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Week 17 Tight End Rankings - PPR Leagues

It's the last week of fantasy and the last tight end rankings of the season. Good luck in championship week!

By Nick Petraccione
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) takes the field for the start of a game against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Redskins won 38-24.
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) takes the field for the start of a game against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Redskins won 38-24.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

This is the last week of fantasy and to be honest it's the not the best week to be playing. News has come out about a lot of players that have been placed on the injured reserve. The problem with late weeks like this is that many teams in the playoffs (and even out of the playoffs) are not going to risk their stars in a game that means nothing to them. Unfortunately, this week means a lot to you that are still playing. But that is the risk playing in a league that goes into Week 17. However there is good news: the tight end position is not effected by this scenario, in fact it is helped, more on that below.

This marks the last fantasy rankings article I will post this season. Thanks to all of my readers out their and your questions, keep 'em coming.

Rank Player Team Opponent
1 Rob Gronkowski NE @MIA
2 Greg Olsen CAR TB
3 Jordan Reed WAS @DAL
4 Delanie Walker TEN @IND
5 Tyler Eifert CIN BAL
6 Travis Kelce KC OAK
7 Julius Thomas JAC @HOU
8 Zach Ertz PHI @NYG
9 Gary Barnidge CLE PIT
10 Zach Miller CHI DET
11 Antonio Gates SD @DEN
12 Benjamin Watson NO @ATL
13 Austin Seferian-Jenkins TB @CAR
14 Heath Miller PIT @CLE
15 Will Tye NYG PHI
16 Kyle Rudolph MIN @GB
17 Jason Witten DAL WAS
18 Richard Rodgers GB MIN
19 Eric Ebron DET @CHI
20 Jacob Tamme ATL NO
21 Vance McDonald SF STL
22 Owen Daniels DEN SD
23 Darren Fells ARI SEA
24 Jared Cook STL @SF
25 Ladarius Green SD @DEN

You may think my top two tight ends this week won't see much action because both the Patriots and the Panthers are in the playoffs, but they are fighting for more: home-field advantage. And in order to get it, Gronk and Olsen have to stay heavily involved.

Tyler Eifert believes he will be back and ready to play on Sunday after missing the last two weeks. The Bengals are in the playoffs as well, but are still fighting for a first round bye. When Eifert is active, he needs to be in your lineup.

Unlike the others mentioned above, Zach Ertz and the Eagles are not going to the playoffs. But, he is a must-start tight end. Ertz has 30 targets over the last two games and hasn't fallen below 14 points the last three weeks. Although there is no post-season, he is facing the rival New York Giants. There is no way the Eagles are going to sit down for this one.

Zach Miller is a tight end that has been helped by the sitting of players. Alshon Jeffery has been placed on the injured reserve and that leaves Miller as the top target in Chicago. For PPR that's an extreme bump in terms of workload. Plus, the Lions are are garbage at defending the tight end. Miller should end this season on a high note.

For any questions about my rankings and players, ask me on Twitter: @NickPetraccione.