This is by far the worst week of the season for tight ends. The entire position has been absolutely decimated by the bye weeks. Not only are studs like Rob Gronkowski and Jordan Reed out, but you have on-the-rise players like Zach Miller, C.J. Fiedorowicz and Tyler Eifert unavailable as well. There is still a good-sized middle class of options who are all okay, so if you don’t want to pay for a premium option, which will likely be my strategy, there are plenty of midpriced options who should be just fine. This is also a good week to compare prices across sites. As I have noted, there are a few players who are nice values on one site but cost quite a bit more on others.
| Pts | Opp Pa | Opp Ov | Opp Pa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Team | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tgts | Tgt% | Tgt/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTD | YPC | Allow | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $LINE | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | A | LA | 7 | 495 | 63 | 24.7% | 9 | 40 | 5.7 | 63.5% | 621 | 2 | 16 | 9.8 | 15 | 11 | 239 | 45 | 140 | $7,500 | $6,200 | $4,700 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | H | BUF | 7 | 332 | 46 | 19.0% | 6.6 | 30 | 4.3 | 65.2% | 442 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 241.9 | 44 | -300 | $6,700 | $5,700 | $4,900 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | H | JAC | 7 | 415 | 45 | 18.0% | 6.4 | 34 | 4.9 | 75.6% | 377 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 224.6 | 44 | -330 | $6,600 | $5,300 | $4,850 |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | A | SD | 7 | 324 | 42 | 17.1% | 6 | 28 | 4 | 66.7% | 405 | 3 | 15 | 12.3 | 6 | 7 | 275.1 | 47 | -210 | $6,400 | $4,600 | $4,750 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | A | SF | 7 | 322 | 41 | 13.5% | 5.9 | 25 | 3.6 | 61.0% | 317 | 2 | 13 | 12.8 | 20 | 23 | 222.4 | 53 | 170 | $5,800 | $3,400 | $4,350 |
| Julius Thomas | JAC | A | KC | 6 | 316 | 34 | 11.8% | 5.7 | 19 | 3.2 | 55.9% | 224 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 2530.6 | 44 | -330 | $5,600 | $3,200 | $4,250 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | H | TEN | 6 | 226 | 39 | 13.5% | 6.5 | 21 | 3.5 | 53.8% | 152 | 3 | 7.2 | 10 | 24 | 22 | 259.5 | 47 | -210 | $5,500 | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | H | TEN | 8 | 336 | 33 | 11.4% | 4.1 | 22 | 2.8 | 66.7% | 340 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 24 | 22 | 259.5 | 47 | -210 | $5,500 | $3,300 | $4,150 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | A | MIN | 5 | 291 | 35 | 12.7% | 7 | 25 | 5 | 71.4% | 289 | 1 | 12 | 8.2 | 4 | 5 | 204.6 | 41 | -260 | $5,400 | $3,100 | $4,200 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | A | GB | 6 | 286 | 27 | 8.9% | 4.5 | 18 | 3 | 66.7% | 192 | 2 | 11 | 14.2 | 16 | 8 | 247.1 | 54 | -330 | $5,300 | $2,900 | $3,800 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | A | GB | 8 | 386 | 36 | 11.9% | 4.5 | 31 | 3.9 | 86.1% | 318 | 4 | 10 | 14.2 | 16 | 8 | 247.1 | 54 | -330 | $5,300 | $3,600 | $4,100 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | H | PIT | 7 | 373 | 57 | 18.7% | 8.1 | 38 | 5.4 | 66.7% | 335 | 0 | 8.8 | 10.7 | 21 | 25 | 283.4 | 43 | -107 | $5,200 | $3,800 | $4,300 |
| Jason Witten | DAL | A | CLE | 7 | 488 | 45 | 20.5% | 6.4 | 30 | 4.3 | 66.7% | 290 | 1 | 9.7 | 15.1 | 30 | 30 | 277.8 | 49 | 250 | $5,200 | $3,700 | $4,400 |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | H | DAL | 8 | 526 | 47 | 16.0% | 5.9 | 33 | 4.1 | 70.2% | 403 | 0 | 12 | 16.1 | 17 | 14 | 255.9 | 49 | 250 | $5,200 | $3,900 | $4,200 |
| Jesse James | PIT | A | BAL | 7 | 361 | 31 | 11.4% | 4.4 | 22 | 3.1 | 71.0% | 159 | 3 | 7.2 | 5.2 | 14 | 6 | 220 | 43 | -107 | $5,100 | $2,800 | $4,100 |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | H | DET | 7 | 436 | 54 | 23.1% | 7.7 | 31 | 4.4 | 57.4% | 322 | 3 | 10 | 18.4 | 32 | 32 | 259.4 | 41 | -260 | $5,000 | $4,000 | $4,550 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | A | NYG | 5 | 267 | 20 | 8.8% | 4 | 15 | 3 | 75.0% | 150 | 0 | 10 | 10.3 | 9 | 10 | 267.4 | 43 | -135 | $4,900 | $3,500 | $4,100 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | A | SEA | 8 | 428 | 42 | 18.7% | 5.3 | 26 | 3.3 | 61.9% | 274 | 0 | 11 | 3.8 | 5 | 3 | 229.7 | 44 | -300 | $4,800 | $2,700 | $3,900 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | H | DEN | 7 | 309 | 27 | 8.5% | 3.9 | 19 | 2.7 | 70.4% | 186 | 1 | 9.8 | 8.3 | 2 | 5 | 183.9 | 44 | -125 | $4,700 | $2,500 | $3,700 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | H | IND | 7 | 272 | 17 | 6.2% | 2.4 | 9 | 1.3 | 52.9% | 84 | 1 | 9.3 | 7.6 | 29 | 31 | 287.8 | 54 | -330 | $4,700 | $2,700 | $3,800 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | A | MIA | 2 | 52 | 3 | 2.2% | 1.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 100.0% | 44 | 1 | 15 | 10.2 | 10 | 13 | 231.4 | 44 | -185 | $4,600 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | H | CAR | 7 | 414 | 40 | 17.1% | 5.7 | 25 | 3.6 | 62.5% | 241 | 1 | 9.6 | 14.3 | 27 | 16 | 286.9 | 45 | 140 | $4,500 | $2,900 | $3,750 |
| Jordan Cameron | MIA | H | NYJ | 3 | 97 | 11 | 5.3% | 3.7 | 8 | 2.7 | 72.7% | 60 | 1 | 7.5 | 12.2 | 31 | 27 | 289.1 | 44 | -185 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,800 |
| Jared Cook | GB | H | IND | 3 | 93 | 11 | 4.0% | 3.7 | 6 | 2 | 54.5% | 53 | 0 | 8.8 | 7.6 | 29 | 31 | 287.8 | 54 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,700 |
| Will Tye | NYG | H | PHI | 7 | 228 | 25 | 9.3% | 3.6 | 18 | 2.6 | 72.0% | 149 | 0 | 8.3 | 2.4 | 1 | 1 | 214.1 | 43 | -135 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | A | OAK | 5 | 186 | 18 | 6.7% | 3.6 | 14 | 2.8 | 77.8% | 150 | 0 | 11 | 10.8 | 25 | 28 | 285.4 | 44 | -125 | $4,500 | $2,600 | $4,100 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | H | PHI | 6 | 179 | 21 | 7.8% | 3.5 | 15 | 2.5 | 71.4% | 92 | 1 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1 | 1 | 214.1 | 43 | -135 | $4,500 | $2,600 | $3,500 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | H | NO | 7 | 257 | 23 | 11.0% | 3.3 | 12 | 1.7 | 52.2% | 139 | 0 | 12 | 7.2 | 28 | 29 | 286.7 | 53 | 170 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Trey Burton | PHI | A | NYG | 6 | 107 | 19 | 8.4% | 3.2 | 10 | 1.7 | 52.6% | 86 | 1 | 8.6 | 10.3 | 9 | 10 | 267.4 | 43 | -135 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Vance McDonald | SF | H | NO | 5 | 183 | 15 | 7.1% | 3 | 8 | 1.6 | 53.3% | 142 | 2 | 18 | 7.2 | 28 | 29 | 286.7 | 53 | 170 | $4,500 | $2,600 | $3,500 |
| Marcedes Lewis | JAC | A | KC | 7 | 200 | 20 | 6.9% | 2.9 | 13 | 1.9 | 65.0% | 131 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 2530.6 | 44 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Demetrius Harris | KC | H | JAC | 7 | 192 | 17 | 6.8% | 2.4 | 10 | 1.4 | 58.8% | 80 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 224.6 | 44 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,200 |
| Luke Willson | SEA | H | BUF | 5 | 186 | 12 | 5.0% | 2.4 | 6 | 1.2 | 50.0% | 50 | 0 | 8.3 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 241.9 | 44 | -300 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| Xavier Grimble | PIT | A | BAL | 7 | 104 | 16 | 5.9% | 2.3 | 8 | 1.1 | 50.0% | 83 | 1 | 10 | 5.2 | 14 | 6 | 220 | 43 | -107 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Crockett Gillmore | BAL | H | PIT | 7 | 197 | 14 | 4.6% | 2 | 8 | 1.1 | 57.1% | 71 | 1 | 8.9 | 10.7 | 21 | 25 | 283.4 | 43 | -107 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | H | NYJ | 6 | 228 | 12 | 5.8% | 2 | 8 | 1.3 | 66.7% | 94 | 0 | 12 | 12.2 | 31 | 27 | 289.1 | 44 | -185 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Jace Amaro | TEN | A | SD | 2 | 28 | 4 | 1.6% | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 75.0% | 59 | 0 | 20 | 12.3 | 6 | 7 | 275.1 | 47 | -210 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
| Josh Hill | NO | A | SF | 4 | 149 | 7 | 2.3% | 1.8 | 4 | 1 | 57.1% | 32 | 1 | 8 | 12.8 | 20 | 23 | 222.4 | 53 | 170 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Erik Swoope | IND | A | GB | 8 | 101 | 11 | 3.6% | 1.4 | 6 | 0.8 | 54.5% | 123 | 0 | 21 | 14.2 | 16 | 8 | 247.1 | 54 | -330 | $4,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
Premium Options
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Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
With four of the top five tight ends in fantasy points on bye this week, Greg Olsen stands out by a wide margin over the other premium options. Olsen isn’t even the most expensive tight end on Fantasy Aces, where he is approaching must-play territory. Even after he caught just one pass for 11 yards last week, Olsen leads all tight ends in fantasy points for the season.
Value Options
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
I don’t know if Norv Turner’s resignation helps Kyle Rudolph, but it probably doesn’t hurt. Rudolph hasn’t found the end zone since Week 4, but he did have five receptions in each of his last two games. The Lions have allowed more fantasy points to opposing tight ends than any team in the NFL despite not exactly facing a who’s who of fantasy tight ends. Rudolph is a solid option on most sites, but he is ridiculously cheap on FanDuel.
Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints
Fleener’s price varies quite a bit across the different sites, which indicates just how volatile he is. Of course, his upside is as high as anyone’s, and San Francisco’s defense is not scary. Fleener seems like a great value on DraftKings, but he is a solid GPP play on FantasyAces as well.
Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions
Ebron may not quite have Fleener’s upside, but he is cheaper and probably safer. It is easy to forget Ebron had at least four receptions and 42 yards in each of his four games before a knee injury knocked him out. Ebron returned with seven receptions for 79 yards on 10 targets last week, and Minnesota’s defense looks far less scary after it surrendered 88 yards on seven receptions to Zach Miller Monday night.
Bargain Options
Virgil Green, Denver Broncos
Green quietly had his best game of the season Week 8 with four receptions for 55 yards, and now he gets another nice matchup, in Oakland. Green was a popular sleeper before injuries derailed him, but he is a punt play with a solid floor and a decent chance to find the end zone.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, New York Jets
There is an excellent chance I am a week or two too early with this call, but Austin Seferian-Jenkins wouldn’t cost so little if we could trust him. That being said, the Jets could use a third receiver to complement Brandon Marshall and Quincy Enunwa, and it is pretty clear Robby Anderson isn’t the answer. No one questions Seferian-Jenkins’s ability, and I suspect he would have broken out already in New York if he had stayed healthy.
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.