Man tight ends just suck to predict. Like if you don’t have one of the top five tight ends in the league, you are essentially screwed with trying to find a guy that can give you double digit points every week. So while this is my least favorite category of the Start’ em Sit’ em column, I will not shy away from doing my best to make sure you guys do well. Let’s get to work!
Starts
Start of the Week;
Noah Fant vs New York Jets
Like Sutton, Fant has been doing very well when Teddy throws him the ball. The guy had a touchdown last weekend against the Jaguars, and he should continue to see plenty of targets with Jeudy being sidelined. Get him in your line up this weekend as the Jets defense just looks very confusing and dysfunctional which should allow him to get some great points in this one.
Kyle Pitts vs New York Giants
Kyle Pitts hasn’t proved himself yet to be the next big tight end prospect that he should be. However, he showed much more chemistry with Matt Ryan last weekend against the Bucs than he did week one when he faced the Eagles. The Giants have given up big yardage to both Noah Fant and Logan Thomas, so maybe this needs to be the game for Pitts to break out. We will see when the Falcons take on the Giants this week.
Dallas Goedert vs Dallas Cowboys
Goedert slowed down a bit last weekend as the 49ers defense played a great game against Hurts and the Eagles. I predict he bounces back this Monday night when the Eagles take on the Cowboys. This defense looks to have improved a bit, but when covering tight ends they still struggle a bit. Don’t forget they gave up two touchdowns to Gronk week one, and Jared Cook despite not scoring a touchdown gave the Cowboys a little bit of issues in that game. Goedert should see great things in this one. Plug him in.
Robert Tonyan vs San Francisco 49ers
Bobby boy Tonyan showed us he wants to back in terms of production this season for tight ends as he had 52 yards and a touchdown last Monday against the Lions. Now, the 49ers are a much better defense at covering tight ends, but I think Tonyan still scores one here. The 49ers will be worrying about Adams and Jones to the point Rodgers should fine Bobby in the endzone. I like the play here so put him in.
Jared Cook vs Kansas City Chiefs
Cook didn’t have as much of a productive week like he did in week one, but I still like him here against the Kansas City Chiefs. Their defense will be looking to account for all the weapons that Herbert has with Ekeler, Allen, and Williams. Cook is the one for me that stands out the most. he has become a little bit of a security blanket for Justin Herbert on many occasions already this season. The Chiefs could lose coverage on him, and when Cook gets loose he can do some real damage as a wild card pick this week at the tight end position.
Sleepers;
Dawson Knox vs Washington Football Team
Jack Doyle vs Tennessee Titans
Max Williams vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Sits
Sit of the Week;
Tyler Higbee vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I thought Higbee was gonna have a much better season, but the rumors are true. Stafford doesn’t like tight ends. While Higbee caught five passes for 68 yards in week one, he only caught one pass for eight yards last weekend against the Colts. He has yet to have a touchdown on the season, and things aren’t gonna get any better. He faces the Bucs this weekend, and their defense hasn’t let a tight end score yet.
Mike Gesicki vs Las Vegas Raiders
This might be backfire on me this week, but I just don’t trust Gesicki or the entire Miami offense right now. Brissett will be at quarterback so maybe he throws Gesicki’s way often here, but the Raiders defense is sneaky good at covering tight ends. They barely even let Mark Andrews get going in week one people. So yeah, he might get targeted a lot here, but I don’t like Mike, and I don’t like the matchup here.
Hunter Henry vs New Orleans Saints
I pictured Henry to be like his photo above here. Strong, fast, and brutal in the Patriots offense. Sadly, he has become the second fiddle to Jonnu Smith in this offense. Smith gets the upper hand every time in terms of yardage, and also has a unique rushing ability that has distinguished him from other tight ends. Henry on the other hand has been mediocre at best. He hasn’t seen the endzone yet, and as long as Jonnu is there, the playing time will always be something to be concerned with.
Austin Hooper vs Chicago Bears
Hooper might get a slight edge here since Landry is down with an injury, but I still don’t know if he will ever be used as well as he is getting paid. The guy has 67 receiving yards through two games. He also will be going up against the Bears defense this weekend. Hooper should remain on benches until further notice which might be this game, but what the hell do I know? We will just have to wait and see.
Blake Jarwin vs Philadelphia Eagles
I believe Blake Jarwin wants to be an important part of this offense. I think the coaching staff thinks differently. When Jarwin got hurt last year, Dalton Schultz was able to pick up the pieces and salvage a decent fantasy season. Jarwin doesn’t have that same swagger with Prescott like Schultz does. Through two games, he has six receptions for 57 yards while Schultz has eight receptions for 63 yards. Neither of them are good options this week. The Eagles cover the tight end position well, and if you are arguing which one to start, you have bigger problems in your fantasy lineup people.
Busts;
Gerald Everett vs Minnesota Vikings
Tyler Conklin vs Seattle Seahawks
Juwan Johnson vs New England Patriots
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