We continue to see some of the best tight ends struggle through injuries, while other options are in uncertain situations. Who is the best to play at this point in the year? Let’s take a look:
- Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Washington
- Jacob Tamme – Detroit Lions – vs. Jacksonville
- Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers – at San Diego
- Tony Gonzalez – Atlanta Falcons – at Seattle
- Chris Cooley – Washington Redskins – at Dallas
- Kellen Winslow – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Detroit
- Kevin Boss – New York Giants – vs. Philadelphia
- Greg Olsen – Chicago Bears – at Minnesota
- Brent Celek – Philadelphia Eagles – at New York Giants
- Marcedes Lewis – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Indianapolis
- Benjamin Watson – Cleveland Browns – at Cincinnati
- Brandon Pettigrew – Detroit Lions – at Tampa Bay
- Owen Daniels – Houston Texans – at Tennessee
- Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots – vs. Green Bay
- Aaron Hernandez – New England Patriots – vs. Green Bay
- Heath Miller – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New York Jets
- Jermaine Gresham – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Cleveland
- Jeremy Shockey – New Orleans Saints – at Baltimore
- Dustin Keller – New York Jets – at Pittsburgh
- Bo Scaife – Tennessee Titans – vs. Houston
- Jason Witten had seven receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns in Week 14, giving him three touchdowns in his last two games and 22 receptions in his last three. With Dez Bryant out and Miles Austin struggling, he clearly has entrenched himself as one of the main cogs in the offense and a great tight end option.
- If Jacob Tamme is healthy, he’d be among the elite in the game this week. Unfortunately, the Colts appeared to limit his exposure in Week 14. I’m still going to rank him among the best, but monitor the news to see if you can get a better idea of what their plans are for him.
- Is Antonio Gates going to play? Who knows at this point, which means that I am leaving him off the rankings for the time being. If he’s going to play, he is a must use option, so keep checking the news, but plan accordingly.
- Rob Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez? Nope, still no clarity on that front, huh?
- We’ve been waiting for Owen Daniels to get healthy and produce all season long. Finally, he may have shown us it’s possible. He had five receptions for 91 yards in Week 14 and could be considered a usable option, depending on who else is available to you. I’m not sure I’d use him as my TE1 given the risk and his injuries/inability all year long, but we all know he has as much upside as anyone at the position.
- Dustin Keller has seemingly fallen off the earth of usability, hasn’t he? At this point, with just 12 receptions for 117 yards in his last four games, no touchdowns since Week 4 and only two games with more than 75 yards all year long, I would only consider him a low-end option at best.
What are your thoughts on these rankings? Whose too high? Whose too low?
Make sure to check out the rest of our Week 15 rankings:
Thanks, you’re great!
This is not such good news for my guy though – the highest ranked available TE is Watson, and that’s only one above Pettigrew who he has now. He’s in the same position for QB – he has Flacco, Roethlisberger and Sanchez, and the available guy you have ranked highest is Freeman, one spot above Flacco. Are these pickups he should make?
Ha, he was suggesting last that I don’t REALLY need 3 TEs. But, after reading this columnm, you are doubtful on Gates and I need Boss as backup in case Tamme isn’t right on Sunday. So much for that idea!
You may remember my roster is about half SD. You warned me weeks ago that the returns of Mathews and Jackson were going to make things uncertain at first, so I was thinking you will think I should not play Jackson, Mathews or Tolbert this week at all (still playing Rivers of course!).
This is who I currently have:
RB – Ray Rice, Green-Ellis, Tolbert, Mathews, Starks
WR – Reggie Wayne, Sidney Rice, Mike Wallace, Vincent Jackson, Austin Collie.
Oh … and K – Josh Brown and D – Atlanta … but I can wait for the rankings for K and D
So I am thinking I should drop Starks, at least, and try to pick up Torain or Hightower on waivers tonight (or maybe Garcon and go with 3 WRs?). Does that sound right? If so who is the priority? Or should I be dropping and picking up more than one? (maybe drop Collie? I think you told me before it was time to cut bait on him). Or from the Waiver Worthy column, maybe I should play Mathews after all? It’s so confusing!
Thanks so much!! I’ve got a bit of a lead thanks to your advice last week, but it could disappear pretty quickly.
Oh re QBs … I saw Matt’s reply in the QB column suggesting Kitna over Freeman. Kitna and Collins are available also if you think one of them is a better choice for my guy. Thanks again!
I like both Freeman & Collins better than Kitna, but no reason to move off of Rivers!
I would definitely swap Collie for Garcon right now, who I think would be a lock to start if you had him.
I also would grab Torain for Starks to give yourself better depth.
Oh haha, no the QB PS was for my boyfriend who has Flacco / Roesthlisberger / Sanchez. I love Philip Rivers! That is the one decision every week I don’t need to drive you crazy about, lol.
Thanks!! Off to set up my waivers.
Looking at your previous advice, would you advocate I use Freeman as opposed to Flacco this week. Of your rankings, Freeman I the highest ranked available on the wire.
Thanks in advance for your insight!
Triz – If he can get Freeman (and drop Sanchez), it would be him or Flacco. Otherwise, I like Flacco better than Kitna or Collins this week.
Ramblin – It’s really a toss up. They are back-to-back, so you really couldn’t go wrong either way. If you have someone to drop for Freeman, than I’d grab him.
Thanks Professor. I’ve put in the request for Freeman. Would you roll out an Arizona def this week with a favorable matchup or go with one of the two I currently have which is Giants(Philly) or New Orleans(Baltimore).
Arizona is a risk for sure, though the Giants are playing well. It would probably be one of the two, unfortunately things have been extremely unpredictable. Part of me would go with the proven commodity, though, and stick with the G-Men.
Sorry, I am still finalizing my rankings, however, so check back with me!
Sorry, one last question (for today, haha) – Zach Miller is awful and/or untrustworthy?
Triz – He’s not awful, he’s just been dealing with some injuries. He actually had a good week of practice last week for the first time in a long time and it showed as he was targeted 5 times and caught 4 for 68 yards. If he’s healthy he’s a solid play. I actually disagree a bit with the Rotoprof here (blasphemy!) and I’d have him ranked somewhere in the top 12 for this week but that’s just me…
PS the link to eating with A isn’t working?
Thanks Matt! I wasn’t questioning, but given how horrible all the other options are, the boyfriend was thinking he might gamble on someone weird (since I am being terrible and not dropping Gates / Tamme / Boss so he can pick whoever up. Hopefully I won’t cave).
hahaha…yea, Miller’s absence is just the uncertainty of his health, if nothing else. If he is available, he’s as good as anyone that’s out there (considering the less than stellar options), so I definitely would give him a shot.
And don’t cave! All is fair in war and football!!
Also, thanks for the heads up about the link. It’s all fixed!
Yay, I got Garcon AND Torain, dropping Collie and Starks. So from the rankings and given you usually say play the RB if it’s close, I am thinking I should play Ray Rice, Torain, Green-Ellis, Reggie Wayne and Garcon? (2 WR, 2 RB, 1 WR/RB format). Or Sidney Rice over Torain? Thanks again!
I have a question regarding which TE to play, I have both M. Lewis and Gronkowski both had good games last week, but both have been hit or miss af times. Any advice? Thanks
According to your rankings I should play Kevin Boss, but I also have Rob Gronkowski and Owen Daniels. I’m tempted to go with Owen Daniels, what you guys think?
Triz – I’d go with Torain. Good luck!!
Doc – Normally, depending on a NE tight end is risky, especially at this point. Therefore, I’d go Lewis. I just still can’t trust Gronkowski, when Aaron Hernandez could steal looks.
Erik – I’d go Boss, especially with Smith out for the year now. Daniels would be my second choice, and he may have more upside, but he is a bit riskier.
Would you go McMichael over Scaife and Shiancoe?
Thanks for your advice
I live in Indy and even here there is so little Colt injury info. Tamme seems hurt a bit(back and hamstring supposedly) and is playing less the last couple of games. He also is staying in to block more(which hurt Dallas Clark as well)because we are down to 5 or 6 lineman.
Time to switch to Owen Daniels? both have super matchups…
FYN – I’d probably roll the dice with Scaife, though all three are gambles.
muddy cleats – Daniels is a pretty big risk, given his injury struggles all year long. Hopefully we get a little bit more news on Tamme throughout the week, but if he’s healthy he’s the better option.
Witten or Davis? I got no idea
Having a tough time making a decision on a couple of positions and wanted to get a second opinion.
TE- Go with Witten or Vernon Davis?
DEF- Use New England or San Diego?
Alex – I’d go Witten
Chad – Same thing, I go Witten. As for the D, it’s NE if Rodgers is out. If he plays, then SD.
2 Q’s:
are we really saying Freeman is the best possible replacement for Rodgers (with Kitna and Collins available as well)?
which two would you go with (or three – currently T. Hightower is my flex behind J. Charles and P. Hillis): D. Branch, P. Garcon, H. Nicks, M. Colston (i also have B. Lloyd but gave up on him when Orton started sucking)?
I would def. go Nicks, Colston & Garcon (Branch is close, but just misses). With that group, no way I play Lloyd this week anyways.
And yea, I would go Freeman
So, Cooley over Daniels for the win?
Absolutely
I don’t see Zach Miller in your top 20 tight end list. He practiced full on Friday, had 68 yards last week and is going against Denver. I’m feeling him over Kevin Boss this week. Am I missing something?
Thanks for the advice.
No, your not missing anything. With him appearing to be healthy, he would be a Top 10 option if I updated the rankings. Using him over Boss is a fine call.
TE Help……..Lewis or Tamme? I didn’t like what they did with Tamme last week.
Tamme for sure