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I usually have a pretty good idea of how the TE Coach will go before I start my research. For instance, with Delanie Walker on a bye, Jordan Reed and Rob Gronkowski hurt and Greg Olsen facing the Seahawks, I figured the Week 13 edition of the TE Coach would mostly feature cheap players, since most of the expensive ones were already accounted for. I was wrong.
The premium and value options may not be quite as safe as I would normally prefer, but they distinguished themselves with their upside. The truly safe tight ends have pretty limited ceilings, so if you have to pay for some upside, that is what I am willing to do, especially in a GPP lineup.
| Pts | Opp Pa | Opp Ov | Opp Pa | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Tm | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tar | Tar% | Tar/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTD | Fum | YPC | Allow | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $Line | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Tyler Eifert | CIN | H | PHI | 5 | 249 | 36 | 9.1% | 7.2 | 21 | 4.2 | 58.3% | 312 | 2 | 0 | 14.9 | 5.1 | 2 | 3 | 236.5 | 42 | -125 | $6800 | $5300 | $4800 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | H | CAR | 11 | 553 | 70 | 19.1% | 6.4 | 51 | 4.6 | 72.9% | 706 | 4 | 2 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 15 | 10 | 275.2 | 44.5 | -320 | $6400 | $5500 | $4900 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | A | ATL | 11 | 640 | 82 | 20.9% | 7.5 | 57 | 5.2 | 69.5% | 675 | 3 | 0 | 11.8 | 10.7 | 21 | 24 | 282.2 | 49 | -220 | $6300 | $4700 | $4750 |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | A | SEA | 11 | 757 | 90 | 23.4% | 8.2 | 58 | 5.3 | 64.4% | 790 | 3 | 0 | 13.6 | 7.7 | 5 | 4 | 235.5 | 44.5 | -320 | $6200 | $5100 | $4700 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | H | TB | 10 | 390 | 38 | 9.6% | 3.8 | 26 | 2.6 | 68.4% | 371 | 5 | 1 | 14.3 | 8.6 | 10 | 12 | 253.5 | 47.5 | -190 | $5800 | $2900 | $4150 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | A | NO | 8 | 438 | 49 | 12.9% | 6.1 | 35 | 4.4 | 71.4% | 451 | 1 | 0 | 12.9 | 9.8 | 25 | 22 | 271.4 | 53.5 | -265 | $5700 | $3900 | $4600 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | H | DET | 11 | 442 | 58 | 12.9% | 5.3 | 37 | 3.4 | 63.8% | 461 | 3 | 2 | 12.5 | 13 | 32 | 31 | 250.9 | 53.5 | -265 | $5500 | $3500 | $4300 |
| Cameron Brate | TB | A | SD | 11 | 528 | 57 | 13.8% | 5.2 | 41 | 3.7 | 71.9% | 442 | 5 | 1 | 10.8 | 7.5 | 9 | 9 | 271.3 | 47.5 | -190 | $5500 | $3600 | $4200 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | H | TB | 9 | 350 | 57 | 14.5% | 6.3 | 30 | 3.3 | 52.6% | 290 | 5 | 1 | 9.7 | 8.6 | 10 | 12 | 253.5 | 47.5 | -190 | $5300 | $4100 | $4000 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | A | CIN | 9 | 513 | 52 | 13.3% | 5.8 | 38 | 4.2 | 73.1% | 373 | 1 | 0 | 9.8 | 12.1 | 17 | 18 | 246 | 42 | -125 | $5300 | $4300 | $4200 |
| Julius Thomas | JAC | H | DEN | 9 | 453 | 51 | 11.6% | 5.7 | 30 | 3.3 | 58.8% | 281 | 4 | 0 | 9.4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 193.9 | 40 | 160 | $5200 | $2800 | $3800 |
| Martellus Bennett | NE | H | LA | 11 | 591 | 54 | 14.6% | 4.9 | 42 | 3.8 | 77.8% | 540 | 4 | 0 | 12.9 | 8.3 | 16 | 15 | 227.5 | 44 | -800 | $5100 | $4800 | $4350 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | A | GB | 11 | 492 | 59 | 14.9% | 5.4 | 39 | 3.5 | 66.1% | 429 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 10.5 | 23 | 17 | 260.6 | 45.5 | -275 | $5000 | $3800 | $4000 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | A | NE | 11 | 613 | 68 | 18.4% | 6.2 | 41 | 3.7 | 60.3% | 420 | 2 | 1 | 10.2 | 7.3 | 28 | 21 | 253.6 | 44 | -800 | $4900 | $2900 | $3800 |
| Vance McDonald | SF | A | CHI | 9 | 373 | 41 | 11.6% | 4.6 | 22 | 2.4 | 53.7% | 382 | 4 | 0 | 17.4 | 8.8 | 20 | 20 | 239.8 | 43.5 | -115 | $4900 | $2900 | $4300 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | A | NYJ | 9 | 419 | 37 | 9.2% | 4.1 | 24 | 2.7 | 64.9% | 256 | 2 | 1 | 10.7 | 9 | 29 | 23 | 262.8 | 48.5 | 110 | $4900 | $2600 | $4000 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | H | MIA | 11 | 583 | 76 | 17.2% | 6.9 | 52 | 4.7 | 68.4% | 439 | 0 | 0 | 8.4 | 9.9 | 6 | 8 | 229.7 | 40.5 | -180 | $4800 | $3100 | $4100 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | H | HOU | 11 | 433 | 39 | 8.7% | 3.5 | 23 | 2.1 | 59.0% | 203 | 1 | 0 | 8.8 | 6.9 | 12 | 14 | 209.2 | 45.5 | -275 | $4800 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Jared Cook | GB | H | HOU | 5 | 168 | 24 | 5.3% | 4.8 | 13 | 2.6 | 54.2% | 165 | 1 | 1 | 12.7 | 6.9 | 12 | 14 | 209.2 | 45.5 | -275 | $4700 | $2900 | $4200 |
| Levine Toilolo | ATL | H | KC | 11 | 277 | 12 | 3.2% | 1.1 | 8 | 0.7 | 66.7% | 145 | 2 | 0 | 18.1 | 5.9 | 11 | 13 | 260.5 | 49 | -220 | $4700 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | A | ARI | 11 | 412 | 37 | 8.6% | 3.4 | 31 | 2.8 | 83.8% | 450 | 2 | 0 | 14.5 | 3.8 | 3 | 5 | 195.1 | 49 | -135 | $4600 | $3300 | $4300 |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | H | KC | 11 | 226 | 22 | 5.9% | 2 | 17 | 1.5 | 77.3% | 257 | 2 | 0 | 15.1 | 5.9 | 11 | 13 | 260.5 | 49 | -220 | $4600 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Logan Paulsen | CHI | H | SF | 11 | 218 | 10 | 2.5% | 0.9 | 3 | 0.3 | 30.0% | 15 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9.3 | 24 | 29 | 252.6 | 43.5 | -115 | $4600 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | A | OAK | 11 | 616 | 57 | 18.8% | 5.2 | 36 | 3.3 | 63.2% | 323 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9.6 | 22 | 26 | 273.5 | 49 | -165 | $4500 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | A | GB | 11 | 331 | 52 | 13.1% | 4.7 | 34 | 3.1 | 65.4% | 289 | 1 | 0 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 23 | 17 | 260.6 | 45.5 | -275 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | A | NYJ | 11 | 514 | 49 | 12.2% | 4.5 | 39 | 3.5 | 79.6% | 411 | 4 | 0 | 10.5 | 9 | 29 | 23 | 262.8 | 48.5 | 110 | $4500 | $2700 | $3800 |
| Will Tye | NYG | A | PIT | 11 | 434 | 47 | 11.4% | 4.3 | 31 | 2.8 | 66.0% | 259 | 1 | 0 | 8.4 | 10.7 | 13 | 11 | 263.5 | 48.5 | -265 | $4500 | $3000 | $3500 |
| Jesse James | PIT | H | NYG | 11 | 553 | 44 | 10.5% | 4 | 29 | 2.6 | 65.9% | 236 | 3 | 0 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 7 | 7 | 264.7 | 48.5 | -265 | $4500 | $2600 | $4200 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | H | BUF | 10 | 461 | 38 | 9.1% | 3.8 | 26 | 2.6 | 68.4% | 270 | 2 | 0 | 10.4 | 8.4 | 19 | 19 | 227.7 | 49 | -165 | $4500 | $2500 | $3800 |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | H | PHI | 8 | 276 | 29 | 7.3% | 3.6 | 17 | 2.1 | 58.6% | 193 | 0 | 0 | 11.4 | 5.1 | 2 | 3 | 236.5 | 42 | -125 | $4500 | $2500 | $3350 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | A | JAC | 8 | 284 | 28 | 7.5% | 3.5 | 18 | 2.3 | 64.3% | 211 | 0 | 0 | 11.7 | 7.8 | 14 | 16 | 204.3 | 40 | 160 | $4500 | $2600 | $3500 |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | H | WAS | 11 | 509 | 37 | 8.2% | 3.4 | 22 | 2 | 59.5% | 212 | 2 | 1 | 9.6 | 10.9 | 18 | 25 | 252.9 | 49 | -135 | $4500 | $2500 | $3750 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | A | CHI | 11 | 354 | 35 | 9.9% | 3.2 | 21 | 1.9 | 60.0% | 275 | 1 | 2 | 13.1 | 8.8 | 20 | 20 | 239.8 | 43.5 | -115 | $4500 | $2700 | $3000 |
| Ladarius Green | PIT | H | NYG | 3 | 34 | 9 | 2.1% | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 55.6% | 97 | 0 | 0 | 19.4 | 8.5 | 7 | 7 | 264.7 | 48.5 | -265 | $4500 | $2800 | $3950 |
| Trey Burton | PHI | A | CIN | 10 | 150 | 28 | 7.2% | 2.8 | 17 | 1.7 | 60.7% | 165 | 1 | 0 | 9.7 | 12.1 | 17 | 18 | 246 | 42 | -125 | $4500 | $2500 | $3300 |
| Josh Hill | NO | H | DET | 8 | 338 | 20 | 4.4% | 2.5 | 14 | 1.8 | 70.0% | 146 | 1 | 0 | 10.4 | 13 | 32 | 31 | 250.9 | 53.5 | -265 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | A | BAL | 9 | 396 | 21 | 6.5% | 2.3 | 15 | 1.7 | 71.4% | 167 | 1 | 0 | 11.1 | 7.3 | 8 | 1 | 222.9 | 40.5 | -180 | $4500 | $2500 | $3700 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | A | PIT | 9 | 179 | 21 | 5.1% | 2.3 | 15 | 1.7 | 71.4% | 92 | 1 | 1 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 13 | 11 | 263.5 | 48.5 | -265 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
Premium Options
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I don’t usually put too much stock in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, because it tends to reflect the strength of the tight ends faced rather than a team’s ability to defend those tight ends. The Falcons are an exception. Atlanta is 27th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends despite shutting out the Denver and Green Bay tight ends earlier this season. They made up for it by surrendering big days to guys like Jermaine Gresham, Cameron Brate and Clive Walford. Travis Kelce is much better than those players, and he is coming off two consecutive 100-yard games.
With so much seeming uncertain at the tight end position I would probably prefer to play cheaper options, but Jimmy Graham is too good to ignore. The Panthers have struggled to defend the pass all season, and Graham has at least six receptions in five of his last nine games. Graham is pretty safe, but he has 100-yard, two-touchdown upside as well.
Value Options
In the two games Jordan Reed missed this season, Vernon Davis caught eight passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. Davis may be the second most popular tight end play of the week, but that probably won’t stop me from using him.
This is probably the last week Martellus Bennett will be a value option, as he is already priced higher than Travis Kelce on DraftKings. Bennett has been pretty terrible the last two weeks with Rob Gronkowski out, but Tom Brady will likely have to lean on Bennett sooner or later. Bennett is less of a no-brainer than Vernon Davis, but Bennett probably has a better chance to lead the position in fantasy points in Week 13.
No team has allowed as many fantasy points to opposing tight ends as the Lions, and while Josh Hill outscored him last week, Coby Fleener is worth a shot, especially in GPP lineups. Fleener hasn’t put together a big game since Week 6 against the Panthers, but we know he is capable. Fleener may not have Bennett’s upside, but he is $1300 cheaper on DraftKings.
Bargain Options
Like many people, I expected Logan Paulsen to step in as the primary tight end in Chicago with Zach Miller out, and I was wrong. Ben Braunecker was involved as well, but Daniel Brown led the tight ends in targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns. Brown isn’t necessarily the top tight end target moving forward, and it may not even matter considering Matt Barkley targeted 11 different Bears last week. Even so, Brown could be the top tight end against a poor San Francisco defense, and that makes him a reasonable punt play.
Player News
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reports Jakobi Meyers is “open” to an extension with the Raiders.
Meyers is entering the final year of a three-year, $33 million contract signed in the 2023 offseason and coming off an 87/1027/4 receiving line in 2024. McFadden writes that the team views Meyers as a “key player” on the roster. Meyers could probably come close to a $20 million AAV in a new contract given the way the market is trending — that’s about what Stefon Diggs got from the Patriots this offseason after a lengthy wait.
The Athletic’s Nate Taylor writes that the Chiefs “need a young, dynamic running back to pair with” Isiah Pacheco.
Rarely do you see a beat writer go with the word “need,” but here we are. Kansas City clearly had no juice in the running game all last season as Pacheco struggled to run the same after returning from a broken leg. Kareem Hunt was a steady veteran pounder but couldn’t hit a second gear. Taylor notes that Brett Veach has been quoted as saying running backs in Andy Reid’s offense “need to be a better receiver than a runner” and ties them to Georgia back Trevor Etienne.
The Athletic’s Chad Graff “gets the sense” that the Patriots “would like to add a speedy running back” to “complement” Rhamondre Stevenson.
Graff writes this in the context of a mock draft where he selects Bhayshul Tuten for the Patriots, but this is not the first time this offseason someone has mentioned running back as a potential position of need for the Patriots behind Stevenson. Tuten ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine at 4.32. Other running backs on the podium for the 40 in Indianapolis included Texas’ Jaydon Blue (4.38) and SMU’s Brashard Smith (4.39), so they could also be interesting Patriots targets.
Courtland Sutton said extension talks with the Broncos are “working in the right direction.”
“I’m open and optimistic about the fact that I’ll be able to be here for the rest of my career,” Sutton added. The timeline for Sutton’s extension has been downplayed a bit by the Broncos this offseason and it sounds like they’re probably just waiting to figure out what happens in the draft to lock down a figure. Sutton was an unhappy camper last season after getting only a band-aid adjustment to his contract, but responded with one of the best seasons of his career.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports “more than one person sa[id] to me that if [Shedeur] Sanders goes in the first round, it’ll be because an owner got involved.”
Breer writes a pretty rough profile of Sanders’ current prospects, reporting he doesn’t believe Sanders is going in the top three and that it’d be “surprising” if he went in the top 10. “I’m having a really hard time finding coaches or scouts who believe Sanders is a first-round talent,” is the lede of that section of the column. The draft landscape is always shifting and we’ve seen perceived first-round quarterbacks like Will Levis and Malik Willis tumble out of Day 1 — it’s possible that Sanders will be the next to join that list.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports that “other teams were under the impression” that Derek Carr was seeking a trade this offseason.
Regarding his injury, Breer writes that the “Saints knew about this shoulder issue. What I’m less sure about is if they view it as something that was actually threatening his 2025 season. The story I’ve heard is that Carr’s camp has told people that this actually stems from his ’23 AC joint sprain, which never fully healed,” Breer continues. The implication here seems to be that Carr wanted to play for former Saints coach Dennis Allen and may not be as thrilled to play with Kellen Moore. That Carr would really threaten to go under the knife to fix his arm rather than play out the 2025 season as a starter seems hard to believe, but his status with the Saints even beyond that appears to be shaky at the moment. New Orleans holds the No. 9 pick in the draft and could look to take a quarterback early to address the room.