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In case you missed it, I already said Travis Kelce was the TE1 this week.
.@HeathCapps didn’t get TE ranks in ahead of tonight, but if you need help starting Kelce or not starting Gates, well...the situation is more dire than can be currently remedied
— Fake Teams (@faketeams) December 14, 2018
Kelce had a “meh” game by his standards, but at least it wasn’t a zero (sorry, Keenan Allen owners). Anyway, it seemed odd to make a set of weekend rankings and to omit Kelce as the overall TE1. So to punish myself for not getting ranks out before Thursday Night Football, I’m ranking a few extra guys this week. Instead of a Top 20, you get a Top 24! And no, it doesn’t include the aging carcass of Antonio Gates, because he was my TE27 this week. Despite his “moves” that were on display against the Chiefs, I am still uninterested in Gates in every conceivable format.
Week 15 Tight End Rankings
| RANK | PLAYER | OPPONENT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| RANK | PLAYER | OPPONENT | NOTES |
| 1 | Travis Kelce | vs. LAC | Already played, but he was the top dog. You already knew that. |
| 2 | Zach Ertz | @ LAR | 21 red zone targets this year, second only to Kelce. Tied with Kelce for 131 targets this year, but Kelce already played. Elite, elite, elite. |
| 3 | Eric Ebron | vs. DAL | Also has 21 RZ targets this year (tied with Ertz). Has 23 targets over two games since Indy lost Jack Doyle. |
| 4 | George Kittle | vs. SEA | Ranks 10th IN THE NFL in receiving yardage (1,103). Among TEs, only Kelce is ahead. Ranks 4th IN THE NFL in YAC (578 yards). |
| 5 | Rob Gronkowski | @ PIT | How the mighty have fallen. Still a quality, quality TE play in a potential shootout. |
| 6 | Jared Cook | @ CIN | Has set career marks already in receptions, yards, and TDs. Has FOUR 100-yard games so far this year, including two in a row. |
| 7 | David Njoku | @ DEN | This is a good matchup, even if Njoku has been maddening to decipher this season. Welcome to the TE position. |
| 8 | Cameron Brate | @ BAL | He scores a lot (2X last week) and the Ravens have allowed a tight end score in four straight games. Very TD or bust, though. |
| 9 | Evan Engram | vs. TEN | The Titans haven't allowed a score to a tight end, but this position is a cesspool and Engram woke up a little last week (3-77). OBJ is still out. |
| 10 | Chris Herndon | vs. HOU | The Texans have shown cracks against enemy tight ends (7th most points allowed). Enunwa and Crowell are out. |
| 11 | Ian Thomas | vs. NO | This isn't a great matchup but I like the Panthers in an upset and Thomas has been sticky-fingered since Olsen got injured. |
| 12 | Jaylen Samuels | vs. NE | James Conner practiced on Friday and isn't yet ruled out. Temper your expectations, folks. But if Conner misses, Samuels becomes my TE7. |
| 13 | C.J. Uzomah | vs. OAK | You're playing the matchup game here. Oakland gives up the most fantasy points to enemy tight ends. |
| 14 | Vance McDonald | vs. NE | At least he is a quality streamer, at home, with a legitimate QB throwing him the ball. That can't be said of many who come after... |
| 15 | Trey Burton | vs. GB | With Allen Robinson healthy, Burton is a forgotten man. Upside, sure. Downside is scary, though. |
| 16 | Austin Hooper | vs. ARI | Patrick Peterson will be chasing Julio Jones around. Perhaps an extra target or two goes Hooper's way. |
| 17 | Kyle Rudolph | vs. MIA | I think Kirk Cousins hates him. #analysis |
| 18 | Vernon Davis | @ JAC | Jordan Reed is out of the picture, and VD has shown that he can step up when given the opportunity. You're praying for 5-7 targets. |
| 19 | Jimmy Graham | @ CHI | What a disappointing 46-549-2 season. The paltry two scores are the biggest disappointment. |
| 20 | Gerald Everett | vs. PHI | The Eagles let Blake Jarwin (7-56) get a little loose last week. Everett saw a season-high seven targets last week, too. |
| 21 | Dallas Goedert | @ LAR | Signs of life (and big play ability) last week. I'll take it again this week as the Eagles fight for their playoff lives (no Wentz hurts, though). |
| 22 | Anthony Firkser | @ NYG | Hard to go crazy for the 23-year-old backup to the backup. But here we are. |
| 23 | Blake Jarwin | @ IND | He caught all seven balls thrown to him last week. Dallas may have to open it up a little if Luck finds a way through the Dallas D/ST. |
| 24 | Jordan Thomas | @ NYJ | He's been efficient the last two weeks, catching all seven of the targets thrown his way. Problem is low volume. |