The wasteland that is the tight end position can swing fantasy football matchups in a hurry, given its volatility. The top of the fantasy TE rankings is stable week over week, but things get wild once you get past the top six.
Which TE Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
MORE rankings from Soppe: QB | RB | WR | DST | K
1) Travis Kelce | KC (vs. MIA)
2) T.J. Hockenson | MIN (at ATL)
3) Mark Andrews | BAL (vs. SEA)
4) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at CIN)
5) Dallas Goedert | PHI (vs. DAL)
6) Jake Ferguson | DAL (at PHI)
7) Darren Waller | NYG (at LV)
8) Logan Thomas | WAS (at NE)
9) Taysom Hill | NO (vs. CHI)
10) Dalton Schultz | HOU (vs. TB)
11) Kyle Pitts | ATL (vs. MIN)
12) Trey McBride | ARI (at CLE)
13) Gerald Everett | LAC (at NYJ)
14) Cole Kmet | CHI (at NO)
15) Luke Musgrave | GB (vs. LAR)
16) Michael Mayer | LV (vs. NYG)
17) Donald Parham Jr. | LAC (at NYJ)
18) Jonnu Smith | ATL (vs. MIN)
19) David Njoku | CLE (vs. ARI)
20) Hunter Henry | NE (vs. WAS)
21) Tyler Higbee | LAR (at GB)
22) Tyler Conklin | NYJ (vs. LAC)
23) Cade Otton | TB (at HOU)
24) Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN (at PIT)
25) Mike Gesicki | NE (vs. WAS)
26) Juwan Johnson | NO (vs. CHI)
27) Irv Smith Jr. | CIN (vs. BUF)
28) Noah Fant | SEA (at BAL)
29) Durham Smythe | MIA (at KC)
30) Hayden Hurst | CAR (vs. IND)
31) Connor Heyward | PIT (vs. TEN)
The Top TEs To Start in Week 9
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
The second-year TE was able to find the end zone on the first drive last week in the win over the Rams (18-yard catch, all air yards), his first score since Week 2.
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My lack of confidence in the WR depth behind CeeDee Lamb keeps Ferguson as a role play, but with eight total targets over his past three games, the floor is lower than any of the other five “I’m comfortable penciling this guy in weekly” options at the position.
You’re playing him in a matchup where the Eagles may force Prescott to check down with regularity, but that’s not to say he’s a foolproof option.
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Hopefully, you stashed the second-year TE when news broke last week about Zach Ertz landing on IR (quadriceps). All McBride did in his role debut was produce a TE2 finish and ascend into the top tier at the position.
OK, so that last part isn’t true, but can you blame me for getting excited about some help at the tight end position that came free of charge to many?
McBride ran a route on 87.8% of Arizona dropbacks last week (10-95-1 stat line), which is plenty to land him inside my top 15 this week. That sort of usage tells me that the Cards are ready to see what he can do right now — a gift for fantasy managers.
Less ideal is the fact that the majority of his yards (54 yards on four grabs) came in Arizona’s final two possessions last week with the Ravens essentially in prevent mode.
McBride is a worthwhile start for now, and let’s see where it goes. While writing this, it occurred to me that you may need some fun McBride facts after making such a savvy add. That way, you can convince your friends that you knew he was going to be an asset. Here you go:
- Bizarre final year at Colorado State: 90 catches for 1,121 yards and just one TD
- Holds his high school’s record for points (basketball) and home runs (baseball)
- Shares a birthday with actress Jamie Lee Curtis
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