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I often write the introduction to this article last. Picking tight ends I like for DFS in a given week is pretty straightforward, so I like to get that out of the way before I set about the task of trying to be interesting. This week I had made most of my tight end recommendations before I saw a pattern that should have been pretty obvious.
Almost all of these tight ends have very nice matchups, which is no surprise. The surprising thing is in almost every case, I think the best way to take advantage of those matchups is with the tight end. Rather than trying to get lucky with a receiver I don’t like from the Panthers, Redskins, Titans or Saints, just give me the tight end. I don’t usually use a tight end in the Flex spot very often, but that is totally in play this week. There is no reason to use a lesser receiver when so many good tight ends have good matchups.
As always, please leave your tight end questions in the comments or in the FantasyAlarm forum, or hit me up on Twitter.
| Pts | Opp Pa | Opp | Opp Pa | ||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tar | Tar/G | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTD | YPC | Allow | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $LINE | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | A | NO | 5 | 347 | 29.1% | 10.6 | 6.6 | 62.3% | 516 | 2 | 16 | 7.2 | 26 | 28 | 301.3 | 54 | 125 | $8,100 | $7,000 | $5,200 |
| Rob Gronkowski | NE | H | CIN | 3 | 118 | 6.5% | 3.3 | 2.0 | 60.0% | 120 | 0 | 20 | 8.4 | 17 | 19 | 224.6 | 48 | -420 | $8,400 | $6,700 | $5,750 |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | H | PHI | 5 | 287 | 24.5% | 9.2 | 6.6 | 71.7% | 316 | 2 | 9.6 | 2.4 | 3 | 2 | 193.5 | 45 | 115 | $7,500 | $6,100 | $5,000 |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | H | CLE | 4 | 185 | 16.6% | 6.8 | 4.0 | 59.3% | 225 | 2 | 14 | 15.1 | 28 | 27 | 288.4 | 44 | -320 | $6,700 | $5,500 | $4,750 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | A | OAK | 4 | 246 | 17.7% | 7.3 | 5.5 | 75.9% | 220 | 2 | 10 | 10.8 | 29 | 29 | 330.6 | 47 | 105 | $6,400 | $5,000 | $4,850 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | H | ATL | 4 | 159 | 15.9% | 5.5 | 4.0 | 72.7% | 266 | 1 | 17 | 17.4 | 24 | 26 | 290.2 | 46 | -265 | $6,900 | $4,900 | $5,300 |
| Martellus Bennett | NE | H | CIN | 5 | 309 | 18.1% | 5.6 | 4.2 | 75.0% | 314 | 4 | 15 | 8.4 | 17 | 19 | 224.6 | 48 | -420 | $6,600 | $4,500 | $4,550 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | A | NYG | 5 | 263 | 17.3% | 7.4 | 5.6 | 75.7% | 259 | 0 | 9.3 | 10.3 | 18 | 16 | 261.6 | 45 | -170 | $5,400 | $4,300 | $4,450 |
| Julius Thomas | JAC | A | CHI | 3 | 175 | 10.7% | 5.7 | 3.7 | 64.7% | 148 | 1 | 14 | 7.7 | 14 | 18 | 227.6 | 46 | -145 | $5,700 | $4,200 | $4,400 |
| Jason Witten | DAL | A | GB | 5 | 347 | 22.2% | 6.8 | 4.8 | 70.6% | 232 | 0 | 9.7 | 14.2 | 19 | 8 | 274.5 | 48 | -200 | $5,600 | $4,200 | $4,250 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | A | WAS | 2 | 112 | 7.5% | 5.0 | 4.5 | 90.0% | 95 | 0 | 11 | 7.7 | 16 | 23 | 262.0 | 45 | 115 | $5,400 | $4,000 | $4,500 |
| Zach Miller | CHI | H | JAC | 5 | 261 | 16.2% | 5.8 | 5.0 | 86.2% | 229 | 3 | 9.2 | 6.0 | 7 | 10 | 198.8 | 46 | -145 | $5,800 | $3,800 | $4,450 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | H | CAR | 4 | 212 | 16.2% | 7.0 | 3.3 | 46.4% | 163 | 1 | 13 | 14.3 | 22 | 14 | 246.4 | 54 | 125 | $5,600 | $3,500 | $4,600 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | H | LA | 4 | 242 | 14.3% | 6.3 | 4.5 | 72.0% | 210 | 1 | 12 | 9.8 | 10 | 12 | 242.4 | 44 | -170 | $5,600 | $3,400 | $4,200 |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | A | TEN | 5 | 327 | 16.5% | 5.6 | 4.2 | 75.0% | 236 | 0 | 11 | 10.0 | 8 | 7 | 222.4 | 44 | -320 | $5,300 | $3,300 | $4,350 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | A | HOU | 5 | 281 | 12.7% | 5.0 | 3.4 | 68.0% | 183 | 2 | 11 | 4.0 | 9 | 13 | 181.0 | 49 | -165 | $5,800 | $3,100 | $4,150 |
| Jesse James | PIT | A | MIA | 5 | 255 | 13.5% | 5.2 | 3.6 | 69.2% | 128 | 3 | 7.1 | 10.2 | 21 | 21 | 250.2 | 48 | 280 | $5,400 | $3,000 | $4,350 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | H | SF | 5 | 270 | 17.7% | 4.8 | 3.4 | 70.8% | 187 | 0 | 11 | 12.8 | 13 | 17 | 222.8 | 44 | -360 | $5,300 | $2,900 | $4,200 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | H | DAL | 4 | 177 | 9.5% | 3.3 | 1.5 | 46.2% | 62 | 1 | 10 | 16.1 | 25 | 25 | 260.6 | 48 | -200 | $5,100 | $2,900 | $3,900 |
| Will Tye | NYG | H | BAL | 5 | 181 | 10.7% | 4.0 | 2.8 | 70.0% | 120 | 0 | 8.6 | 5.2 | 12 | 5 | 190.8 | 45 | -170 | $4,900 | $2,900 | $3,500 |
| Jacob Tamme | ATL | A | SEA | 5 | 238 | 13.8% | 4.6 | 3.4 | 73.9% | 158 | 2 | 9.3 | 3.8 | 1 | 1 | 183.8 | 46 | -265 | $5,300 | $2,800 | $4,000 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | A | DET | 5 | 292 | 15.3% | 4.6 | 2.6 | 56.5% | 152 | 0 | 12 | 18.4 | 31 | 32 | 263.4 | 44 | -170 | $4,500 | $2,700 | $3,500 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | H | KC | 4 | 173 | 10.0% | 4.8 | 3.3 | 68.4% | 125 | 1 | 9.6 | 6.0 | 6 | 9 | 240.5 | 47 | 105 | $4,700 | $2,600 | $3,800 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | H | IND | 5 | 193 | 9.1% | 3.4 | 2.0 | 58.8% | 116 | 1 | 12 | 7.6 | 30 | 31 | 301.0 | 49 | -165 | $5,100 | $2,500 | $3,900 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | H | BAL | 4 | 115 | 5.9% | 2.8 | 2.0 | 72.7% | 50 | 1 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 12 | 5 | 190.8 | 45 | -170 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | A | NE | 5 | 228 | 14.8% | 5.4 | 3.2 | 59.3% | 187 | 0 | 12 | 10.4 | 27 | 24 | 258.6 | 48 | -420 | $4,900 | $2,500 | $3,350 |
| Crockett Gillmore | BAL | A | NYG | 5 | 158 | 6.1% | 2.6 | 1.6 | 61.5% | 71 | 1 | 8.9 | 10.3 | 18 | 16 | 261.6 | 45 | -170 | $4,900 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | A | ARI | 2 | 52 | 2.2% | 1.5 | 1.5 | 100.0% | 44 | 1 | 15 | 4.2 | 5 | 6 | 189.8 | 47 | -330 | $4,800 | $2,500 | $3,700 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | A | HOU | 5 | 205 | 9.6% | 3.8 | 3.2 | 84.2% | 151 | 2 | 9.4 | 4.0 | 9 | 13 | 181.0 | 49 | -165 | $4,800 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | A | BUF | 5 | 216 | 13.3% | 4.0 | 2.2 | 55.0% | 135 | 0 | 12 | 6.0 | 15 | 11 | 257.0 | 44 | -360 | $4,700 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Vance McDonald | SF | A | BUF | 3 | 99 | 4.7% | 2.3 | 1.7 | 71.4% | 93 | 2 | 19 | 6.0 | 15 | 11 | 257.0 | 44 | -360 | $4,600 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Luke Willson | SEA | H | ATL | 4 | 167 | 8.0% | 2.8 | 1.3 | 45.5% | 41 | 0 | 8.2 | 17.4 | 24 | 26 | 290.2 | 46 | -265 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,700 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | H | PHI | 5 | 113 | 5.9% | 2.2 | 2.0 | 90.9% | 94 | 0 | 9.4 | 2.4 | 3 | 2 | 193.5 | 45 | 115 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,700 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | H | PIT | 5 | 181 | 6.7% | 2.0 | 1.4 | 70.0% | 82 | 0 | 12 | 10.7 | 20 | 20 | 302.0 | 48 | 280 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Trey Burton | PHI | A | WAS | 3 | 75 | 11.3% | 5.0 | 2.7 | 53.3% | 73 | 1 | 9.1 | 7.7 | 16 | 23 | 262.0 | 45 | 115 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Marcedes Lewis | JAC | A | CHI | 4 | 116 | 6.3% | 2.5 | 2.0 | 80.0% | 97 | 1 | 12 | 7.7 | 14 | 18 | 227.6 | 46 | -145 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | H | IND | 5 | 161 | 13.4% | 5.0 | 3.2 | 64.0% | 136 | 0 | 8.5 | 7.6 | 30 | 31 | 301.0 | 49 | -165 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Stephen Anderson | HOU | H | IND | 3 | 47 | 3.8% | 2.3 | 1.7 | 71.4% | 40 | 0 | 8 | 7.6 | 30 | 31 | 301.0 | 49 | -165 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Darren Fells | ARI | H | NYJ | 4 | 135 | 4.7% | 2.3 | 2.0 | 88.9% | 53 | 0 | 6.6 | 12.2 | 32 | 30 | 302.4 | 47 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Jace Amaro | TEN | H | CLE | 2 | 28 | 2.5% | 2.0 | 1.5 | 75.0% | 59 | 0 | 20 | 15.1 | 28 | 27 | 288.4 | 44 | -320 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
Premium Options
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Travis KelceI could make a strong argument to pay up for Greg Olsen or Rob Gronkowski, but Kelce could give you similar production at a discount. The Chiefs should have a good week coming off the bye against the terrible Oakland defense, and Kelce should be a big part of it.
Kelce is a bit cheaper than Walker on FanDuel and DraftKings, but I would argue Walker has a bit more upside. It is unfair to judge Cleveland for all the points they allowed to the Patriots’ tight ends last week, but this should be a juicy matchup nonetheless.
I nearly kept Olsen off this list, only because I really like Kelce and Walker. I added Olsen to the list because I realized if you want to target the Saints’ defense, Olsen is the best—or at least safest—way to do it. Olsen’s worst game of the season was a six reception, 61 yard effort against a Vikings defense we now know is one of the best in the league. I would be shocked if he does worse than that this week.
Value Options
If you are looking to play one of Drew Brees’s weapons in a GPP, which you should be, Coby Fleener is probably your best bet. The Panthers are allowing 14.3 fantasy points to opposing tight ends, and there will likely never be a better situation for Fleener than playing at home coming off the bye. I don’t see any reason why Fleener couldn’t repeat his seven catch, 109 yard, 1 TD performance from Week 3.
Washington has allowed at least five receptions to tight ends in every game this season, despite not exactly facing a murderers’ row of tight ends. Ertz was pretty disappointing last week, but there shouldn’t be any workload concerns. He has more upside than Jason Witten or Dennis Pitta and a better matchup than Zach Miller.
Bargain Options
I don’t know that Davis will get more snaps or targets than Niles Paul, and there is no guarantee he is good enough to do anything with the targets he does that. That being said, it seems to me the only reason to keep somebody like Davis on the roster is if you plan to use him to replace Jordan Reed. I don’t know that I could use Davis in a cash lineup even as a punt play, but he is certainly worth a shot in a tournament.
We know what he is at this point. Uzomah will get you between two and five receptions for somewhere between 20 and 50 yards. He is by far the safest of the cheap plays, and there is always a chance this is the week he finally gets in the end zone.
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.