The fantasy football playoffs start this week. As always, it is crucial to know what players are the preferable starts. Here are my Week 16 rankings for the tight end position.
Which TE Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
MORE: Katz’s Week 16 Rankings — QB | RB | WR | K | DST
1) Travis Kelce | KC (vs. LV)
2) Sam LaPorta | DET (at MIN)
3) T.J. Hockenson | MIN (vs. DET)
4) Trey McBride | ARI (at CHI)
5) Evan Engram | JAX (at TB)
6) Jake Ferguson | DAL (at MIA)
7) David Njoku | CLE (at HOU)
8) George Kittle | SF (vs. BAL)
9) Isaiah Likely | BAL (at LAC)
10) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at SF)
11) Dallas Goedert | PHI (vs. NYG)
12) Taysom Hill | NO (at LAR)
13) Darren Waller | NYG (at PHI)
14) Dalton Schultz | HOU (vs. CLE)
15) Cole Kmet | CHI (vs. ARI)
16) Hunter Henry | NE (at DEN)
17) Kyle Pitts | ATL (vs. IND)
18) Tucker Kraft | GB (at CAR)
19) Pat Freiermuth | PIT (vs. CIN)
20) Tyler Conklin | NYJ (vs. WAS)
21) Gerald Everett | LAC (vs. BUF)
22) Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN (vs. SEA)
23) Logan Thomas | WAS (at NYJ)
24) Cade Otton | TB (vs. JAX)
25) Tanner Hudson | CIN (at PIT)
26) Michael Mayer | LV (at KC)
27) Tyler Higbee | LAR (vs. NO)
28) Kylen Granson | IND (at ATL)
29) Juwan Johnson | NO (at LAR)
30) Noah Fant | SEA (at TEN)
31) Dawson Knox | BUF (at SF)
32) Adam Trautman | DEN (vs. NE)
33) Jonnu Smith | ATL (vs. IND)
34) Brevin Jordan | HOU (vs. CLE)
35) Noah Gray | KC (vs. LV)
Top TEs To Start in Week 16
Darren Waller, TE, New York Giants (at PHI)
After a five-game absence, Darren Waller made his return in Week 15. He only played 42% of the snaps, but he ran 22 routes and was targeted on a whopping six of them. That’s a 27% rate.
Waller was intentionally limited in his first game back from yet another hamstring strain. He escaped the game with no aggravation. Thus, his role is going to expand this week. While it is unlikely to return to the 90% level it was earlier in the season, even 70% would go a long way.
The New York Giants still lack a clear top receiver. It was always supposed to be Waller. This week, it very well might be.
If Waller is seeing six targets on limited snaps, he can easily get to 10 targets with a larger snap share.
The Philadelphia Eagles allow the 13th-most ppg to tight ends, but I also feel it’s worth pointing out they allow the most ppg to wide receivers … by a lot (4.1 ppg more than the next-worst team). Waller is a de facto wide receiver and could be in for a strong game this week.
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Is this a form of point chasing after Pat Freiermuth caught nine passes for 120 yards when these teams last met four weeks ago? Maybe, but there’s a good reason for it.
The Cincinnati Bengals are horrible against the tight end. In fact, no team allows more ppg to the position than the 16.6 allowed by Cincinnati.
Freiermuth has been downright awful this season. He’s legitimately only been startable in that one game. But there’s a chance Kenny Pickett returns this week, and the Pittsburgh Steelers absolutely have to win this game. Featuring the tight end, given how well it worked last time, only makes sense.
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