Week 10 saw numerous tight ends post impressive numbers. Who will be this week’s surprising performer? Which struggling tight end may right the ship? How should we value top tight ends who are banged up? Let’s try to answer all of these questions with our Week 11 rankings:
- Rob Gronkowki – New England Patriots – vs. Indianapolis
- Jimmy Graham – New Orleans Saints – at Oakland
- Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers – at Denver
- Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Cleveland
- Tony Gonzalez – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Arizona
- Heath Miller – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Baltimore
- Owen Daniels – Houston Texans – vs. Jacksonville
- Aaron Hernandez – New England Patriots – vs. Indianapolis
- Brent Celek – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington
- Greg Olsen – Carolina Panthers – vs. Tampa Bay
- Dustin Keller – New York Jets – at St. Louis
- Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Chicago
- Jermaine Gresham – Cincinnati Bengals – at Kansas City
- Brandon Myers – Oakland Raiders – vs. New Orleans
- Dwayne Allen – Indianapolis Colts – at New England
- Joel Dressen – Denver Broncos – vs. San Diego
- Jermichael Finley – Green Bay Packers – at Detroit
- Brandon Pettigrew – Detroit Lions – vs. Green Bay
- Scott Chandler – Buffalo Bills – vs. Miami
- Dennis Pitta – Baltimore Ravens – at Pittsburgh
- Anthony Fasano – Miami Dolphins – at Buffalo
- Lance Kendricks – St. Louis Rams – vs. New York Jets
- Tony Moeaki – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Cincinnati
- Marcedes Lewis – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Houston
- Logan Paulson – Washington Redskins – vs. Philadelphia
Thoughts:
- Antonio Gates has scored a touchdown in three of his past four games (four touchdowns total). Taking on a Broncos’ team that has been among the worst defending tight ends (including seeing Greg Olsen go for nine receptions, 102 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10), you have to think that another good day is in his future.
- With Antonio Brown likely out once again (as well as the possibility of Ben Roethlisberger missing the game), fantasy owners have to like the prospects of Heath Miller. No longer just a red zone target, Miller has emerged as one of the better tight ends in the league and should be a focal point once again.
- Will Aaron Hernandez play this week? Everyone expected him to return in Week 10, after the Patriots’ bye week, but that failed to happen. Obviously we have to believe that the Patriots are waiting for him to be 100% healthy, so if he is on the field we can expect big things. That said, New England has numerous other options so there is never a guarantee he gets a ton of targets. He’s a TE1, but be cautious depending on your alternatives.
- Brent Celek has scored a touchdown in three of his past four matchups against the Redskins. Throw in that Nick Foles is leading the Eagles, meaning he could be a great safety valve. He’s well worth using as a TE1, especially against a Redskins team that struggles against the pass.
- After scoring four touchdowns in his first three games, Vernon Davis has now gone five straight games without finding the end zone. Unless that changes, he’s a low-end option with unlimited potential.
- Owen Daniels has always been injury prone, so seeing him miss Week 10 is a major concern. We’ll include him on the rankings, but make sure to monitor the news just in case he needs an additional week to heal.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 11 rankings:
I know this isn’t a WR article, but would you consider dropping Brandon Lloyd for someone like Sidney Rice, ROS (standard league)? I feel like Lloyd is “safe”, but he hasn’t really blossomed like I had hoped. He is my 4th WR (I have AJ Green, Harvin, and Dez), so I can afford to gamble a bit. No one trades in this league, so it’d be a straight up drop.
Also, can you rank Hartline, Amendola, and Desean Jackson ROS in a standard league? I have to drop one of them too (again, no one trades). Thanks!!
In the league where I have Hartline, etc…my top 3 WRs are Jordy, Julio, and Nicks (in case it matters). Thanks again!
Hartline is my least favorite of the three, by far.
As for dropping Lloyd for Rice, I am not the biggest fan of either, honestly. I would lean Lloyd, based on upside, but he is unpredictable (though he also will definitely be scooped up).
I had to sit both my te’s this past week(Luckily I still won), I hope I dont have to again. Aaron Hernandez or Owen Daniels this week?
Coin flip if both are healthy, though I would probably go Daniels. Let’s just hope one of the. Plays!!
So sad with Vernon Davis…Could’ve traded him early on but believed in him, now he’s not doing much
Anticipating a drop/increase in H. Miller’s production with Leftwich in for Big Ben? Keller and Rudolph are sitting on waivers – don’t usually like to use a roster spot for a back up TE, but might be worth it……thoughts?
I would still trust Miller, at least for now. Leftwich could go safe, which means more short passes for Miller.
If you wanted to roster a backup, though, I’d go Keller over Rudolph at this point.
who has the better matchupthis week – Miller or Olsen? like your thoughts on Miller – I was thinking he was toast with Leftwich in there but maybe not….
Tampa Bay has been worse defending tight ends this season, but not by much. I’d still go Miller, but it is closer than we would’ve originally thought.
Would you recommend taking Celek with his match-up or going with Keller because he’s the only real, viable option for NYJ?
I really don’t trust anything Jets, so it’s Celek for me.
Wow!! Just lost Gronk
Any good TE pickups that may be on waivers?? Also most likely nee to replace Amendola if you have an ideas for backups there..
Thanks!!
I’m in the same situation as Cara. I don’t need to win the next two weeks though so I am wondering if I should just wait to pick up a TE till the playoffs? Then I could see who I can drop least painfully from my bench (and see how my injured guys come back).
QB: Eli Manning, Luck
RB: CJ Spiller, Donald Brown, Mathews, Ahmad Bradshaw, Fred Jackson, Beanie Wells
WR: Calvin Johnson, Stevie Johnson, Percy Hervin, Antonio Brown, Danario Alexander
TE:
D/ST: Bears
K: Tucker
I don’t want to lose any of them!
Top TEs from your list currently available for waivers tomorrow: Celek, Myers, Dressen, Pitta, Allen (I’m last in the waiver order though).
Thanks!
PS Thanks for the excellent advice about Alexander!
Cara – Who is available on waivers? Give me a few of the top names and we can find someone.
Triz – I don’t blame you with not wanting to let any of them go, but you may not have a choice. Myers is probably the best option, followed by Celek. Jackson (I know your not going to cut him) or Wells is probably the best players to cut at this point.
It’s just such a bad time to be dropping Wells. He might come back strong or with nothing! (And I’m not dropping any Bills! That would be like a lack of faith!)
What about Donald Brown? He didn’t play that well last game – will he ever turn it around enough that I’d actually start him?
(yes yes, I am remembering I drafted Ballard on your advice and dropped him against it, but I think that was so I could pick up Fred Jackson, so).
Brown is droppable, on the same plane as the rest of them and sharing carries with Ballard anyways.
You have enough depth that one of them shouldn’t kill you
Thanks, that is what I did – Brown for Myers. At least Brown isn’t likely to get huge points for an opponent!