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Every week, one of the most important considerations for tight ends for DFS is injuries to other tight ends. Vernon Davis was a solid play last week because Jordan Reed was out, and there have been similar examples nearly every week. That is the case this week as well, but more so than previous weeks, there are a few tight ends who have a lot more upside thanks to injuries to receivers, and not necessarily other tight ends. This is a good reminder that when a wide receiver goes down and there isn’t an obvious replacement, the main beneficiary could be a tight end, or even two. Keep that in mind when you look at the cheaper tight end options.
| Pts | Opp Pa | Opp | Opp Pa | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tgts | Tgt% | Tgt/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTD | Fum | YPC | Allowed | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $Line | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | A | DET | 5 | 287 | 46 | 20.9% | 9.2 | 33 | 6.6 | 71.7% | 316 | 2 | 0 | 9.6 | 18.4 | 31 | 32 | 271.3 | 50 | -125 | $7,300 | $6,000 | $4,950 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | A | NYJ | 6 | 327 | 47 | 17.9% | 7.8 | 34 | 5.7 | 72.3% | 295 | 0 | 0 | 8.7 | 12.2 | 32 | 30 | 290.0 | 41 | -135 | $5,300 | $4,000 | $4,300 |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | A | PHI | 5 | 307 | 37 | 23.4% | 7.4 | 21 | 4.2 | 56.8% | 236 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 2.4 | 5 | 2 | 207.4 | 40 | 140 | $5,400 | $3,500 | $4,500 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | A | KC | 5 | 253 | 35 | 15.8% | 7.0 | 19 | 3.8 | 54.3% | 237 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 6.0 | 6 | 9 | 236.6 | 51 | -245 | $5,900 | $3,800 | $4,500 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | H | NO | 5 | 301 | 32 | 17.2% | 6.4 | 25 | 5.0 | 78.1% | 252 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 7.2 | 26 | 28 | 301.6 | 51 | -245 | $6,300 | $5,300 | $4,900 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | H | WAS | 4 | 242 | 25 | 12.1% | 6.3 | 18 | 4.5 | 72.0% | 210 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 7.7 | 11 | 23 | 242.5 | 50 | -125 | $5,600 | $3,000 | $4,100 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | A | ARI | 5 | 222 | 31 | 17.8% | 6.2 | 22 | 4.4 | 71.0% | 355 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 4.2 | 1 | 6 | 158.2 | 44 | -130 | $6,700 | $5,800 | $5,100 |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | H | IND | 5 | 228 | 29 | 15.5% | 5.8 | 17 | 3.4 | 58.6% | 246 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 7.6 | 29 | 31 | 293.5 | 48 | -165 | $6,500 | $4,900 | $4,600 |
| Cameron Brate | TB | A | SF | 5 | 244 | 28 | 13.7% | 5.6 | 17 | 3.4 | 60.7% | 197 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 12.8 | 16 | 17 | 215.5 | 47 | -110 | $5,200 | $2,900 | $4,300 |
| Martellus Bennett | NE | A | PIT | 6 | 345 | 33 | 17.4% | 5.5 | 26 | 4.3 | 78.8% | 362 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 10.7 | 21 | 20 | 293.7 | 47 | 260 | $5,800 | $4,500 | $4,600 |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | A | CIN | 6 | 394 | 33 | 15.6% | 5.5 | 24 | 4.0 | 72.7% | 295 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8.4 | 24 | 19 | 246.8 | 46 | -450 | $5,200 | $3,200 | $4,300 |
| Julius Thomas | JAC | H | OAK | 4 | 225 | 21 | 10.9% | 5.3 | 13 | 3.3 | 61.9% | 176 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 10.8 | 28 | 29 | 312.7 | 47 | -115 | $5,500 | $3,900 | $4,200 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | A | MIA | 6 | 331 | 31 | 19.3% | 5.2 | 22 | 3.7 | 71.0% | 239 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 10.2 | 15 | 21 | 236.7 | 44 | 125 | $5,100 | $3,000 | $4,150 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | H | NYG | 6 | 347 | 31 | 17.0% | 5.2 | 18 | 3.0 | 58.1% | 186 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 10.3 | 19 | 16 | 266.8 | 44 | 125 | $4,500 | $2,700 | $3,750 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | A | ATL | 4 | 133 | 20 | 10.0% | 5.0 | 12 | 3.0 | 60.0% | 81 | 2 | 1 | 6.8 | 17.4 | 23 | 26 | 285.3 | 54 | -250 | $5,500 | $2,900 | $3,800 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | A | DEN | 6 | 183 | 30 | 13.3% | 5.0 | 19 | 3.2 | 63.3% | 167 | 0 | 0 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 4 | 4 | 182.3 | 41 | -380 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Rob Gronkowski | NE | A | PIT | 4 | 175 | 19 | 10.0% | 4.8 | 13 | 3.3 | 68.4% | 282 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 10.7 | 21 | 20 | 293.7 | 47 | 260 | $8,500 | $7,200 | $5,800 |
| Jesse James | PIT | H | NE | 6 | 307 | 29 | 12.8% | 4.8 | 20 | 3.3 | 69.0% | 141 | 3 | 0 | 7.1 | 10.4 | 25 | 24 | 255.0 | 47 | 260 | $5,400 | $3,100 | $4,100 |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | H | CLE | 6 | 276 | 29 | 13.6% | 4.8 | 17 | 2.8 | 58.6% | 193 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 15.1 | 30 | 27 | 285.3 | 46 | -450 | $4,800 | $2,500 | $3,350 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | A | TEN | 6 | 286 | 27 | 11.8% | 4.5 | 18 | 3.0 | 66.7% | 192 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 10.0 | 10 | 7 | 235.5 | 48 | -165 | $5,700 | $2,900 | $4,100 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | A | ATL | 6 | 244 | 26 | 13.0% | 4.3 | 19 | 3.2 | 73.1% | 310 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 17.4 | 23 | 26 | 285.3 | 54 | -250 | $5,800 | $3,600 | $4,450 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | H | MIN | 3 | 158 | 13 | 8.4% | 4.3 | 10 | 3.3 | 76.9% | 117 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8.2 | 2 | 3 | 209.8 | 40 | 140 | $5,100 | $3,400 | $4,300 |
| Jacob Tamme | ATL | H | SD | 6 | 283 | 26 | 12.5% | 4.3 | 19 | 3.2 | 73.1% | 174 | 2 | 0 | 9.2 | 12.3 | 9 | 15 | 279.7 | 54 | -250 | $5,200 | $2,800 | $4,100 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | A | JAC | 5 | 202 | 21 | 9.4% | 4.2 | 15 | 3.0 | 71.4% | 150 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 6.0 | 8 | 10 | 218.4 | 47 | -115 | $4,800 | $2,500 | $3,800 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | H | HOU | 3 | 138 | 12 | 5.8% | 4.0 | 10 | 3.3 | 83.3% | 95 | 0 | 0 | 9.5 | 4.0 | 7 | 13 | 189.3 | 41 | -380 | $4,500 | $2,700 | $4,000 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | A | DEN | 6 | 236 | 24 | 10.7% | 4.0 | 16 | 2.7 | 66.7% | 201 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 8.3 | 4 | 4 | 182.3 | 41 | -380 | $5,100 | $2,500 | $4,100 |
| Trey Burton | PHI | H | MIN | 4 | 81 | 16 | 10.3% | 4.0 | 9 | 2.3 | 56.3% | 80 | 1 | 0 | 8.9 | 8.2 | 2 | 3 | 209.8 | 40 | 140 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | A | TEN | 6 | 269 | 23 | 10.1% | 3.8 | 20 | 3.3 | 87.0% | 204 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 7 | 235.5 | 48 | -165 | $4,700 | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| Jordan Cameron | MIA | H | BUF | 3 | 97 | 11 | 6.0% | 3.7 | 8 | 2.7 | 72.7% | 60 | 1 | 0 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 12 | 11 | 242.0 | 44 | 125 | $4,500 | $2,600 | $3,800 |
| Will Tye | NYG | A | LA | 6 | 204 | 22 | 9.4% | 3.7 | 16 | 2.7 | 72.7% | 135 | 0 | 0 | 8.4 | 9.8 | 18 | 12 | 246.2 | 44 | 125 | $4,800 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | A | LA | 5 | 148 | 18 | 7.7% | 3.6 | 14 | 2.8 | 77.8% | 84 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9.8 | 18 | 12 | 246.2 | 44 | 125 | $4,800 | $2,600 | $3,500 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | H | TB | 6 | 216 | 20 | 11.2% | 3.3 | 11 | 1.8 | 55.0% | 135 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4.4 | 22 | 22 | 262.4 | 47 | -110 | $4,700 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | A | DET | 6 | 185 | 15 | 6.8% | 2.5 | 12 | 2.0 | 80.0% | 144 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 18.4 | 31 | 32 | 271.3 | 50 | -125 | $4,500 | $2,900 | $4,100 |
| Luke Willson | SEA | A | ARI | 5 | 186 | 12 | 6.9% | 2.4 | 6 | 1.2 | 50.0% | 50 | 0 | 0 | 8.3 | 4.2 | 1 | 6 | 158.2 | 44 | -130 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,700 |
| Crockett Gillmore | BAL | A | NYJ | 6 | 197 | 14 | 5.3% | 2.3 | 8 | 1.3 | 57.1% | 71 | 1 | 0 | 8.9 | 12.2 | 32 | 30 | 290.0 | 41 | -135 | $4,800 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Vance McDonald | SF | H | TB | 4 | 129 | 9 | 5.1% | 2.3 | 7 | 1.8 | 77.8% | 118 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 4.4 | 22 | 22 | 262.4 | 47 | -110 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Stephen Anderson | HOU | A | DEN | 3 | 47 | 7 | 3.1% | 2.3 | 5 | 1.7 | 71.4% | 40 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8.3 | 4 | 4 | 182.3 | 41 | -380 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Marcedes Lewis | JAC | H | OAK | 5 | 141 | 11 | 5.7% | 2.2 | 8 | 1.6 | 72.7% | 97 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 10.8 | 28 | 29 | 312.7 | 47 | -115 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | H | BUF | 6 | 228 | 12 | 6.6% | 2.0 | 8 | 1.3 | 66.7% | 94 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6.0 | 12 | 11 | 242.0 | 44 | 125 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | H | SEA | 6 | 175 | 10 | 4.4% | 1.7 | 6 | 1.0 | 60.0% | 59 | 0 | 0 | 9.8 | 3.8 | 3 | 1 | 209.0 | 44 | -130 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | H | BAL | 2 | 52 | 3 | 2.2% | 1.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 100.0% | 44 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5.2 | 14 | 5 | 225.2 | 41 | -135 | $4,800 | $2,500 | $3,600 |
| Tyler Kroft | CIN | H | CLE | 6 | 92 | 9 | 4.2% | 1.5 | 8 | 1.3 | 88.9% | 83 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 15.1 | 30 | 27 | 285.3 | 46 | -450 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Brent Celek | PHI | H | MIN | 5 | 136 | 6 | 3.9% | 1.2 | 4 | 0.8 | 66.7% | 72 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 8.2 | 2 | 3 | 209.8 | 40 | 140 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Tyler Higbee | LA | H | NYG | 6 | 72 | 6 | 3.3% | 1.0 | 1 | 0.2 | 16.7% | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10.3 | 19 | 16 | 266.8 | 44 | 125 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | H | SD | 6 | 56 | 6 | 2.9% | 1.0 | 6 | 1.0 | 100.0% | 154 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 12.3 | 9 | 15 | 279.7 | 54 | -250 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
Premium Options
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Rob GronkowskiWith Greg Olsen on bye and Jimmy Graham and Jordan Reed both missing practice Thursday, Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end play by far this week. That being said, there is a decent chance the Patriots get up early and Gronk is a non-factor in the second half, so there is a decent amount of risk here.
Travis Kelce and Delanie Walker
Both of these guys were premium options for me last week thanks in part to tasty matchups, and they combined for 53 yards. That being said, they are both proven commodities with good matchups, and they could be started in fewer lineups thanks to their disappointing output in Week 6.
Value Options
Clay has five catches in three consecutive games and four of his last five. He may be the safest tight end for Week 7, and he could have a bit more upside than usual if Robert Woods is out.
Apparently last week wasn’t disappointing enough, because I had to go back to the well with Cameron Brate after he disappointed in Week 5. Brate is 10th among tight ends with 5.6 targets per game this season, and he could see even more targets with Vincent Jackson on IR. The 49ers have struggled against reasonably talented tight ends this season, holding only the Rams’ and Cardinals’ tight ends to fewer than five receptions. Brate has an excellent shot at catching five or more passes this week. Of course, I said the same thing in Week 5, too.
Bargain Options
I like Jack Doyle’s DFS value with Dwayne Allen out, but he is still pretty risky. As we saw last week, Erik Swoope will likely be involved as well, so there is a decent chance Doyle’s role doesn’t change all that much with Allen out. Both Indy tight ends could have quite a bit of value if Donte Moncrief remains out, especially with Phillip Dorsett missing practice Friday and Quan Bray hitting IR. Doyle is the safer of the two tight ends, but Swoope will likely be in fewer lineups, especially on DraftKings.