Tight Ends
Travis Kelce, KC (DK – $7,200/FD – $7,100)
Despite underperforming his 2018 resume (103/1336/10), Kelce still ranks at the top of the TE end list after 13 weeks. He averages 15.48 FPPG in PPR leagues while still looking for an impact game to support his high salary. His opportunity and success are trending forward over the past three games (7/72, 7/75/1, and 7/95/1 on 26 targets), which is almost a similar path from Week 2 to Week 4 (7/107/1, 7/89, and 7/85 on 25 targets). Kelce struggled for the most part at home (13.24 FPPG). His best game of the season (26.70 Fantasy points) did come against Oakland. The Raiders are 27th defending TEs (14.07 – 51/584/8 on 84 targets) with three teams scoring over 20.0 Fantasy points. Mahomes should play great this week, which makes Kelce one of his top options to produce a big game. In my thoughts with a chance at multiple TDs and over 100 yards receiving.
Zach Ertz, PHI (DK – $6,700/FD – $6,900)
After three big games (9/103/1, 9/94, and 12/91/1 on 36 targets), Ertz moved to second in TE scoring (14.29) with a chance to gain over 1,000 yards and 100-plus catches for the second straight season. Over the first eight games, he scored only one TD with no games of value in the daily market. He enters this week with a shoulder issue while expecting to play. Miami is league average defending TEs (11.83 FPPG – 48/555/2 on 67 targets). Their only poor showing defending the TE came in Week 1 (14/175/1) vs. the Ravens. The Eagles don’t have great options at WR, plus their RBs don’t catch a ton of balls. Ertz should be active with a chance at a TD, but his salary now commands 26-plus Fantasy points to be in play. Tempting for sure based on his recent play and his matchup may spark the dying, passing game in Philly.
George Kittle, SF (DK – $6,100/FD – $7,000)
Kittle returned in a big way in Week 13 (6/129/1 on six targets) highlighted by 61-yard TD in the second half. He played well in four of his previous five games (6/70/1, 8/13, 6/86, and 6/79/1), but Kittle averages only seven targets per game. The Ravens worked their way to fifth in TE defense (9.25 FPPG – 43/467/2 on 62 targets). They’ve held TEs to fewer than 12.0 Fantasy points in seven straight games and in nine of 11 contests in 2019. More fade than excitement in Week 13.
Hunter Henry, LAC (DK – $5,800/FD – $6,600)
Henry is priced like a top tier TE, but his play has been only steady over his previous four games (4/47, 7/84, 4/30/1, and 6/69). He flashed in Week 6 (8/100/2) in his first game after four weeks with an injury with reasonable success the following week (6/97). Over his last six games, he caught 35 balls for 427 yards and three TDs on 49 targets suggesting that he’s the third option in the Chargers’ passing game behind Keenan Allen and the RB position. Denver ranks 22nd in TE defense (12.36 FPPG – 59/590/2 on 81 targets) with one disaster game (MIN – 10/115/1). This week’s game looks to fall in the grinder category, thus limited the upside in passing chances for the Chargers’ receivers. Possible midteen Fantasy points while falling short of a winning game for his salary.
Mark Andrews, BAL (DK – $5,700/FD – $6,500)
It’s interesting to see many Fantasy owners wanting to micromanage the TE position with Andrews after some short outings over the last couple of months. What they don’t see is a minefield of emptiness at the position while Andrews has the skill set to be explosive if game flow breaks his way. The Ravens continue to rotate in two other TEs, which does hurt his targets if game score moves in the wrong direction. Over the past five games, Andrew has three low output games (2/39, 2/21, and 2/45) while showing upside in two starts (6/53/2 and 4/75/1). His best value came over the first two games (8/108/1 and 8/112/1) of the year. The 49ers have the second-best TE defense (6.56 FPPG – 37/246/2 on 54 targets), with only one team having success (8/62/1). Not the right kind of play in the daily games, but I would still play him in the season-long contests.
Darren Waller, OAK (DK – $5,500/FD – $6,100)
The league has caught up to Waller over his last few games. Over his first six games, he caught 44 of 50 targets for 485 yards and two TDs with two impact games (13/134 and 7/126/2). The Raiders have only looked his way 28 times in the past five contests, which led to 15 catches for 222 yards and a TD. The Chiefs held him to six catches for 63 yards on seven targets in Week 2 when his star was rising. Kansas City fell to 28th in TE defense (14.42 FPPG – 72/666/3 on 107 targets) after showing more risk defending TEs in four of their past six games (9/108, 7/56/1, 7/66/1, and 7/77). The Chiefs should score in this game, helping the passing opportunity for their players. Possible TD with an on the field battle with Kelce for the top TE of the day award.
Greg Olsen, CAR (DK – $4,400/FD – $5,100)
The Panthers have included Olsen in their game plan over the previous three games (8/98, 5/57, and 5/44), making him serviceable again in the season-long games. His only two TDs came in Week 3 when he had his best game (6/75/2). Olsen is on pace for 65 passes for 771 yards and three TDs. The Redskins fell to 24th in TE defense (12.92 FPPG – 53/591/5 on 74 targets) after fading vs. TEs in the previous two games (NYJ – 6/129/2 and DET – 3/31/1). His lower salary ($4,400) helps, but Olsen can’t be in play without better value scoring TDs. I’ll take the under in his production in Week 13 with both teams looking to run the ball.
Ryan Griffin, NYJ (DK – $4,300/FD – $5,600)
Ryan has been a Fantasy thing for the last month or so when he produced a couple of impact games (4/66/2 and 5/109/1) for his lower salary. Over his recent five-game period, he caught 19 passes for 236 yards and four TDs on 21 targets. Even with his success, he averaged only 5.2 targets per game. The Bengals are 15th in TE defense (11.77 FPPG – 46/596/4 on 63 targets) with three poor showings (9/121, 12/151/2, and 7/86/1). His recent path forces daily owners into a quandary – fact or fiction. Call him a maybe based on his matchup, but his high impact game last week invites failure in Week 13.
Dallas Goedert, PHI (DK – $4,100/FD – $5,200)
Goedert was set up for a good game in Week 12 with the Eagles banged up at WR. He caught seven of his eight targets. Unfortunately, Goedert gained only 4.6 yards per catch. The Eagles threw to their TEs 23 times vs. the Seahawks. Over his last six games, he caught 26 passes for 246 yards and three TDs on 36 targets. Getting tougher to roster in the daily games due to a rising salary, but Zach Ertz enters Week 13 with a hamstring issue.
Noah Fant, DEN (DK – $3,700/FD – $5,100)
Over the last four games, Fant has 15 catches for 215 yards and one TD on 27 targets with his only game of value in 2019 coming in Week 9 (3/115/1). He’s been on the field for about 82 percent of the TE snaps over the past month. The Chargers sit 10th in TE defense (10.47 FPPG – 41/502/4 on 63 targets) with their biggest failure coming in Week 11 (7/92/1) vs. the Chiefs. I like Fant, but he’s not quite ready to be trusted when adding in a weaker option at QB for the Broncos.
Mike Gesicki, MIA (DK – $3,600/FD – $5,000)
Gesicki has 16 catches for 169 yards and a TD on 25 targets over the past month with best showing (6/95) coming in Week 9 vs. the Jets. His floor has been six targets per game over this span. The Eagles rank 7th in TE defense (9.55 FPPG – 43/441/3 on 59 targets) with eight teams scoring 12.0 Fantasy points or fewer. I don’t see a pulse here.
Jonnu Smith, TEN (DK – $3,300/FD – $5,300)
The Titans retired Delanie Walkers’ number for the season this week, which secures starting snaps for Smith going forward. Last week he didn’t catch a ball or receiver a target while coming up empty as well in his previous two games (3/18 and /30). Smith was a nice value TE in Week 8 (6/78/1). The Colts ranks 20th in TE defense (12.23 FPPG – 61/609/5 on 91 targets) with three poor games (9/78/2, 10/83/1, and 8/100/1). Not a bad flier if you’re looking for salary cap relief.
Jack Doyle, IND (DK – $3,300/FD – $5,000)
There hasn’t been much to get excited about Doyle in 2019 in his split role with Eric Ebron. He was at least playable in three games (4/61, 3/22/1, and 3/44/1) from Week 8 to Week 10 in the season-long games before drifting away in his last two games (0/0 and 3/28). With Ebron out for the year, Doyle should work his way into more chances. The Titans are 23rd in the NFL defending TEs (12.55 FPPG – 50/564/5 on 75 targets). Only a dink and dunk option with limited upside in scoring.
