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Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends in Week 12

Heath gets you ready for some tight end action ahead of Thursday’s slate of games. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

NFL: Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
Vernon Davis is the “coverboy” once again. He is an elite option in Week 12.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

We have a three-game offering for Thanksgiving, including my bold prediction of the GMen upsetting the reeling Redskins. I also like the Lions at home against the division-leading Vikings. Maybe this isn’t shaping up to be my week. We shall see.

As for tight ends, I think we have a clear-cut elite grouping from here on out—one that will include Vernon Davis for as long as Jordan Reed remains shelved (probably forever). To my Reed-loving cousin, my apologies if you happen to read this. It is your fault that I drafted Reed in the fourth round of my hometown league. All of your preseason propaganda did the trick. Darn you.

Anyway, what follows is my first pass at ranking the big guys for Week 12. We have a few highly relevant tight ends playing on Thursday, so expect the fireworks to begin early.

Jordan Reed is already OUT so that means Vernon Davis is elite once again. His matchup against the Giants is the best in the fake business, too. Do whatever is necessary to get him into your lineups.

Zach Ertz has a rough matchup on paper, as the Bears have only allowed two scores to tight ends all season. Also, other than Austin Hooper’s 128 yard explosion in Week 1, no other tight end has amassed more than 49 yards against them all year. Of course, the probable absence of Danny Trevathan is brutal for the Bears. The Eagles may just choose to gouge Chicago on the ground with their eleventy-billion running backs. Either way, I am dinging Ertz slightly. Probably a mistake, but it is what it is.

Jared Cook and Delanie Walker each appear to have safe floors in their respective matchups, so I would take either of them over Greg Olsen, who returns from a foot fracture this week.

Charles Clay has had a pair of weeks to readjust to the NFL, and now Kelvin Benjamin is questionable to play with a knee injury. Perhaps we see Clay take over the lead role again for Buffalo? I’ll take a chance on it after the TE1 guys are off the board.

After Clay, this position is a veritable cesspool of junk. Roll the dice as you see fit. For my part, I am curious to see if O.J. Howard can continue to wrestle meaningful production away from Cameron Brate.

If I am digging extremely deep, give me Austin Traylor of the five targets last week who gets the Oakland Raiders “defense” this week. I am a little bearish on Adam Shaheen since Dion Sims is back to practice already. That Shaheen-train may need to pump the brakes a bit, at least for this week.

Enjoy the turkey comas, ladies and gents! May you get some rest and relaxation away from your respective daily grinds, and make time to enjoy your friends and family.

As always, I welcome any discussion in the comments. And hit me up on Twitter, at @HeathCapps. Peace!

Week 12 Tight End Rankings

RANK NAME OPPONENT
RANK NAME OPPONENT
1 Rob Gronkowski vs. MIA
2 Travis Kelce vs. BUF
3 Evan Engram @ WAS
4 Vernon Davis vs. NYG
5 Zach Ertz vs. CHI
6 Jimmy Graham @ SF
7 Delanie Walker @ IND
8 Jack Doyle vs. TEN
9 Jared Cook vs. DEN
10 Kyle Rudolph @ DET
11 Greg Olsen @ NYJ
12 Tyler Kroft vs. CLE
13 Charles Clay @ KC
14 Hunter Henry @ DAL
15 Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. CAR
16 O.J. Howard @ ATL
17 Austin Hooper vs. TB
18 Benjamin Watson vs. HOU
19 Eric Ebron vs. MIN
20 Jesse James vs. GB
21 Jason Witten vs. LAC
22 Cameron Brate @ ATL
23 Adam Shaheen @ PHI
24 Julius Thomas @ NE
25 C.J. Fiedorowicz @ BAL
26 David Njoku @ CIN
27 Marcedes Lewis @ ARI
28 Coby Fleener @ LAR
29 Seth DeValve @ CIN
30 Austin Traylor @ OAK
31 Jermaine Gresham vs. JAC
32 Dwayne Allen vs. MIA