Typically this effort comes out mid-week, but as you can tell I am far beyond that deadline. Thanks a lot, real life.
Anyway, since Thursday is gone you will not find Benjamin Watson or Julius Thomas in the conversation. Other than maybe using Watson as a flex option, hopefully you were not forced to go either of those routes anyway.
This position remains dicey. After the top eight or so you start to enter timeshare territory (Brate) or guys who play better in PPR formats (Witten). Such is life in the cesspool that is the tight end position, though. So we best get to it.
Kyle Rudolph (@ CLE) and Jason Witten (@ WAS) get the dream matchups this week, as Cleveland allows the third-most points to the position and Washington allows the second-most.
The “dark horse” matchup of the week is Travis Kelce at home versus the Broncos. Denver has been lit up by enemy tight ends this season, as they currently allow the fifth-most points to the position. It makes sense for opposing teams to refrain from targeting Denver’s stud cornerbacks. Jason Witten already had a 13-target game against the Broncos...I think double-digit targets might be in reach for Kelce if the Broncos can make a game of it on Sunday. We shall see.
Tyler Kroft is 44% owned in Yahoo leagues and should be a popular fill-in this weekend against the Colts, who allow the ninth-most points to tight ends so far this season.
If you are digging deep, consider Nick O’Leary at home, where Tyrod Taylor has a history of performing better. The Bills still suffer from a lack of receiving talent, so O’Leary is on the radar until Charles Clay makes his inevitable triumphant return to health.
Lastly, with Vance McDonald (knee) and Martavis Bryant (selfishness) out this weekend, Jesse James makes for a decent TE2 option against the Lions in a dome. No, it doesn’t take much to be decent at this position.
As always, feel free to hash it out in the comments. Good luck this weekend, ladies and gents.
Week 8 Tight Ends
RANK | NAME | OPPONENT |
---|---|---|
RANK | NAME | OPPONENT |
1 | Rob Gronkowski | vs. LAC |
2 | Travis Kelce | vs. DEN |
3 | Zach Ertz | vs. SF |
4 | Hunter Henry | @ NE |
5 | Jordan Reed | vs. DAL |
6 | Kyle Rudolph | @ CLE |
7 | Jimmy Graham | vs. HOU |
8 | Jason Witten | @ WAS |
9 | Cameron Brate | vs. CAR |
10 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins | vs. ATL |
11 | Jared Cook | @ BUF |
12 | Tyler Kroft | vs. IND |
13 | Nick O'Leary | vs. OAK |
14 | George Kittle | @ PHI |
15 | Jack Doyle | @ CIN |
16 | Zach Miller | @ NO |
17 | Austin Hooper | @ NYJ |
18 | Ed Dickson | @ TB |
19 | Jesse James | @ DET |
20 | O.J. Howard | vs. CAR |
21 | Vernon Davis | vs. DAL |
22 | Ryan Griffin | @ SEA |
23 | A.J. Derby | @ KC |
24 | David Njoku | vs. MIN |
25 | Darren Fells | vs. PIT |
26 | Coby Fleener | vs. CHI |
27 | Antonio Gates | @ NE |
28 | Eric Ebron | vs. PIT |
29 | Seth DeValve | vs. MIN |
30 | Dion Sims | @ NO |
31 | Logan Thomas | vs. OAK |
32 | Stephen Anderson | @ SEA |