The 2023 NFL season continues to churn forward and fantasy football managers have plenty of tough start/sit decisions ahead of them for Week 12.
After four games are already complete from Thanksgiving and Black Friday, who do you need to be looking to start confidently this weekend?
Here are my latest Week 12 TE rankings to help guide you as you set your lineups. All rankings are in 1QB and half-PPR scoring formats.
Which TE Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
More Positional Rankings From Tate: QB | RB | WR
1) Travis Kelce | KC (at LV)
2) T.J. Hockenson | MIN (vs. CHI)
3) Sam LaPorta | DET (vs. GB)
4) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at PHI)
5) Dalton Schultz | HOU (vs. JAX)
6) Trey McBride | ARI (vs. LAR)
7) George Kittle | SF (at SEA)
8) Evan Engram | JAX (at HOU)
9) Jake Ferguson | DAL (vs. WAS)
10) Cole Kmet | CHI (at MIN)
11) Logan Thomas | WAS (at DAL)
12) Taysom Hill | NO (at ATL)
13) David Njoku | CLE (at DEN)
14) Isaiah Likely | BAL (at LAC)
15) Kyle Pitts | ATL (vs. NO)
16) Pat Freiermuth | PIT (at CIN)
17) Tyler Conklin | NYJ (vs. MIA)
18) Cade Otton | TB (at IND)
19) Donald Parham Jr. | LAC (vs. BAL)
20) Jonnu Smith | ATL (vs. NO)
21) Michael Mayer | LV (vs. KC)
22) Tyler Higbee | LAR (at ARI)
23) Hunter Henry | NE (at NYG)
24) Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN (vs. CAR)
25) Daniel Bellinger | NYG (vs. NE)
26) Tanner Hudson | CIN (vs. PIT)
27) Noah Fant | SEA (vs. SF)
28) Tommy Tremble | CAR (at TEN)
29) Irv Smith Jr. | CIN (vs. PIT)
30) Adam Trautman | DEN (vs. CLE)
31) Noah Gray | KC (at LV)
32) Colby Parkinson | SEA (vs. SF)
33) Austin Hooper | LV (vs. KC)
34) Jack Stoll | PHI (vs. BUF)
35) Tucker Kraft | GB (at DET)
36) Juwan Johnson | NO (at ATL)
37) Mike Gesicki | NE (at NYG)
38) Kylen Granson | IND (vs. TB)
39) Josh Oliver | MIN (vs. CHI)
40) Charlie Kolar | BAL (at LAC)
41) John Bates | WAS (at DAL)
42) Josh Whyle | TEN (vs. CAR)
43) Stone Smartt | LAC (vs. BAL)
44) Will Dissly | SEA (vs. SF)
45) Luke Schoonmaker | DAL (vs. WAS)
46) Brock Wright | DET (vs. GB)
47) Brevin Jordan | HOU (vs. JAX)
The Top TEs To Start in Week 12
Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
It was a weird week at the tight end position in Week 11, which certainly applied to Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet as well. His three receptions for 20 yards were disappointing by any fantasy standard you would like to apply. But the encouraging thing we can take away from the Bears’ close loss to the Detroit Lions is that Justin Fields is back.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
The Minnesota Vikings give up an average of 9.2 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends and blitz more than any team in the league. That should make Kmet a consistent option underneath in this NFC North showdown.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Analysis by Kyle Yates | If someone potentially panicked and dropped David Njoku in your league this past week after the news that Deshaun Watson would be sidelined for the remainder of the year with a shoulder injury, they’re regretting that decision.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson locked onto Njoku in Week 11 as he force-fed him 15 targets! While it only turned into seven receptions for 56 yards, Njoku was DTR’s preferred option in this passing game, and that should continue moving forward.
The upside isn’t there every week with the state of the QB position for Cleveland, but the floor is immensely high, and that has value in starting fantasy football lineups.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!