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It is always important to check the inactives prior to game time, but with so many top tight ends likely entering Saturday questionable, it will be even more important. If you will be too busy with holiday plans to check your lineups, I suggest you simply plug in a premium or value option, since they should be safe regardless of how the injuries shake out. Of course, the best source for pregame DFS advice is the Fantasy Alarm live chat, which will feature yours truly along with Ted Shuster, Kenneth Le, Jonathan Impemba and Domenick Murtha. The chats have been a lot of fun all season long, and Saturday’s chat should be no different.
| Pts | Opp Pa | Opp Ov | Opp Pa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Tm | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tar | Tar% | Tar/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTDs | YPC | Allow | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $Line | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | A | CHI | 11 | 512 | 83 | 15.6% | 7.5 | 61 | 5.5 | 73.5% | 646 | 5 | 10.6 | 7.9 | 14 | 14 | 236.8 | 47 | 155 | $7000 | $5500 | $5100 |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | H | ATL | 14 | 884 | 113 | 23.6% | 8.1 | 71 | 5.1 | 62.8% | 992 | 3 | 14 | 11.2 | 26 | 29 | 287.9 | 51.5 | 150 | $6800 | $5200 | $4550 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | H | DEN | 14 | 720 | 103 | 21.9% | 7.4 | 73 | 5.2 | 70.9% | 957 | 3 | 13.1 | 7.9 | 1 | 1 | 197.1 | 37.5 | -175 | $6500 | $5000 | $4800 |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | A | GB | 14 | 789 | 98 | 21.4% | 7 | 58 | 4.1 | 59.2% | 573 | 6 | 9.9 | 8.7 | 20 | 19 | 278.7 | 43 | -300 | $6000 | $4900 | $4700 |
| Tyler Eifert | CIN | A | HOU | 8 | 356 | 47 | 9.9% | 5.9 | 29 | 3.6 | 61.7% | 394 | 5 | 13.6 | 5.6 | 11 | 18 | 219.2 | 41.5 | -110 | $6700 | $4800 | $4800 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | H | ARI | 14 | 647 | 85 | 18.2% | 6.1 | 59 | 4.2 | 69.4% | 816 | 5 | 13.8 | 3.9 | 4 | 8 | 229.3 | 43 | -380 | $6200 | $4500 | $4800 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | A | CLE | 12 | 420 | 72 | 14.9% | 6 | 40 | 3.3 | 55.6% | 399 | 5 | 10 | 13.4 | 31 | 32 | 263.9 | 43.5 | 210 | $5400 | $4400 | $4000 |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | A | JAC | 13 | 571 | 86 | 20.3% | 6.6 | 57 | 4.4 | 66.3% | 742 | 6 | 13 | 8.2 | 16 | 11 | 226.8 | 43.5 | 180 | $6400 | $4300 | $4700 |
| Martellus Bennett | NE | H | NYJ | 14 | 699 | 66 | 13.7% | 4.7 | 50 | 3.6 | 75.8% | 649 | 5 | 13 | 11.2 | 32 | 28 | 271.2 | 44 | -2500 | $5600 | $4100 | $4550 |
| Cameron Brate | TB | A | NO | 14 | 624 | 79 | 15.7% | 5.6 | 56 | 4 | 70.9% | 648 | 7 | 11.6 | 8.1 | 28 | 27 | 292.1 | 52.5 | -170 | $5600 | $3900 | $4600 |
| Ladarius Green | PIT | H | BAL | 6 | 97 | 34 | 6.5% | 5.7 | 18 | 3 | 52.9% | 304 | 1 | 16.9 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 248.2 | 44.5 | -240 | $5900 | $3800 | $4200 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | H | CIN | 13 | 594 | 75 | 15.0% | 5.8 | 48 | 3.7 | 64.0% | 505 | 3 | 10.5 | 10.9 | 18 | 21 | 260.2 | 41.5 | -110 | $4900 | $3700 | $3800 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | A | DAL | 11 | 544 | 60 | 13.2% | 5.5 | 43 | 3.9 | 71.7% | 521 | 1 | 12.1 | 10.4 | 22 | 20 | 285.1 | 44.5 | -280 | $5700 | $3600 | $4200 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | A | CLE | 13 | 449 | 48 | 9.9% | 3.7 | 32 | 2.5 | 66.7% | 435 | 7 | 13.6 | 13.4 | 31 | 32 | 263.9 | 43.5 | 210 | $5400 | $3500 | $4250 |
| Jason Witten | DAL | H | DET | 14 | 812 | 90 | 20.9% | 6.4 | 66 | 4.7 | 73.3% | 630 | 2 | 9.5 | 11.2 | 30 | 30 | 266.8 | 44.5 | -280 | $4900 | $3400 | $4300 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | H | CIN | 14 | 370 | 68 | 13.6% | 4.9 | 48 | 3.4 | 70.6% | 432 | 2 | 9 | 10.9 | 18 | 21 | 260.2 | 41.5 | -110 | $4500 | $3300 | $3500 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | H | MIA | 13 | 666 | 63 | 17.3% | 4.8 | 39 | 3 | 61.9% | 375 | 1 | 9.6 | 9.9 | 12 | 15 | 252.5 | 42 | -200 | $4500 | $3200 | $4000 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | H | TB | 14 | 525 | 71 | 12.2% | 5.1 | 45 | 3.2 | 63.4% | 563 | 3 | 12.5 | 7.9 | 7 | 7 | 270.1 | 52.5 | -170 | $4700 | $3100 | $3900 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | A | PIT | 14 | 666 | 94 | 16.4% | 6.7 | 67 | 4.8 | 71.3% | 563 | 2 | 8.4 | 8.6 | 13 | 4 | 263.8 | 44.5 | -240 | $4700 | $3000 | $4150 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | A | CHI | 14 | 509 | 54 | 10.1% | 3.9 | 41 | 2.9 | 75.9% | 521 | 2 | 12.7 | 7.9 | 14 | 14 | 236.8 | 47 | 155 | $4700 | $3000 | $4100 |
| Jared Cook | GB | H | MIN | 8 | 213 | 30 | 5.9% | 3.8 | 17 | 2.1 | 56.7% | 199 | 1 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 5 | 17 | 221.5 | 43 | -300 | $5000 | $3000 | $4000 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | H | SF | 14 | 682 | 80 | 16.7% | 5.7 | 45 | 3.2 | 56.3% | 451 | 2 | 10 | 8.3 | 29 | 31 | 267.8 | 39.5 | -200 | $4600 | $2900 | $3800 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | A | LA | 14 | 398 | 42 | 9.8% | 3 | 24 | 1.7 | 57.1% | 302 | 2 | 12.6 | 6.5 | 19 | 16 | 247.6 | 39.5 | -200 | $4800 | $2900 | $3000 |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | H | SD | 14 | 778 | 71 | 14.5% | 5.1 | 45 | 3.2 | 63.4% | 530 | 1 | 11.8 | 7.5 | 9 | 5 | 276.8 | 43.5 | 210 | $4500 | $2800 | $3700 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | A | OAK | 14 | 605 | 59 | 12.4% | 4.2 | 48 | 3.4 | 81.4% | 496 | 4 | 10.3 | 8.9 | 21 | 22 | 278.9 | 53 | -185 | $4500 | $2800 | $4000 |
| Erik Swoope | IND | A | OAK | 14 | 151 | 17 | 3.6% | 1.2 | 10 | 0.7 | 58.8% | 180 | 0 | 18 | 8.9 | 21 | 22 | 278.9 | 53 | -185 | $4500 | $2700 | $3500 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | A | OAK | 12 | 502 | 43 | 9.0% | 3.6 | 28 | 2.3 | 65.1% | 328 | 5 | 11.7 | 8.9 | 21 | 22 | 278.9 | 53 | -185 | $5200 | $2600 | $3900 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | A | BUF | 12 | 516 | 31 | 7.7% | 2.6 | 24 | 2 | 77.4% | 246 | 4 | 10.3 | 6.4 | 17 | 24 | 242.1 | 42 | -200 | $5100 | $2600 | $3900 |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | A | SEA | 14 | 636 | 55 | 9.7% | 3.9 | 35 | 2.5 | 63.6% | 351 | 2 | 10 | 6.1 | 10 | 6 | 241.9 | 43 | -380 | $4500 | $2500 | $3900 |
| Jesse James | PIT | H | BAL | 14 | 648 | 52 | 9.9% | 3.7 | 33 | 2.4 | 63.5% | 273 | 3 | 8.3 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 248.2 | 44.5 | -240 | $4500 | $2500 | $3800 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | H | IND | 13 | 551 | 47 | 9.0% | 3.6 | 30 | 2.3 | 63.8% | 322 | 2 | 10.7 | 10.1 | 27 | 23 | 281.5 | 53 | -185 | $4500 | $2500 | $3800 |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | A | HOU | 8 | 276 | 29 | 6.1% | 3.6 | 17 | 2.1 | 58.6% | 193 | 0 | 11.4 | 5.6 | 11 | 18 | 219.2 | 41.5 | -110 | $4500 | $2500 | $3350 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | H | MIN | 14 | 494 | 43 | 8.5% | 3.1 | 26 | 1.9 | 60.5% | 227 | 1 | 8.7 | 8.1 | 5 | 17 | 221.5 | 43 | -300 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | A | KC | 11 | 356 | 33 | 6.7% | 3 | 19 | 1.7 | 57.6% | 220 | 0 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 8 | 12 | 269.7 | 37.5 | -175 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Tyler Higbee | LA | H | SF | 14 | 245 | 27 | 5.7% | 1.9 | 9 | 0.6 | 33.3% | 80 | 0 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 29 | 31 | 267.8 | 39.5 | -200 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Ben Koyack | JAC | H | TEN | 12 | 203 | 18 | 3.3% | 1.5 | 14 | 1.2 | 77.8% | 124 | 0 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 23 | 25 | 287.2 | 43.5 | 180 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Demetrius Harris | KC | H | DEN | 14 | 305 | 21 | 4.5% | 1.5 | 11 | 0.8 | 52.4% | 86 | 0 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 1 | 1 | 197.1 | 37.5 | -175 | $4500 | $2500 | $3200 |
| Levine Toilolo | ATL | A | CAR | 13 | 343 | 15 | 3.3% | 1.2 | 11 | 0.8 | 73.3% | 236 | 2 | 21.5 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 295.9 | 51.5 | 150 | $4800 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Jeff Heuerman | DEN | A | KC | 10 | 63 | 7 | 1.4% | 0.7 | 4 | 0.4 | 57.1% | 88 | 0 | 22 | 5.8 | 8 | 12 | 269.7 | 37.5 | -175 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
Premium Options
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Even if they play, there is a decent chance Jordan Reed and Greg Olsen will be limited. Add in the injury to Tyler Eifert, and tight end could be even uglier at the top than it already has been. Travis Kelce’s run of four consecutive 100-yard games ended last week, but he still had a respectable three catches for 41 yards. If that is his new floor, he remains a solid play in cash games. That being said, he hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 8 and that seems unlikely to change this week against the Broncos.
While Kelce is my preferred premium option in cash games, I like Delanie Walker’s upside for GPP lineups. Walker only has one 100-yard game this season but he does have six touchdowns. Walker caught four passes for 75 yards against the Jaguars in Week 8.
Value Options
If you want a solid tight end you can mostly trust for cash games, Cameron Brate is your best bet. He has at least four catches and 43 yards in four consecutive games and six of his last seven, with touchdowns in five of his last eight games. The Saints’ defense may not be the hot mess it used to be, but it probably isn’t good enough to derail Brate.
Vernon Davis has played well with Jordan Reed out, and there is a decent amount of uncertainty around Reed’s status even though he gutted through a shoulder injury the last two weeks. If Reed is out, Davis would be a cheaper version of Cameron Brate.
Bargain Options
C.J. Uzomah was pretty solid early in the season with Tyler Eifert out, even if he didn’t catch any touchdowns. Eifert and Tyler Kroft have both missed practice this week, and Uzomah would have a decent shot at four or five catches for 50 yards if they are out.
Jeff Heuerman caught two passes for 40 yards in Week 15, and he could see a lot more work with both Virgil Green and A.J. Derby in the concussion protocol. The Broncos still haven’t thrown a touchdown to a tight end this season, so Heuerman is quite risky, but he might be worth the risk if he is the only tight end left standing in Denver.