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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.
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.