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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.