If you’re still playing fantasy football in Week 18, then let’s start with our Week 18 TE tiers and streamers to help you round out your roster decisions.
Week 18 TE Tiers
The top tier of fantasy football tight ends is well known, but who rounds out the second tier at the tight end position?
Tier 1
1. Travis Kelce | Kansas City Chiefs @ DEN
2. Mark Andrews | Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
3. George Kittle | San Francisco 49ers @ LAR
Tier 2
4. Rob Gronkowski | Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. CAR
5. Zach Ertz | Arizona Cardinals vs. SEA
6. Dalton Schultz | Dallas Cowboys @ PHI
7. Dawson Knox | Buffalo Bills vs. NYJ
8. Dallas Goedert | Philadelphia Eagles vs. DAL
Tier 3
9. Mike Gesicki | Miami Dolphins vs. NE
10. Kyle Pitts | Atlanta Falcons vs. NO
11. Hunter Henry | New England Patriots @ MIA
12. Noah Fant | Denver Broncos vs. KC
13. Pat Freiermuth | Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
Tier 4
14. Gerald Everett | Seattle Seahawks @ ARI
15. Tyler Higbee | Los Angeles Rams vs. SF
16. Cole Kmet | Chicago Bears @ MIN
17. C.J. Uzomah | Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE
18. Tyler Conklin | Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
Tier 5
19. Foster Moreau | Las Vegas Raiders vs. LAC
20. Evan Engram | New York Giants vs. WAS
21. Cameron Brate | Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. CAR
22. Albert Okwuegbunam | Denver Broncos vs. KC
23. David Njoku | Cleveland Browns vs. CIN
24. Brevin Jordan | Houston Texans vs. TEN
Tier 6
25. Mo Alie-Cox | Indianapolis Colts @ JAX
26. Austin Hooper | Cleveland Browns vs. CIN
27. Josiah Deguara | Green Bay Packers @ DET
28. Jimmy Graham | Chicago Bears @ MIN
29. Adam Trautman | New Orleans Saints @ ATL
30. Anthony Firkser | Tennessee Titans @ HOU
Tier 7
31. John Bates | Washington Football Team @ NYG
32. Jonnu Smith | New England Patriots @ MIA
33. Tyler Kroft | New York Jets @ BUF
34. Geoff Swaim | Tennessee Titans @ HOU
Tier 8
35. Stephen Anderson | Los Angeles Chargers @ LV
36. Durham Smythe | Miami Dolphins vs. NE
37. Brock Wright | Detroit Lions vs. GB
38. Tommy Tremble | Carolina Panthers @ TB
39. Pharaoh Brown | Houston Texans vs. TEN
40. Luke Farrell | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. IND
Week 18 TE Streamers
If you’re looking for a streaming option for this week, then here are three to consider.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (vs. CIN)
I know. I’m falling for the David Njoku trap once again, but hear me out. When you’re looking for a streaming option at the tight end position, you’re looking primarily for someone that has a good chance of getting in the end zone. None of these tight ends have huge reception/yardage upside.
Njoku has a low floor, but the ceiling is there for him. He’s coming off a 12.8-fantasy point day against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and in what profiles to be a high-scoring affair Week 18 with the Cincinnati Bengals, Baker Mayfield will have to throw the ball a lot. The Bengals have given up the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends in the last four weeks, surrendering 38 receptions for 457 yards and 3 TDs in the last month.
James O’Shaughnessy, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
James O’Shaughnessy had to miss Week 17, but he is on track to return for the regular-season finale. He doesn’t have a TD to his name this season, but between Weeks 13-16, O’Shaughnessy averaged 5 targets and 3.5 receptions per game. As Trevor Lawrence continues to develop, it looks like he is enjoying throwing the ball to his big tight end.
The Jaguars will play the Colts, which is a tough matchup. Indy’s secondary is the most opportunistic bunch in the NFL, and star linebacker Darius Leonard has perfected the “Peanut Punch.”
However, the tight end position has proven to be a bit of a soft spot in their defense.
The Colts have given up the seventh-most fantasy points per game to tight ends over the last four weeks. O’Shaughnessy might be able to find some room in the middle of the field. If he can cash in a touchdown, he’ll make for a fine streaming option.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (@ BAL)
Forgive me. I couldn’t resist. Maybe it’s my nostalgia, maybe it’s my undying support of Pat Freiermuth, or maybe I’m just beating a dead horse, but there was no way that the last TE streamers’ article of the fantasy football season could be published without including Pat Freiermuth. A mainstay of this column this season, Muuuuth deserves one more shoutout.
In a fitting end to the 2021 campaign, the Ravens and the Steelers will match up in Week 18. Hopefully, we get to see Lamar Jackson back on the other side of the ball while also witnessing Ben Roethlisberger find his young tight end again.
Freiermuth had 5 receptions for 22 yards in Week 17, which is a fine outing. The only thing that was missing was a touchdown. He hasn’t scored since Week 14, but look for that to change against a Baltimore defense that has given up 1,021 receiving yards and 8 TDs to TEs this season.