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Five weeks are gone already! This is insane. I’m considering getting struck by lightning so I can run back through time to slow this train down (and roster Trubisky everywhere during his score-fest). Anyway, what follows is this week’s first pass at tight end rankings. Of note is Greg Olsen’s probable return from a foot injury, as well as O.J. Howard’s return to practice in a limited capacity. Olsen’s return helps Cam more than the rest of us, but Howard’s presence would dampen the outlook for Cameron Brate considerably.
Aside from those new items, some old items still apply. Austin Hooper has another great matchup, Jordan Reed is the healthiest skill player in Washington, and Eric Ebron is still free to do some damage with Jack Doyle expected to be out yet again. Niles Paul took over after Austin Seferian-Jenkins succumbed to his core muscle injury last week...
I tried to hit all the high notes. Hit me up on Twitter at @HeathCapps or via email at heathcapps19@gmail.com with any queries or friendly arguments. Peace!
Week 6 Tight Ends
RANK | PLAYER | OPPONENT | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
RANK | PLAYER | OPPONENT | NOTES |
1 | Travis Kelce | @ NE | The Patriots allowed two of the top three tight ends a week ago. Kelce leads the Chiefs with a 28.57% target share. |
2 | Zach Ertz | @ NYG | Just peep these target counts by week: 10, 13, 10, 14, 11. No, you don't start Gronk over that volume. |
3 | Rob Gronkowski | vs. KC | The Chiefs just allowed Niles Paul to go for 7-65 on 9 targets. KC has allowed the 3rd most points to tight ends. |
4 | George Kittle | @ GB | He should make hay with solid yardage totals yet again. The rapport with Beathard is for real. |
5 | Eric Ebron | @ NYJ | His 13 RZ looks lead all tight ends. He has 10+ targets in three straight games and Doyle remains out. |
6 | Jimmy Graham | vs. SF | SF has allowed a touchdown to an enemy tight end in four of five weeks. I don't love Graham but this is a prime M/U. |
7 | Jared Cook | vs. SEA | His 12 RZ targets are only bettered by Ebron's 13 among tight ends. |
8 | Trey Burton | @ MIA | His 19 targets are a disappointment, but he has touchdowns in two of four games. |
9 | Kyle Rudolph | vs. ARI | Rudolph has caught 23 of 27 balls (85.19%) this year. He ranks 9th among tight ends in targets. |
10 | David Njoku | vs. LAC | His two best games have been with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. The proverbial arrow is pointing upward. |
11 | Cameron Brate | @ ATL | O.J. Howard is out and Jameis Winston has an affinity for Brate in the red zone. |
12 | Jordan Reed | vs. CAR | Thompson, Peterson, Crowder, and Richardson are all banged up. Reed's potential volume keeps him in the TE1 mix. |
13 | Austin Hooper | vs. TB | Thrilled to have successfully located 12 TEs I prefer over Hooper, thereby relegating him to the title of "streamer." |
14 | Vance McDonald | @ CIN | The Bengals have allowed the 9th most points to TEs, including scores to Mark Andrews and Logan Paulsen. |
15 | Greg Olsen | @ WAS | He may require surgery this offseason, but for now he is a viable TE2, at least. |
16 | Ricky Seals-Jones | @ MIN | The Vikes allowed 90+ yards to Kittle, Graham, and Ertz...but stymied Buffalo and St. Louis tight ends. RSJ = TE2. |
17 | C.J. Uzomah | vs. PIT | Like RSJ, the matchup is great. Except, Uzomah isn't the only viable tight end for the Bengals... |
18 | Niles Paul | @ DAL | He's the guy with ASJ out until December. He had nine targets last week (7-65). |
19 | Geoff Swaim | vs. JAX | He's been able to offer us something, and that counts for a whole lot at a shoddy TE position--despite the rough M/U. |
20 | Nick Vannett | @ OAK | The Raiders are 16th in fantasy points allowed to TEs, having allowed TDs to the likes of Darren Fells and Virgil Green... |