Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends in Week 12

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!