It’s Week 18, and for fantasy football leagues that are still playing, it means you’re playing for the championship title. You either win, or you don’t — it’s as simple as that.
There are always plenty of questions about who to start and who to sit in your lineups. Below, we’ve provided analysis for every fantasy-relevant tight end in every game this weekend.
If you’re looking for all positions, head to our Week 18 Fantasy Football Start-Sit Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Brenton Strange, TE | JAX (at IND)
Brenton Strange is filling in for Evan Engram, but he’s not Engram, and Mac Jones isn’t Trevor Lawrence. The playing time is there (70% snap share in two of his past three games), but the floor that comes with a role that can see Strange earn one target on 19 Jones passes is something I have zero interest in gambling on.
The Jags have failed to clear 20 points in six of their past seven games. We have no assurance that a single Jacksonville pass catcher proves worthy of our trust, let alone a tight end with limitations.
Brock Bowers, TE | LV (vs. LAC)
Brock Bowers is eight catches away from tying the all-time tight end record for receptions in a single season (116 by Zach Ertz in 2018) and is 104 yards away from posting a top-10 yardage season all-time at the position.
Forget the rookie numbers that Bowers is extending, this is one of the best seasons ever by a tight end. The Raiders don’t have much to play for, and I don’t think they mind padding the stats of a franchise centerpiece. Bowers has caught 18 of 20 targets over the past two weeks, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they look to get to that all-time reception number.
Even if you don’t want to use a narrative as an excuse, Bowers projects to be on the field. And any time in which that is the case for the next five years, you play him.
Cade Otton, TE | TB (vs. NO)
Last Updated Sunday at 11:30 AM
Otton is inactive for today's game
Cade Otton (knee) was inactive last week, and the Buccaneers’ offense crumbled without him. Oh wait, no, it didn’t. They dropped 48 points and averaged 7.4 yards per play.
He’ll be out again this week. Otton had his moment in the fantasy sun as the Bucs sorted out a rash of receiver injuries, but that time is long gone now, with Jalen McMillan looking very much like an asset for years to come.
Otton’s fantasy numbers and usage rates have fallen off a cliff whenever Mike Evans is on the field. It’s something to keep an eye on next season.
Chig Okonkwo, TE | TEN (vs. HOU)
Few tight ends come with enough big-play potential to offset a low floor, but Chig Okonkwo is the exception. He has three straight games with at least seven targets, and with Mason Rudolph’s average depth of throw trending up (past three games: 5.4 to 6.3 to 8.8), his athletic profile has a direct path to posting top-10 numbers.
Of course, the floor is low, but isn’t that the case for all but maybe five tight ends? Building lineups means betting on some pretty iffy quarterback play, and while Rudolph certainly qualifies as such, we at least have data points that suggest that he is happy to funnel targets to his mismatch of a tight end.
Okonkwo is currently sitting as my TE11 for this weekend, and I don’t have an issue in going this direction as a punt option in DFS contests.
Cole Kmet, TE | CHI (at GB)
I like Caleb Williams as much as anyone when it comes to long-term fantasy outlook, yet even I haven’t once considered Cole Kmet when streaming the position.
Asking a rookie QB to support this many pass catchers is simply too much, and it’s become clear that Kmet isn’t in Williams’ trust circle. Last week, the tight end was held without a target on 28 routes and has just 23 yards to show for 123 routes over his past four games.
In Week 11 against the Packers, Kmet gave us three catches for 42 yards, a production level that feels like a ceiling at this point. That’s not worth the low floor that you’re asked to absorb in going this direction.
Dalton Kincaid, TE | BUF (at NE)
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, January 5
Kincaid is active for today's game.
People who play postseason DFS or draft for playoff-long leagues need to be fully aware that Dalton Kincaid’s stock is in the “buy” zone.
The counting numbers have yet to look like last season, but everything underneath the hood looks good to my eye. His target rate is trending toward surpassing last season’s mark, making this an awfully cheap way to bet on the presumptive MVP.
Kincaid is lining up to be a nice post-hype selection next season – that is, if he doesn’t go on a big run through the postseason. In the scope of Week 18, I’m not investing in any Bills player for a game that has no impact on their seeding.
Dalton Schultz, TE | HOU (at TEN)
Tank Dell was lost for the season in Week 16 and over the past two games, Dalton Schultz has posted a 20.9% target rate (2024: 16.6%). A gain like that would have my interest in a big way if we were in the middle of the season and trying to solve a difficult tight end puzzle, but with just one week left and the Texans lacking incentive, I’m not buying into the recent usage uptick.
I’d be surprised if you got a full share of snaps for Schultz this week. Even if you do, we could be looking at a lot of Davis Mills on Sunday. I’m happy to not take on this sort of risk for what I view as very ordinary rewards.
Dawson Knox, TE | BUF (at NE)
Dawson Knox hasn’t reached 60 receiving yards since Dalton Kincaid was drafted, and with the second-year tight end back to earning targets, there’s really no need for this team to feature their backup option in any sort of meaningful way.
He’s averaging 14.1 yards per catch this season, and the occasional big play could prove critical as Buffalo chases their first NFL championship – just because he means something to this team doesn’t mean he holds value in this game of ours.
George Kittle, TE | SF (at ARI)
Updated at 2:55 ET on Sunday, January 5
Kittle is active for today's game.
George Kittle earned a 37.5% target share in Week 5 against these Cardinals (8-64-1 stat line) and his role seems stable, even with the 49ers simply playing out the string of the season.
It’s been a weird relationship for fantasy managers and Kittle over the past two seasons – his ceiling has proven to be nothing short of elite, but the floor can be maddening. This year, however, we got more consistency. It stands to reason that 2025 could look a lot like 2024.
Kittle is 31 years old, and that introduces some age-curve concerns, but I expect to be in line with the consensus on him this summer. That means I’ll be investing should my roster construction point in that direction.
Grant Calcaterra, TE | PHI (vs. NYG)
The Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC and thus have nothing to play for, something that makes counting on any of their pieces difficult to do with confidence this weekend.
Grant Calcaterra has earned just a pair of targets on his 46 routers over the past two weeks. That could change should his star teammates be managed this week, but you also have to factor in a dip in the value of each target earned not coming from Jalen Hurts.
I’m not digging this deep at the position – there are other creative avenues to consider that I like more (Mike Gesicki, Juwan Johnson, and others).
Hunter Henry, TE | NE (vs. BUF)
Last Updated Sunday at 11:30 AM
Henry is inactive for today's game
When these two teams met in Week 16, Hunter Henry led the Patriots with eight targets, turning them into a very usable 39-yard, one-touchdown performance. Much like what the Saints are doing these days to mask their deficiencies, New England went tight-end-heavy in that game (Austin Hooper added four grabs for 55 yards).
I’m not sure why we’d expect anything different this week. Yes, Henry was shut out last week against the Chargers and you know you’re taking on a low floor whenever you bet on a rookie signal caller. But with 15 catches on 84 routes over his three games before Week 17, Henry profiles as a viable option.
He’s hovering around TE15 this week in my rankings – he’s a fine punt play and could be the lone valuable piece in a game that otherwise means nothing.
Jake Ferguson, TE | DAL (vs. WAS)
Jake Ferguson lost a fumble last week, but he was reasonably involved, continuing a trend that we’ve seen lately (14 targets on 44 routes over his past two games). There is an upside to target here with CeeDee Lamb out and Dallas labeled as a 3.5-point underdog. Luke Schoonmaker was able to get loose against Washington when these teams met in Week 12 for 55 yards and a touchdown, a role that is Ferguson’s to lose.
That said, it’s difficult to go in this direction with much confidence. We are nearly two months removed from the last time Ferguson cleared 40 receiving yards. The Commanders’ defense isn’t one to fear, but they will be functioning at full strength – not a worry for options like Hunter Henry or Will Dissly. For me, he ranks in the same range as Juwan Johnson and Cole Kmet as focused TEs on poor offenses facing a team with something to play for.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE | CAR (at ATL)
Ja’Tavion Sanders showed nice playmaking potential early in the season, but he’s now an afterthought and can be safely left alone this week.
The rookie has been on the field for under 60% of Carolina’s offensive snaps in five straight games and over his past three contests, he’s earned just three targets on his 82 routes. His recent trajectory gives me little confidence that he can repeat the five-catch performance he gave us against Atlanta back in Week 6. I’m keeping Sanders on my radar for 2025 sleepers at the position, but that breakout doesn’t appear likely to start on Sunday.
Jonnu Smith, TE | MIA (at NYJ)
The Jonnu Smith story is a good example of why you have to keep an open mind at these onesie positions. At no point during this offseason did I think a tight end in this very concentrated passing attack would return value. When Tua Tagovailoa was injured early in the season, I certainly wasn’t walking back that stance.
But I was wrong in this instance – Smith has been nothing short of great and is deserving of your trust with your season on the line. The veteran has at least six targets or a touchdown in seven straight games, production that has come in light of injuries all over the place.
The Jets shut him out for all of regulation in the Week 14 game, but Miami unlocked their tight end in overtime and featured him as they marched down the field (3-44-1). We don’t yet have much in the way of clarity when it comes to the status of Tua Tagovailoa or Jaylen Waddle – that matters for the Dolphins, but not for my confidence in Smith.
Juwan Johnson, TE | NO (at TB)
Last Updated Sunday at 11:30 AM
Johnson is active for today's game
Juwan Johnson is a little too thin for me in redraft formats, but a player like this should have the interest of DFS players as a punt play at the position. He was able to earn 10 targets (34 routes) against the Raiders. I expect most to be worried about the involvement of Foster Moreau (five targets, TD), but I’m spinning that as a positive.
This offense has next to nothing when it comes to players who threaten the defense, and that means an awfully low-octane “attack.” We saw Johnson function as a regular in their passing game and that should continue as this unit lacks avenues to create big plays. No, my mind doesn’t change if we get a limited Chris Olave on the field, either.
The Bucs rank worse than the league average in both completion percentage and YAC to the tight end position. I don’t think it’s crazy to think that Johnson clears 8.5 PPR points for the fifth time in seven games or that he repeats his double-figure showing from last weekend.
Kyle Pitts, TE | ATL (vs. CAR)
Did anyone else get flashbacks watching Kyle Pitts make big plays against the Commanders last week?
For me, it was less about the plays on the field (we get those from time to time) and more about the sucking us back in. We see a promising young QB come in and bump up the value of a player with elite pedigree and profile – this has all the making of Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown again.
Listen, I’m not all the way out on Pitts (he has four top-10 finishes this season and I’m guessing that’s more than you thought), but I’m going to need much more than one data point to undo the damage that Pitts has done to many a redraft/dynasty/DFS roster.
In taking a step back from the Week 17 excitement, you’ll realize that Pitts’ target rate in two Michael Penix Jr. starts (16.3% of routes) is right in line with the rate we were previously complaining about (16.9%).
Pitts had a 52-yard catch in the Week 6 matchup against the Panthers and is playing for a highly motivated team – that’s what has him on the fringe of TE1 status for me this week more than his big play last week.
Noah Gray, TE | KC (at DEN)
Updated at 2:55 ET on Sunday, January 5
Kelce is inactive for today's game.
Noah Gray enters the week ranked fourth among 34 tight ends (minimum 40 targets) in PPR points per target this season, behind only Mark Andrews, George Kittle, and Tucker Kraft. He’s the next man up with Kelce not playing.
Even with Mahomes out as well, Gray is worthy of a look in weekly formats. Remember that Kelce went 8-64-1 in the Week 10 matchup against the Broncos.
Sam LaPorta, TE | DET (vs. MIN)
Sam LaPorta’s spot on the field was never in question. With his target rate trending toward the strong numbers he put up as a rookie, there should be no hesitation in playing him in the most impactful game of Week 18.
In fact, the first meeting with the Vikings has proven to be symbolic of a turning point. In that Week 7 clash, LaPorta hauled in just one pass on an 8% target share. He was heavily involved the following week in a one-sided win over the Titans (6-48-1) and has sustained nice growth from his slow start to the season.
LaPorta may not be the best pass catcher on this offense, but his role holds value and given the injuries on the defensive end, this offense needs to be clicking on all cylinders to earn the NFC’s top seed.
T.J. Hockenson, TE | MIN (at DET)
If you invested in T.J. Hockenson, now is as good a time as any to roll him out there. Sam Darnold is playing at a high level, and while the production hasn’t jumped off the screen up to this point, six straight games with at least five targets hold value for a player holding this level of upside.
I have him ranked as a top-10 option due to the lack of options in Week 18, but there is no denying that there is risk. After all, Hock has just one end-zone target in his last eight games. The valuable usage in this over-achieving offense is being chewed up by Justin Jefferson, per usual, and a breaking-out Jordan Addison (at least one end-zone target in five of his past seven games and multiple such looks in three of his past five).
Hockenson was inactive for the Week 7 meeting with the Lions and Johnny Mundt earned a 19.2% target share. That role is encouraging. It resulted in just 4.8 PPR points for Mundt, but I’d happily take my chances with a 20-22% share and be on my way.
Travis Kelce, TE | KC (at DEN)
Updated at 2:55 ET on Sunday, January 5
Kelce is inactive for today's game.
Was a vintage Travis Kelce Week 17 performance (8-84-1 in Pittsburgh) a sign of things to come? It’s certainly possible (it was just 12 months ago when he posted a 32-355-3 playoff stat line), but we will need to wait a little longer to see, as he won’t be playing this weekend with the No. 1 seed locked up.
Noah Gray enters the week ranked fourth among 34 tight ends (minimum 40 targets) in PPR points per target this season, behind only Mark Andrews, George Kittle, and Tucker Kraft. He’s the next man up.
Even with Mahomes out as well, Gray is worthy of a look in weekly formats. Remember that Kelce went 8-64-1 in the Week 10 matchup against the Broncos.
Trey McBride, TE | ARI (vs. SF)
Trey McBride is a special player and his Week 17 performance was just the latest example:
Trey McBride recorded his third game with 12+ catches in a game this season – he’s the first TE EVER to do that and just the 11th player to do so.
A fourth game would tie him atop the all-time list for such games in a single season with Cris Carter (1995) & CeeDee Lamb (2023). pic.twitter.com/CD1SniejFF
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 29, 2024
I have him penciled in for my TE1 overall next season. That may be a little more aggressive than most, there’s no debating that he is a Tier 1 option at the position. The Cardinals may not need this game, but there are no signs that they will rest their star tight end. With him proving to be as much of a reception vacuum as anyone at the position (30% target share in the Week 5 meeting with these 49ers), he’s a top-five play.
McBride has 170 catches over his past 25 games and could become the NFL’s first tight end with a pair of 100-catch seasons over his first four years in the league.
Tucker Kraft, TE, | GB (vs. CHI)
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, January 5
Kraft is active for today's game.
This is going to shock you, but the uncertainty in target hierarchy when it comes to the receivers in Green Bay spills over to the tight end position. Tucker Kraft has proven capable of making plays when given the opportunity.
While there is enough potential in this profile to land him inside my top 10 with the Packers motivated to avoid the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs, there’s no overlooking the risk that comes with a sporadic role:
- Week 14 at Lions: 21.7% on-field target share
- Week 15 at Seahawks: 7.4% on-field target share
- Week 16 vs. Saints: 21.1% on-field target share
- Week 17 at Vikings: 10.3% on-field target share
Kraft (one target) was shut out in Chicago in Week 11, due in large part to Green Bay throwing just 17 passes. I’m not reading too far into that, preferring the matchup as a whole (third-most yards allowed per pass) over a single data point.
Tyler Conklin, TE | NYJ (vs. MIA)
Updated at 2:55 ET on Sunday, January 5
Conklin is active for today's game.
Tyler Conklin caught all eight targets last weekend in Buffalo and scored his third touchdown of the season, a performance that wasn’t felt by most.
Should we bank on it continuing this weekend?
He’s not a safe option by any means, but I do think there is a level of safety here that is easy to overlook. From a macro standpoint, five targets are valuable at the tight end position and Conklin has hit that mark in four straight contests. When digging into the micro details, you’ll understand why we had Conklin ranked ahead of the industry average last week – opponent gameplan.
The Bills function defensively to take away the perimeter and keep everything in front of them. They play with coverage over the top and try to funnel receivers toward the boundary as they run downfield – they dare you to beat them with paper cuts.
The Jets didn’t succeed, but that game plan did result in their tight end being heavily involved. Buffalo owns the second-lowest opponent aDOT. I’ll give you one guess for who ranks second in that metric.
You got it, Miami. We could be looking at 5-7 targets and, in a week where production is going to be tough to project, that should be enough to justify a look.
Will Dissly, TE | LAC (at LV)
Will Dissly returned last weekend from a shoulder injury that cost him two weeks. While I value what he brings to the table for the Chargers, the fantasy impact is minimal at best.
This season, Dissly owns a shallow route tree (4.9-yard average depth of target) and that’s a tough sell in a run-first offense led by a receiver like Ladd McConkey. Like most tight ends, he needs to find paydirt to pay off. With just one end-zone target on his 2024 résumé, I can’t get him higher than TE15 this week.
Zach Ertz, TE | WAS (at DAL)
Last Updated Sunday at 11:30 AM
Ertz is active for today's game
Zach Ertz didn’t turn 34 years of age until Week 11 and yet, his five touchdowns this season as a 34-year-old are tied for the most by a player this season (Adam Thielen also has five, but he’s been 34 years old all season).
The veteran was productive in Week 12 against these Cowboys (6-38-1) and the Commanders are playing for seeding against the second-worst scoring defense since Week 6 (29.5 points allowed per game, only the Panthers have been worse). That’s more than enough to land Ertz inside of my top 10 at the position this week.
While I’m not weighing it heavily, he’s within shouting distance of a trio of contract incentives that would pay fantasy managers just as much as it would him. Ertz receives $250,000 for every threshold he hits of a 70-700-8 season stat line. He needs nine catches, 90 yards, and two scores.