Higbee | LA | H | ATL | 12 | 179 | 22 | 5.5% | 1.8 | 7 | 0.6 | 31.8% | 57 | 0 | 8.1 | 11.4 | 23 | 28 | 306.4 | 45 | 230 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | A | SF | 2 | 52 | 3 | 2.2% | 1.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 100.0% | 44 | 1 | 14.7 | 8.6 | 28 | 29 | 269.4 | 44 | -145 | $4600 | $2500 | $3300 |
Premium Options
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I suspect Tyler Eifert will be the most popular tight end play, especially among the premium options, but I will use him in cash games anyway. Better defenses may be able to take Eifert away and force Andy Dalton to throw to other receivers, but I doubt the Browns can. If I had to pick one tight end to catch a touchdown this week, it would be Eifert. He has a touchdown in each of his last two games.
If you want a slightly less popular play in this tier, I recommend Jimmy Graham. Graham has had six or more receptions in six games this season, and he has five touchdowns over his last five games.
Value Options
As someone who is counting on Dennis Pitta in the first round of the fantasy playoffs, I don’t necessarily buy the argument he has established himself as a consistent red zone target. After all, the first 12 weeks of the season when Pitta failed to catch a single touchdown still count, too. Even so, Pitta’s usage in Week 13 was encouraging, and he has always had a relatively high floor because he catches so many passes.
Speaking of encouraging usage, Eric Ebron looked good in the first half last week, but the Lions inexplicably went away from him. Ebron hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1, but I don’t think anybody would be surprised if he pulls a Dennis Pitta and scores twice.
Bargain Options
Daniel Brown was pretty underwhelming last week, but it is important to keep in mind the Bears basically didn’t throw the ball at all until the two-minute warning of the first half. Brown remains risky, but there is certainly a chance he is a bigger part of Chicago’s passing attack, and it doesn’t hurt that this game will be inside.