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As the season winds down, the tight end position does not get any easier for DFS. There are a lot of injured tight ends this week, and even the guys who will probably play, like Jordan Reed and Martellus Bennett, are nearly impossible to trust. In a week where even the premium options are risky my inclination is to go cheap, though you may lose some upside going for the value and bargain options.
| Pts | Opp Pa | Opp Ov | Opp Pa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Tm | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tar | Tar% | Tar/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTD | YPC | Allow | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $Line | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Travis Kelce | KC | H | TEN | 13 | 679 | 98 | 22.1% | 7.5 | 70 | 5.4 | 71.4% | 916 | 3 | 13.1 | 8.5 | 25 | 28 | 297.8 | 42 | -230 | $6900 | $5900 | $4900 |
| Tyler Eifert | CIN | H | PIT | 7 | 297 | 44 | 9.7% | 6.3 | 28 | 4 | 63.6% | 385 | 5 | 13.8 | 9.2 | 13 | 10 | 273.7 | 44 | 150 | $7200 | $5600 | $4900 |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | H | CAR | 10 | 502 | 82 | 16.9% | 8.2 | 60 | 6 | 73.2% | 640 | 5 | 10.7 | 11.4 | 16 | 12 | 295.1 | 51 | -270 | $6800 | $5500 | $5200 |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | A | WAS | 13 | 815 | 104 | 23.4% | 8 | 65 | 5 | 62.5% | 907 | 3 | 14 | 12.1 | 22 | 26 | 279.3 | 51 | -270 | $6300 | $5000 | $4600 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | A | BAL | 11 | 583 | 80 | 16.1% | 7.3 | 57 | 5.2 | 71.3% | 564 | 2 | 9.9 | 7.6 | 7 | 2 | 255.7 | 40.5 | -240 | $5900 | $4900 | $4550 |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | H | IND | 13 | 725 | 98 | 21.4% | 7.5 | 58 | 4.5 | 59.2% | 573 | 6 | 9.9 | 9.8 | 26 | 25 | 284.3 | 45.5 | -200 | $5800 | $4300 | $4600 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | H | OAK | 11 | 383 | 70 | 15.4% | 6.4 | 39 | 3.5 | 55.7% | 388 | 5 | 9.9 | 8.6 | 21 | 21 | 286.3 | 49.5 | 130 | $5300 | $4100 | $3900 |
| Martellus Bennett | NE | A | DEN | 13 | 645 | 62 | 13.7% | 4.8 | 48 | 3.7 | 77.4% | 614 | 5 | 12.8 | 8.2 | 1 | 1 | 198.8 | 44 | 150 | $5500 | $4000 | $4700 |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | A | KC | 12 | 525 | 79 | 20.1% | 6.6 | 51 | 4.3 | 64.6% | 687 | 6 | 13.5 | 5.6 | 8 | 11 | 272.1 | 42 | -230 | $6100 | $3900 | $4600 |
| Cameron Brate | TB | A | DAL | 13 | 568 | 66 | 14.9% | 5.1 | 47 | 3.6 | 71.2% | 528 | 6 | 11.2 | 10 | 24 | 23 | 290.2 | 46.5 | -300 | $5700 | $3800 | $4400 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | A | NYG | 10 | 492 | 60 | 13.2% | 6 | 43 | 4.3 | 71.7% | 521 | 1 | 12.1 | 9.5 | 5 | 3 | 278 | 41 | -200 | $5800 | $3700 | $4150 |
| Ladarius Green | PIT | A | CIN | 5 | 69 | 20 | 4.4% | 4 | 11 | 2.2 | 55.0% | 207 | 1 | 18.8 | 10.9 | 17 | 20 | 258.1 | 44 | 150 | $5600 | $3700 | $4150 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | H | JAC | 13 | 538 | 68 | 15.8% | 5.2 | 45 | 3.5 | 66.2% | 473 | 3 | 10.5 | 7.8 | 15 | 13 | 220.1 | 39.5 | -220 | $5000 | $3600 | $4000 |
| Jason Witten | DAL | H | TB | 12 | 746 | 80 | 20.3% | 6.7 | 56 | 4.7 | 70.0% | 579 | 2 | 10.3 | 7.9 | 6 | 7 | 270.6 | 46.5 | -300 | $5000 | $3400 | $4200 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | H | PHI | 13 | 617 | 92 | 16.9% | 7.1 | 65 | 5 | 70.7% | 547 | 2 | 8.4 | 5.2 | 3 | 5 | 263.4 | 40.5 | -240 | $4800 | $3300 | $4300 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | A | ARI | 13 | 483 | 65 | 13.2% | 5 | 42 | 3.2 | 64.6% | 547 | 3 | 13 | 3.9 | 4 | 4 | 218.6 | 50.5 | -155 | $5100 | $3200 | $4200 |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | A | BUF | 13 | 727 | 68 | 14.7% | 5.2 | 43 | 3.3 | 63.2% | 495 | 1 | 11.5 | 6.5 | 19 | 22 | 248.8 | 41.5 | -450 | $4500 | $3000 | $3800 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | H | CAR | 13 | 471 | 45 | 9.3% | 3.5 | 37 | 2.8 | 82.2% | 498 | 2 | 13.5 | 11.4 | 16 | 12 | 295.1 | 51 | -270 | $4900 | $3000 | $4100 |
| Will Tye | NYG | H | DET | 13 | 481 | 53 | 11.0% | 4.1 | 35 | 2.7 | 66.0% | 300 | 1 | 8.6 | 11.5 | 30 | 30 | 273.6 | 41 | -200 | $4500 | $2900 | $3500 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | H | OAK | 12 | 414 | 44 | 9.7% | 3.7 | 29 | 2.4 | 65.9% | 398 | 6 | 13.7 | 8.6 | 21 | 21 | 286.3 | 49.5 | 130 | $5200 | $2900 | $3900 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | H | CLE | 12 | 616 | 57 | 16.8% | 4.8 | 36 | 3 | 63.2% | 323 | 1 | 9 | 13.2 | 31 | 32 | 271.7 | 41.5 | -450 | $4500 | $2800 | $3800 |
| Jared Cook | GB | A | CHI | 7 | 197 | 30 | 5.9% | 4.3 | 17 | 2.4 | 56.7% | 199 | 1 | 11.7 | 7.5 | 14 | 14 | 237.8 | 39 | 210 | $4900 | $2700 | $3900 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | A | MIN | 13 | 565 | 53 | 12.3% | 4.1 | 43 | 3.3 | 81.1% | 441 | 4 | 10.3 | 7.2 | 2 | 8 | 219.1 | 45.5 | -200 | $4500 | $2700 | $3900 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | A | ATL | 12 | 354 | 35 | 9.5% | 2.9 | 21 | 1.8 | 60.0% | 275 | 1 | 13.1 | 10.8 | 23 | 27 | 298.2 | 51.5 | -900 | $4500 | $2700 | $3000 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | A | MIN | 11 | 464 | 41 | 9.5% | 3.7 | 28 | 2.5 | 68.3% | 328 | 5 | 11.7 | 7.2 | 2 | 8 | 219.1 | 45.5 | -200 | $5300 | $2600 | $4100 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | A | CHI | 13 | 460 | 43 | 8.5% | 3.3 | 26 | 2 | 60.5% | 227 | 1 | 8.7 | 7.5 | 14 | 14 | 237.8 | 39 | 210 | $4600 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | H | JAC | 13 | 348 | 58 | 13.5% | 4.5 | 38 | 2.9 | 65.5% | 324 | 2 | 8.5 | 7.8 | 15 | 13 | 220.1 | 39.5 | -220 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | H | NO | 13 | 581 | 50 | 9.5% | 3.8 | 32 | 2.5 | 64.0% | 309 | 2 | 9.7 | 8.2 | 28 | 24 | 290.7 | 50.5 | -155 | $4500 | $2500 | $3850 |
| Jesse James | PIT | A | CIN | 13 | 598 | 48 | 10.5% | 3.7 | 32 | 2.5 | 66.7% | 268 | 3 | 8.4 | 10.9 | 17 | 20 | 258.1 | 44 | 150 | $4500 | $2500 | $3800 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | A | SD | 12 | 506 | 44 | 8.9% | 3.7 | 29 | 2.4 | 65.9% | 309 | 2 | 10.7 | 7.8 | 9 | 9 | 283.2 | 49.5 | 130 | $4500 | $2500 | $3800 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | H | NE | 10 | 324 | 31 | 6.9% | 3.1 | 18 | 1.8 | 58.1% | 211 | 0 | 11.7 | 6.6 | 27 | 17 | 268.5 | 44 | 150 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | A | NYJ | 10 | 456 | 27 | 7.0% | 2.7 | 20 | 2 | 74.1% | 215 | 2 | 10.8 | 10.4 | 32 | 29 | 274.1 | 37.5 | 115 | $4500 | $2500 | $3600 |
| Crockett Gillmore | BAL | H | PHI | 7 | 197 | 14 | 2.6% | 2 | 8 | 1.1 | 57.1% | 71 | 1 | 8.9 | 5.2 | 3 | 5 | 263.4 | 40.5 | -240 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | H | DET | 11 | 180 | 22 | 4.6% | 2 | 15 | 1.4 | 68.2% | 92 | 1 | 6.1 | 11.5 | 30 | 30 | 273.6 | 41 | -200 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | H | SF | 13 | 272 | 26 | 5.9% | 2 | 18 | 1.4 | 69.2% | 262 | 2 | 14.6 | 8 | 29 | 31 | 264.9 | 51.5 | -900 | $4600 | $2500 | $3700 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | H | MIA | 2 | 52 | 3 | 2.2% | 1.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 100.0% | 44 | 1 | 14.7 | 10.6 | 11 | 16 | 253.2 | 37.5 | 115 | $4600 | $2500 | $3750 |
| Stephen Anderson | HOU | H | JAC | 10 | 74 | 12 | 2.8% | 1.2 | 10 | 1 | 83.3% | 86 | 1 | 8.6 | 7.8 | 15 | 13 | 220.1 | 39.5 | -220 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
Premium Options
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I can’t argue with anyone who says Travis Kelce or Tyler Eifert are better, safer premium options than Greg Olsen, but they both have their own risks. Kelce hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 8 and Eifert hasn’t topped five receptions or 70 yards since Week 10. Olsen is cheaper than both of those guys, and I like his matchup better, too. Only four teams have allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than the Redskins this season.
Value Options
Ladarius Green caught just two passes last week, but he still had six targets, which is pretty encouraging. Green is still probably a slightly better GPP play than a cash play, but you could do far worse than a talented tight end in one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Kyle Rudolph fell off a bit during the middle of the season, but he has at least 10.5 fantasy points in each of his last three games. Rudolph is tied for the most touchdowns among tight ends this season, and he gets an Indianapolis pass defense that has been pretty terrible all season.
Bargain Options
With C.J. Fiedorowicz in the concussion protocol, Ryan Griffin has a chance to start at tight end, though Stephen Anderson will likely get some work as well. Griffin probably won’t go for 100 yards, but he can get you a handful of catches and a decent chance at a touchdown at a minimum price.
Garrett Celek caught just one pass for five yards last week even though Vance McDonald left after 15 snaps due to a broken scapula. Even so, the Falcons are 26th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, and Celek has gone for more than 75 receiving yards on two separate occasions this season. While Griffin is a better cash play, Celek could be a sneaky GPP play.
Player News
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Steelers are “counting on” a 2025 jump for WR Roman Wilson.
Wilson, per Fowler, “looks like a different player than from his injury riddled rookie campaign.” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said in February that the team has “a lot of confidence” in Wilson, the 84th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft who played just five offensive snaps as a rookie after suffering a serious hamstring injury in October. Wilson, entering his age-24 season, had 789 yards and 12 touchdowns on 49 catches in his final season at Michigan. He was 19th among all college wideouts in yards per route run in 2023. An injury-free offseason could position Wilson as the clear No. 2 receiver behind DK Metcalf in 2025.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Steelers “remain in contact with Aaron Rodgers and are hopeful that he’ll be a Steeler.”
Things have been quiet on the Rodgers front since the NFL Draft, though he remains a factor for the QB-needy Steelers, who on Wednesday traded George Pickens to Dallas in exchange for draft picks. That leaves DK Metcalf and perhaps Roman Wilson as the Steelers’ top two receivers. Metcalf’s fantasy fortunes would get a bit of a bump if Rodgers lands with the Steelers. The team’s commitment to a massively run-heavy approach should limit Metcalf’s upside, however. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggested Rodgers is waiting to sign with Pittsburgh until after the NFL’s schedule release “so that the league can’t saddle the Steelers with extra prime-time and/or short-week games.” We’ll continue to monitor the never-ending Rodgers saga.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Cowboys’ plan is for George Pickens “to play out his rookie deal.”
It looks like we won’t see any sort of long-term contract struck between Pickens and the Cowboys after the mercurial wideout was traded from the Steelers to Dallas in exchange for a 2026 third round draft pick and a 2027 fifth rounder. Dallas coaches and Jerry Jones likely want to see how Pickens, 24, acclimates to his new team after alienating coaches and teammates in Pittsburgh last season. Pickens, who has 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns over three NFL seasons, will immediately become the team’s No. 2 option behind CeeDee Lamb and a much-needed deep ball target for Dak Prescott.
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane reports TE Dallas Goedert will remain with the Eagles in 2025.
Goedert agreed to a $4 million salary cut for the upcoming season, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. He will make $10 million in 2025 and be a free agent next offseason. It’s quite the turnabout after Eagles coaches and front office officials strongly implied for months that Goedert had played his last snap with the team. Goedert, 30, has missed 15 games over the past three seasons and was widely expected to be dealt during the NFL Draft. Goedert will be a solid top-12 fantasy option, well behind AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith in the team’s target pecking order. He averaged 4.2 catches and 49.6 receiving yards per game in 2024 and had the ninth highest EPA per target among tight ends.
Titans re-signed DT James Lynch.
Lynch, 26, a former fourth round selection by the Vikings, will return for a second season with the Titans after starting all 17 games in 2024. He had 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack for the Titans last season. Pro Football Focus graded the Titans as last year’s fourth worst pass rush and ninth best run-defending unit.
Jaguars released WR Gabe Davis.
Davis, who secured $24 million in guarantees when he signed with Jacksonville last year, managed 20 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns over ten games in his only year with the Jags. The Davis signing is yet another in a string of disastrous decisions by the former Jacksonville front office. With Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter in the fold, the Jaguars ended their experiment with Davis, 26. He should see interest from wideout-needy teams in the coming weeks, including perhaps the Lions. Davis will be locked into a strictly downfield role wherever he lands this spring or summer.