Tight ends are always hard to predict, but I think I did fine with giving you guys good advice on the position. Turns out Darren Waller had the most fantasy points for the position, but I guess when you get targeted 18 times in a game you better walk away with a large amount of points. Let’s see what week two brings us in terms of starting and sitting tight ends.
Starts
Start of the Week;
Noah Fant vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Noah Fant saw good numbers this past weekend against the Giants. He put up 62 yards on six receptions from eight targets. While he didn’t see the endzone in week one, I bet you he scores this week as the Broncos take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their defense was trash last weekend, and also the Broncos will be without Jerry Jeudy for a number of weeks which will help spread the ball around more to Fant. He’ll do well this week, so get him in your lineups if he isn’t already.
Rob Gronkowski vs Atlanta Falcons
Gronk proved that age don’t mean jack when you have the connection he has with Tom Brady. Gronk was the second highest scoring tight end last week with 29 points next to Waller’s 29.50. He found the endzone twice, and it is clear he’ll be a big target for Brady down there even more this year. I’d absolutely start him against the Falcons this week who just gave up a touchdown to Dallas Goedert in week one.
Robert Tonyan vs Detroit Lions
Tonyan’s stat line sucked last week, but so did the entire Packers’ offense. I firmly believe this unit comes back hard this week against the Lions. They gave up a decent amount of yardage to George Kittle last weekend, but we all know how Rodgers loves to find Tonyan in the redzone. He’s a machine down there. So yes, I am starting Tonyan this week with the belief this team will come back with a vengeance against a divisional rival.
Tyler Higbee vs Indianapolis Colts
Higbee saw a lot of looks from Matt Stafford which is odd because Stafford doesn’t like tight ends. Oh well. Maybe he has finally found one he can rely on in Tyler Higbee. Sure he didn’t score one of the three touchdowns last weekend, but he did put up 68 yards catching five of six targets. The Colts gave up a touchdown to Gerald Everett last weekend, so maybe the tight end position is one they struggle. I’d take a chance on Higbee this weekend.
Jonnu Smith vs New York Jets
I like what i saw out of Jonnu Smith last weekend against the Dolphins. He was much more productive than fellow tight end and teammate Hunter Henry. He caught all of his targets (five) for 42 yards and even rushed once for six yards. The New England system is all about finding that two tight end system so there will always be concern for Jonnu’s value knowing Henry is there, but honestly I’d start him over Henry until further notice including this weekend against the Jets.
Sleepers;
Kyle Pitts vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jared Cook vs Dallas Cowboys
Austin Hooper vs Houston Texans
Sits
Sit of the Week;
Mike Gesicki vs Buffalo Bills
I took a chance on Gesicki last weekend, and immediately got burned because of it. The man put up a big old goose egg in week one when everyone said Tua loves throwing to the tight ends. I know it’s one game, but putting up no points is very concerning. So it might be a mistake, but I am avoiding Gesicki this weekend against the Bills. Their defense let up only two catches to tight ends last week against Pittsburgh, and that was one by Ebron and one by Freiermuth. Yeah no thanks.
Cole Kmet vs Cincinnati Bengals
Kmet actually had a decent outing against the Rams last weekend catching five of his seven targets for 42 yards. He could have a decent game this weekend against the Bengals. Their defense has allowed major yardage to tight ends in past seasons, but for this year their defense didn’t allow a touchdown and only allowed 41 yards. Kmet will have upside, but if you have better options, you might want to go that way.
Gerald Everett vs Tennessee Titans
Everett found the endzone last weekend against the Colts, but he was only targeted twice in the passing game. I honestly don’t him being more than a target in the redzone this year so he is very touchdown dependent which is never a good thing. He’ll go up against a pretty bad Titans defense this week, but even then I don’t like his odds of success against Tennessee.
Eric Ebron vs Las Vegas Raiders
Ebron had a very quiet outing against the Bills week one. He was only targeted twice catching one of them. The rookie tight end Freiermuth also caught his lone pass of the week. The two are still in a time-share development, and they don’t seem to be much of a factor of moving the ball downfield. I would avoid Ebron this weekend as he faces the Raiders. Their defense was able to hold Mark Andrews to low points, and Ebron is not Andrews.
James O’Shaughnessy vs Denver Broncos
I’m gonna be honest guys. I didn’t know who this guy even was. However, he did catch six passes on eight targets for 48 yards. He was definitely a security blanket for Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars who struggled with the game for most of the contest. I like the guy, but I don’t want to take a chance on him this early. Plus, they face the Broncos who gave the Giants hell last week in the passing game. Better to save him for later.
Busts;
Anthony Firsker vs Seattle Seahawks
Dan Arnold vs New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson vs Carolina Panthers
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