It’s Week 12, folks! Time to set those fantasy lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups in a given week for fantasy football leagues. Each week, I’ll examine the tight ends who could exceed or fail to meet expectations based on their weekly opponent … like Will Dissly and Cole Kmet in Week 11!
As we dive into this week’s tight end landscape, we have some exciting matchups to explore. With six teams on a bye—Bengals, Bills, Falcons, Jaguars, Jets, and Saints—it’s crucial to make informed decisions to maximize your fantasy points.
Start of the Week
Cade Otton at Giants (1 p.m. ET, CBS) is the standout choice for this week. Although the Giants have allowed the second-fewest points to tight ends, this statistic can be misleading. Otton has been a target magnet, racking up 39 combined targets over his last four games and scoring 18 or more points in three of those contests. With such a high volume of targets, he’s a top-10 option you simply can’t overlook.
Start ‘Em
Let’s look at a few other tight ends who are primed for success this week:
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Will Dissly vs. Ravens (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): After a strong performance against the Bengals, Dissly is gaining traction in the fantasy community. The Ravens have allowed the 10th-most points per game to tight ends, with six players scoring over 10 points against them this season. With Dissly seeing at least six targets in four of his last five games, he’s a solid start.
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Dallas Goedert at Rams (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Goedert has been impressive since returning from injury, scoring a combined 21.6 points in his last two outings. This week, he faces a Rams defense that has allowed five tight ends to score at least 11 points. With a game total of 48 on DK Sportsbook, Goedert is set up for a productive day.
- Jonnu Smith vs. Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Smith is coming off a breakout performance with two touchdowns and 28.1 fantasy points against the Raiders. Averaging 14.2 points over his last six games, he’s a strong option against a Patriots defense that has allowed five opposing tight ends to score in double digits this season.
TEs With Good Matchups
Now, let’s highlight some tight ends who have favorable matchups this week.
- Travis Kelce at Panthers: Always a must-start, Kelce continues to be a top-tier option.
- Brock Bowers vs. Broncos: A rising star, Bowers is making waves and should be in your lineup.
- George Kittle at Packers: Kittle’s explosive potential makes him a reliable choice.
- Cade Otton at Giants: As mentioned, Otton is a top option this week.
- Trey McBride at Seahawks: McBride has shown promise and can be a difference-maker.
- David Njoku vs. Steelers (Thurs.): Njoku is a solid play, especially in a Thursday night matchup.
- T.J. Hockenson at Bears: Hockenson remains a consistent performer.
- Will Dissly vs. Ravens (Mon.): As discussed, Dissly is a great option this week.
- Mark Andrews at Chargers (Mon.): Always a threat, Andrews should be in your lineup.
- Dallas Goedert at Rams: Goedert is poised for a strong performance.
Sit of the Week
On the flip side, we have a tight end to avoid this week.
Tucker Kraft vs. 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Kraft has struggled recently, scoring zero points against the Bears and seeing limited targets. With a tough matchup against the 49ers, who haven’t allowed a tight end to score more than 12.3 points this season, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Sit ‘Em
Here are a few more tight ends you might want to bench this week:
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Zach Ertz vs. Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Despite a decent performance last week, Ertz faces a tough Cowboys defense. Only George Kittle has scored more than 12.2 points against them this season, making Ertz a risky start.
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Dalton Schultz vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Schultz has been underwhelming this season, averaging just 6.2 points per game. The Titans have been stingy against tight ends, allowing an average of only 38.8 yards per game. Keep Schultz on your bench.
- Cole Kmet vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Kmet has been held to single digits in four straight games. With the Vikings allowing just two touchdowns to tight ends this year, Kmet’s touchdown dependency makes him a risky play.
Final Thoughts
For your final lineup decisions, check out my fantasy player rankings, which I update daily! Also, make sure you subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me as we break down all things fantasy football five days a week!
Remember, setting your lineup is crucial, especially in a week with multiple byes. Make the right choices, and you could be celebrating a victory come Monday night! Happy fantasy footballing!
