As it is almost every year, the tight end situation is bleak in fantasy football. Either you went all out in the draft and splurged on a Travis Kelce or a Mark Andrews, or you might be reduced to living the streaming life. Two TEs that always seem to be rostered, and for good reason, are Evan Engram and Taysom Hill.
In this week with six byes, do either of them stand a chance to help you win your matchup? Should you start Evan Engram or Taysom Hill in Week 7?
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Evan Engram Fantasy Outlook This Week
Engram has quietly had a great fantasy year. Currently the TE8, Engram was TE10 or better during the first four weeks of 2023. He is averaging just over seven targets and 50 receiving yards a game. He has yet to score a TD, but his consistency has made him an every-week start at TE in a world where few of them exist.
MORE: Fantasy TE Streamers and Rankings Week 7
The Jacksonville Jaguars play the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, and they have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs, so it is a bit of a scary matchup. When the Jaguars played the Buffalo Bills, who allow the second-fewest fantasy points to TEs, Engram finished as TE21 with only 28 receiving yards. It is, however, difficult to bench Engram this week with so many teams on a bye. Engram is the TE5 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings for Week 7.
Taysom Hill Fantasy Outlook This Week
Trickster Hill has not been as stressful to watch for fantasy managers as he has been in years past. He has sniped fewer TDs, it seems, and he has been used a little more in the rushing attack than through the air. Week 6 was the first week he had over 10 receiving yards. Although Hill has yet to finish better than TE24 this year, he is always a threat for a two or three-TD game. The problem is you never know when or how he will get there.
If you are starting Hill in your lineup, it is less for the TE part of it and more for the “all-around possibility” of it. You are not assuming typical yards receiving and a possible TD; you are hoping for a passing TD plus a long rush or some odd combination of stats similar to that. Hill is TE15 this week in PFN’s Consensus Rankings.
Which of the TEs Should You Start?
Although you might be leaving a massive week on the bench if you do not start Hill — he has a huge ceiling — unfortunately, he has an even lower floor. You only start a TE who has broken into the top 25 once this year if you have no other option. Engram is the best start of the two, and you hope that Jacksonville can get him the ball against a solid New Orleans defense.