- Quarterbacks
- Running backs
- Wide receivers
- Tight ends
- Kickers
- Defenses
You have lineup questions, we have lineup answers — at least we hope so. Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is here to help fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. And you know what is a good move? Starting Patrick Mahomes. But that’s too obvious, so you won’t see the reigning MVP here. Instead, we’re exploring more debatable situations. And if you can’t find a player you are looking for, please check out the latest NFL Fantasy lineup rankings.
Start ‘Em
He’s back! After a slow start to the season, Pitts has now scored more than 14 fantasy points in two straight games. He notched his first touchdown of the season last week and was the TE3 after being the TE8 the week before that. He has topped eight fantasy points in three of his last four — and totaled six-plus targets in three of four, as well. He is averaging 10.7 fantasy PPG over the last month. It might not be the breakout season we were hoping for, but that’s a starting-caliber tight end in fantasy. Plus, the upside is higher as long as Atlanta continues to throw him the ball — especially as he gets further away from his knee injury. Despite the tough matchup, Pitts should be started this week.
We’ve had the full George Kittle experience over the last two weeks. After catching three touchdown passes and finishing as the TE1 with more than 27 fantasy points in Week 5, Kittle caught one pass for 1 yard against the Browns. As I said last week, the floor is extremely low with Kittle, but the upside is high enough that you just have to live with the down weeks. In the last month, he has topped 16 fantasy points twice and been held under two twice. This could be an upside week, as the Vikings allow a lot of production through the air. They have given up the fourth-most touchdowns to tight ends. Plus, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey are dealing with injuries, which could mean more volume for the tight end. Keep riding the wave with Kittle.
Last week was disappointing for Ertz, as he only managed to catch two out of five targets for a total of 22 yards, mostly during garbage time. Despite this, he currently ranks sixth among tight ends for targets. He has exceeded eight fantasy points in four out of six games. Though his upside is limited, his season high being just 11.6 fantasy points, a consistent eight points from a tight end is acceptable, especially in a week with six teams on bye. Any tight end with consistent volume is worth considering. Seattle’s defense has allowed a 103.4 passer rating to tight ends this season, so Ertz’s volume could keep him in contention for another week.
Thomas exploded two weeks ago, but then ended up on a milk carton last week, catching his lone target for 2 yards. However, that was a game where Washington threw just 23 passes, with only two Commanders receiving more than two targets. Chalk that one up to game script. Perhaps that’s a risk again this week, but I would roll the dice given the circumstances. The Giants rank in the middle of the pack against tight ends — this is not a defense to fear. Thomas had scored at least seven fantasy points in four straight games prior to last week. He twice hit double figures, including more than 20 fantasy points two weeks ago. He’s certainly in play if you are going a little deeper this week.
IF YOU NEED A STREAMER …
Last week, Taysom Hill ran 33 routes and was targeted eight times, catching seven passes for 49 yards. He tied Michael Thomas for the second-most targets on the Saints. He also threw a pass and carried the ball once. He finished with 12.26 fantasy points, earning him TE6 honors on the week. The floor is very low, as Hill had scored fewer than four fantasy points in the three games prior. But there is upside here, as he’s always a threat as a tight end, QB or goal-line runner. Plus, the Jags have allowed the fifth-most fantasy PPG to TEs. Just keep an eye on Juwan Johnson’s status before Thursday Night Football. If you are diving deeper, Buccaneers TE Cade Otton is also in play as a streaming option against the Falcons, who allow the eighth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends.
Sit ‘Em
Henry began this season on a high note, but in the last month, he’s only averaged 3.6 fantasy points per game (PPG). His highest scoring game during this period was 9.1 fantasy points. Over the past two weeks, his average has dipped below a single fantasy point per game. Things have rapidly deteriorated for Henry and the Patriots’ offense. Now, they are up against the Bills, who have conceded less than 200 yards in total to tight ends this season and not a single touchdown. The Bills have allowed the third-fewest fantasy PPG to this position. It would be wise to steer clear of Henry.
Njoku has given assistance to the Browns, yet he has been a letdown for fantasy football. He has only reached double figures once this season and hasn’t yet managed 50 yards in a single game. His performance level is generally low and he has shown little to no improvement. Although the Colts’ defense is average against tight ends, there are better options than Njoku. This is particularly true considering the probability of the Colts struggling to score against the Browns, which could result in Cleveland having more running plays than expected.
Last week, despite Kincaid’s absence, Knox continued to struggle, managing to catch merely three out of six targets for a total of 17 yards. His performance has been sub-par, with less than five fantasy points in four consecutive games. Kincaid too hasn’t shown much promise, failing to score in double digits in any game and managing more than seven points in only one game. The consistent low performance from both makes them unreliable options. Their lack of upside further compounds the problem. Their prospects against the Patriots are bleak, given the latter’s strong defense, allowing only 39 yards per game and a single touchdown this season to tight ends.
Fant had topped eight fantasy points in three straight games prior to last week’s dud. In that game he caught one pass for nine yards — and he still has yet to reach double digits in a game this season. The Cardinals have also been very stingy against tight ends. They have allowed the second-fewest fantasy PPG to the position, giving up just 36 yards per game and zero touchdowns total.
