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    T.J. Hockenson Fantasy Start/Sit: Should the Vikings TE Be in Fantasy Lineups Against the Eagles?

    Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson managed just 35 yards in Week 1 and has a tough matchup this week. Should he be locked into fantasy football lineups?

    T.J. Hockenson caught eight balls in the Minnesota Vikings‘ season-opening loss to Tampa Bay, but he managed just 35 yards and failed to score. Should fantasy football managers be encouraged by the usage or worried about the lack of upside in those looks?

    Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Start/Sit Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

    Should I Start or Sit T.J. Hockenson in Fantasy This Week?

    Start him, and our PFN Consensus Rankings support that thought. Targets are currency at the tight end position, and by earning 20.5% of Kirk Cousins’ passes, Hock is a lineup lock on Thursday Night Football.

    Fantasy Outlook for Hockenson vs. Eagles

    Could he be the best tight end in fantasy this week? It’s not out of the question, given how the Eagles play defense. In their Week 1 win over the Patriots, the Eagles surrendered 25 targets to RB/TEs. Those are short, high-percentage targets that result in a safe fantasy floor for a high-usage option like Hockenson.

    This style of defending is nothing new for Philly, just like the recent target shares during their 2022 playoff run:

    MORE: Fantasy Football’s Week 2 Burning Start/Sit Questions

    As you can see, there is a clear pattern of giving up short targets. With the Eagles favored by a touchdown, it is reasonably safe to project a pass-heavy Vikings game script. With that being the case, another 8-10 targets for Hockenson are very much within the range of likely outcomes.

    Last season, Hock averaged 1.2 fantasy points per target after being traded from Detroit, and that was without much in the way of scoring luck. I happen to believe the Vikings can keep this game close, and if Cousins approaches the 44 attempts he threw in Week 1, Hockenson is going to be a top-five performer at the position … and potentially better!

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