Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Tight Ends Fantasy Football Week 15: Time for Sam LaPorta to Step Up

The Lions rookie continues to get targets and he’s got a favorable matchup.

Author:
Michael Fabiano
Updated:
Dec 15, 2023
Original:
Dec 13, 2023

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Tight Ends

1. Travis Kelce at Patriots
2. T.J. Hockenson at Bengals (Sat.)
3. Sam LaPorta vs. Broncos (Sat.)
4. George Kittle at Cardinals
5. Evan Engram vs. Ravens
6. David Njoku vs. Bears
7. Trey McBride vs. 49ers
8. Jake Ferguson at Bills
9. Darren Waller at Saints
10. Dallas Goedert at Seahawks (Mon.)

Complete Week 15 Player Rankings

Week 15 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 15 Start ’Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Sam LaPorta holds the ball in one hand close to the side of his body — Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports

Sam LaPorta vs. Broncos (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network): The tight end spot is very thin this week, which is the reason LaPorta is the top start. While obvious, the rookie has been held to single digits in three of his last five games including a 4.7-point stinker last week. But with a matchup against the Broncos next, LaPorta should rebound. Their defense has allowed the second-most points to tight ends.

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Start ’Em

David Njoku vs. Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Njoku went off last week despite a bad matchup, scoring a season-high 27.1 points. He has now scored 10-plus points in seven of his last eight games, and a matchup against the Bears makes him a solid option. Their defense has allowed 10-plus points to tight ends seven times this season, and the position has thrived with the third-highest catch rate (78.3%).

Dallas Goedert at Seahawks (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Goedert returned to action last week, but he saw just four targets and recorded a modest seven PPR points. He has now failed to score double digits in four of his last five games on the season, but I’d stick with Goedert at what is a tough position to fill. Seattle has also allowed nine or more points to tight ends five times in the last seven weeks.

Isaiah Likely at Jaguars (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Likely, listed as a start ’em in this space last week, scored a season-high 19.3 points in a win over the Rams. I’d roll with him again this week, as he’ll face a Jaguars defense that allowed 27.1 PPR points to Njoku last week. Their defense has now allowed 20-plus points to enemy tight ends twice in the last five weeks, so Likely is in a good spot to produce.

More Starts

Logan Thomas at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)
Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Tucker Kraft vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Cade Otton at Packers ($3,200)
Tucker Kraft vs. Buccaneers ($3,000)
Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. Texans ($2,900)

Week 15 Sit ’Em: Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Hunter Henry celebrates touchdown. — Scott Galvin/ USA Today Sports

Hunter Henry vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Henry was a surprise star last week, as he scored two touchdowns against the Steelers on his birthday. I don’t think he’ll be giving fantasy managers another gift this week, though, as a tough matchup vs. the Chiefs awaits. Their defense hasn’t allowed a tight end to score more than 11.7 points in a game this season, and just three have scored double digit points.

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Sit ’Em

Cole Kmet at Browns (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Kmet is a tough player to sit, so consider this a warning to temper expectations. While the Browns did give up 32.5 points to Evan Engram last week, their defense has been one of the toughest in the league against tight ends at home. In fact, their defense has held George Kittle, Pat Freiermuth and Trey McBride under six points in games played in Cleveland.

Pat Freiermuth at Colts (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network): Freiermuth was a huge dud last week, scoring just 6.8 points in a loss to the Patriots. He’s now put up 6.8 or fewer points in four of his last five games, and a matchup against the Colts makes him a sit em. Their defense has allowed a low ceiling to tight ends, as no one at the position has beaten them for more than 11.4 points this season.

Kyle Pitts at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Pitts is coming off his best game lately, as he scored 14.7 points in a loss to the Buccaneers. He had been held to single digits in each of his previous six games, however, and this week’s matchup in Carolina isn’t favorable. Their defense has allowed the fourth-fewest points to tight ends this season, and Pitts scored just 6.4 points against them earlier this year.