A select few get to ignore the fantasy TE rankings on a consistent basis, thanks to having one of the elite. For the rest of us, this is a position of struggle on a weekly basis and one that involves plenty of nuance. Here’s where I currently sit as we head into fantasy football Week 7!
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Which TE Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
MORE rankings from Soppe: QB | RB | WR | K | DST
1) Travis Kelce | KC (vs. LAC)
2) Mark Andrews | BAL (vs. DET)
3) Evan Engram | JAX (at NO)
4) Sam LaPorta | DET (at BAL)
5) T.J. Hockenson | MIN (vs. SF)
6) George Kittle | SF (at MIN)
7) Dallas Goedert | PHI (vs. MIA)
8) Darren Waller | NYG (vs. WAS)
9) Luke Musgrave | GB (at DEN)
10) Kyle Pitts | ATL (at TB)
11) Gerald Everett | LAC (at KC)
12) Cole Kmet | CHI (vs. LV)
13) Logan Thomas | WAS (at NYG)
14) Taysom Hill | NO (vs. JAX)
15) Jonnu Smith | ATL (at TB)
16) Michael Mayer | LV (at CHI)
17) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at NE)
18) Zach Ertz | ARI (at SEA)
19) Tyler Higbee | LAR (vs. PIT)
20) David Njoku | CLE (at IND)
21) Dawson Knox | BUF (at NE)
22) Hunter Henry | NE (vs. BUF)
23) Cade Otton | TB (vs. ATL)
24) Kylen Granson | IND (vs. CLE)
25) Donald Parham Jr. | LAC (at KC)
26) Noah Fant | SEA (vs. ARI)
27) Mike Gesicki | NE (vs. BUF)
28) Adam Trautman | DEN (vs. GB)
29) Trey McBride | ARI (at SEA)
30) Foster Moreau | NO (vs. JAX)
31) Noah Gray | KC (vs. LAC)
32) Durham Smythe | MIA (at PHI)
The Top TEs To Start in Week 7
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers
Musgrave benefited from a mini-bye in Week 5 and was able to pass through concussion protocol without missing a game. The rookie didn’t make any big plays against the Raiders, but he did catch six of seven targets while the rest of his teammates managed to pull in just 10 of 22.
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He has had his chances to produce this season, but Jordan Love has just missed him on a few big opportunities. He’s not a must-start, but his efficient role in an offense that is going to threaten defenses downfield — thus opening up the middle of the field — is certainly worthy of consideration at a brutal position.
The bye week bonanza this week doesn’t impact the TE position in a major way, so you may not need to stream Musgrave just yet, but keep an eye on him. He could very well prove to be the second-most reliable pass catcher in this offense.
Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons
During this Desmond Ridder two-game heater, these two combined for 35.4% of the targets, thus allowing both to hold some value at the same time. The average offense struggles to sustain one viable fantasy TE, so color me pessimistic on the Falcons being able to feature both Pitts and Smith on any sort of consistent basis moving forward.
Pitts scored for the first time in 350 days last week and has posted consecutive top-10 finishes. If we’re talking about a TE committee, I want the option with the per-target upside, and there’s no denying that Pitts is that option (58.1% edge in aDOT, not to mention a five-year advantage in youth and a massive edge in draft capital).
Pitts is my TE10 this week, while Smith checks in at TE15 and is still a streamable option for those holding their starting lineup together with duct tape.