Heading into the last weeks of the fantasy regular season, it seems the most intense position to follow is tight ends. Not only are tight ends touchdown-dependent but fantasy owners have no idea which player will break out or show any consistency. With that all being factual, that makes your decision-making important as it could win or lose you a fantasy matchup. But now where we are in the season, it could cost you a spot at fantasy playoffs, bragging rights, and in some cases, money. So watch tight-end matchups and try to make as confident of a selection as you can.
Fantasy Football Tight End Start’em
Saints TE Taysom Hill
The Saints G0- Go Gadget player is coming off a career game with an over 40 fantasy point performance in a dominating win over the Browns in week 11. The Saints running backs other than Alvin Kamara have not had an impact at all in 2024, which is why Hill is being used like crazy. We have seen him as a running back, tight end, and quarterback. With the recent success for Hill over the last month, expect that to continue. The Saints play the Rams this week and they allowed a record-breaking performance for Saquon Barkley so definitely start Hill at tight end or flex this week.
Jaguars TE Evan Engram
The Jaguars have had a tough season and that includes Engram, who has had an injury-filled season. But when he has been active, Engram has been by far the most productive pass catcher for whoever is the quarterback for Jacksonville. It seems Trevor Lawrence will be back this week which bodes well for the tight end. Jacksonville will play host to the Houston Texans who need a win more than anyone in the league. With that being said, the Jags should be trailing and have more pass situations, which makes this a slam-dunk start for week 13.
Fantasy Football Tight End Sit’em
Lions TE Sam LaPorta
2024 has not been the huge year many expected for the former Iowa tight end. The Lions might have the best offense in the sport and the best team in the world but that hasn’t translated into any production for their starting tight end. It has gotten beyond not starting him.
I believe it’s time to drop LaPorta because he doesn’t even seem like a top-four option for the team. He might have one or two solid games left in the season but that isn’t worth starting him moving forward. With a Thanksgiving game against the Bears, unless he does something special early in the game, it will be another forgettable week for him.
Browns TE David Njoku
It seems the Browns tight end has found some new life since Jameis Winston has been inserted into the starting lineup for the injured Deshaun Watson. Njoku has seen an uptick in production, which has made him a must-start over the last month or so. The reason for sitting one of the more reliable tight ends is all about the matchup. The Browns will be heading down to Denver to face the Broncos for a Monday Night matchup. The Broncos might have the best defense in all of football and with Winston at quarterback, it is expected to be a long day for the Cleveland offense.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the tight end is a tricky position in fantasy. It probably feels like life or death for fantasy owners, as it can propel you to a win or drop you down for a loss. That happens with tight ends more than any position due to the inconsistency. Most fantasy owners won’t have a major week but it can be in your control with the necessary research and due diligence. Most fantasy owners will look for names more than stats and matchups, which is a fatal mistake. Do the work and you could be laughing at your friends to begin 2025.
