Starts

Start of the Week –

Jack Doyle vs New Orleans Saints

Doyle had a bad turnout in a really good matchup last weekend against the Bucs. This week however he has a great matchup against the Saints. This defense while good has given up some major points to tight ends. In fact, they’ve allowed the seventh most points since Week 11.

Austin Hooper vs San Francisco 49ers

While it might seem odd to put Hooper on the list given his level of production it is given for the fact that he didn’t perform the best last weekend and he is coming off of injury. However, he is in a good spot to perform well against the 49ers this weekend. Their defense might seem elite, but they gave up two touchdown catches last weekend to New Orleans’ Jared Cook.

Noah Fant vs Kansas City Chiefs

Noah Fant had his best game of the season last weekend against the Texans scoring a touchdown and having over 100 yards receiving on the day. I expect him to do just as well in this week’s affair going up against the Chiefs. Their defense against the pass has not been the best and Drew Lock has made Fant his number one target from last weekend so it will probably continue on for this one. Start Fant in your lineups.

Tyler Higbee vs Dallas Cowboys

Higbee has put together quite the impressive stat line over the last couple of weeks filling in for Gerald Everett. His matchups against the Cardinals and Seahawks have seen him rise with double digit points in both of those contests. He gets a fantastic matchup with the Cowboys this weekend whose defense has been very bad against tight ends in the pass. Expect Higbee to get make points once again.

Dallas Goedert vs Washington Redskins

Goedert has done well for the Eagles as the number two tight end in Philadelphia. With all the injuries to receivers it will be hard not to start him or Zach Ertz this weekend against the Washington Redskins especially since it was discovered that Alshon Jeffrey will be out for the rest of the season. Both tight ends should do quite well in this one.

Sleepers

Mike Gesicki vs New York Giants

David Njoku vs Arizona Cardinals

Ian Thomas vs Seattle Seahawks

Sits

Sit of the Week –

Kyle Rudolph vs Los Angeles Chargers

Rudolph has been amazing at the tight end position, but not so much last week scoring only a mere three points. It will be hard to sit him, but this one just has to happen. The Chargers defense is more capable at guarding tight ends than wide receivers and with Adam Thielen returning once again, we could see a dip in Rudolph’s production level.

Vance McDonald vs Buffalo Bills

Oh boy what are the Steelers going to do with Vance McDonald? The Arizona Cardinal team they faced was the worst team against the tight ends…and yet he barely did anything. It is clear the tight ends had the most production when Big Ben was in the lineup. Until next season he will most likely remain on this part of the section knowing they have no real plan for him.

Jimmy Graham vs Chicago Bears

Jimmy Graham continues to disappoint fantasy owners with his production levels and usage. Now he did score a touchdown against his opponents this week in week one, but I doubt that Aaron Rodgers applies the same scheme going in. In my mind they will rely on the run more than the pass and even if the pass game succeeds it seems it will go to either the running back Aaron Jones or lead receiver Adams. Graham should remain sidelined for this week.

Jacob Hollister vs Carolina Panthers

Hollister has disappointed fantasy owners for a couple of weeks now and this week he gets an interesting matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The matchup isn’t the worst one we have seen, in fact some would call it favorable, but the way that the Seahawks have been using him just doesn’t make me feel comfortable starting him especially in playoff season.

Tyler Eifert vs New England Patriots

Eifert hasn’t done much in the pass game as of late, but last week he showed some moxy with a decent almost nine point performance. I hardly believe that his production curve continues to go up this week with a matchup against the New England Patriots. New England has allowed just four touchdowns and an average of just above ten points a game to tight ends. This is the eighth fewest in the NFL this season so I would avoid this matchup.

Busts

Jason Witten vs Los Angeles Rams

Dawson Knox vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Darren Fells vs Tennessee Titans