Back in August, fantasy football managers spent a third-round pick on Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews and felt good about it. You were getting a 20-ish pick on Travis Kelce while getting an edge on most of your league with a high-floor producer.
You were also getting a veteran who was positioned to peak at the perfect time — Week 13 bye to get healthy with strong projected offenses on the books for Weeks 15-17 (Jacksonville, San Francisco, Miami) to push this offense and raise his ceiling. The process was right, but the result now won’t be, with Andrews (ankle) likely out for the rest of the season.
Andrews provided TE1 value for seven of his nine games prior to the injury, so the price you paid over the summer wasn’t a waste. He’s positioned you to have success this fantasy season, you’re just going to have to do it without his services.
With that in mind, the trade deadline has yet to pass in most fantasy leagues. The waiver wire is bleak when it comes to filling the Andrews void, and assuming you’re in good standing (or low on FAAB funds), you’re going to have a hard time acquiring Isaiah Likely as the big pickup entering Week 12.
Let’s make a deal!
Mark Andrews Fantasy Managers | Top TE Trade Targets
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With Andrews out and Likely not on many rosters yet, I have nine tight ends that are above the TE blob, who you feel comfortable locking in weekly. Anybody can rank those tight ends for the remainder of the season, but that doesn’t help you in the trade market.
Below are my trade rankings (from 9-1). Who are the tight ends that combine production, schedule, role, and price in the trade market?
9) George Kittle | San Francisco (Past Bye)
In the two games Deebo Samuel missed, George Kittle saw 30.5% of the targets in San Francisco (with an active Samuel: 15.8%). If you add the game Brandon Aiyuk missed to that data, Kittle commanded 29% of the targets in the three games with an injured receiver and 13.4% otherwise.
If you need reference, Week 11 Cheat Sheet favorite Tyler Conklin owns a 14.6% target share this season, and Cade Otton sits at 13.9%.
8) T.J. Hockenson | Minnesota (Week 13 Bye)
In games with a fully healthy Justin Jefferson this season, T.J. Hockenson earned a 20.3% target share (otherwise: 29.1%).
7) Travis Kelce | Kansas City (Past Bye)
Everyone knows the edge he provides, but did you know that Travis Kelce’s finished each of the past two seasons in underwhelming fashion by his standards?
MORE: Fantasy Football for the Cincinnati Bengals After Joe Burrow Injury
Last season, he went scoreless over his final six games, and in 2021, he failed to reach 35 receiving yards in four of his final five games.
6) Sam LaPorta | Detroit (Past Bye)
During the first five games of his career, Sam LaPorta averaged 1.76 half-PPR fantasy points per target. That is now down to 1.08 over his past four — a 38.6% decline in per-target production over the past month.
5) Dalton Kincaid | Buffalo (Week 13 Bye)
Dalton Kincaid has accounted for 23.7% of Buffalo’s targets and 28.3% of their receptions over the past four games. Over that stretch, he’s seen four red-zone targets and posted his top three games in terms of route participation this season.
4) Jake Ferguson | Dallas (Past Bye)
Jake Ferguson leads the NFL in red-zone targets (17) and red-zone receptions (10) at the position.
3) Trey McBride | Arizona (Week 14 Bye)
The Cardinals are 28th in scoring defense and play three of the top four rushing defenses (yards per game) in the fantasy playoffs (Weeks 15-17). In fact, those three opponents (Eagles, Bears, and 49ers) are all top six in terms of opponent pass rate above expectation.
Can’t get stops and opponents who stop the run, what more could you ask for?
2) Dalton Schultz | Houston (Past Bye)
Dalton Schultz has seen a red-zone target in eight of 10 games this season and has participated in over 75% of the routes in four straight.
1) Evan Engram | Jacksonville (Past Bye)
Evan Engram has a higher percentage of weeks finishing inside the top 15 at the position (77.8%) this season than Kelce.
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 Start/Sit Optimizer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!