Tight End Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em For Fantasy Football Week 18

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football leagues. This column will not cover elite NFL players like Josh Allen, Bijan Robinson, or Ja’Marr Chase. Instead, it will focus on players who could exceed or fall short of their statistical expectations at each position. For all of your final lineup decisions, check out my weekly player rankings, which will be updated daily.

Fab’s Five Top 10 Fantasy Tight End Rankings For Week 18

Trey McBride at Rams
George Kittle vs. Seahawks (Sat.)
Kyle Pitts Sr. vs. Saints
Hunter Henry vs. Dolphins
Juwan Johnson at Falcons
Colston Loveland vs. Lions
Brenton Strange vs. Colts
Dalton Schultz vs. Colts
AJ Barner at 49ers (Sat.)
Michael Mayer vs. Chiefs

Complete Week 18 tight end rankings

All Positions: QBs | RBs | WRs | Ks & DEFs

Week 18 Start ‘Em Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Hunter Henry vs. Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Henry, listed as a start ’em last week, put up 13.9 fantasy points in a win over the Jets. He has now scored 11-plus points in two straight games and four of his last five overall, and this week’s game against the Dolphins makes him a nice option once again. Their defense has given up the fifth-most points to tight ends since Week 10, so look for Henry to post another solid stat line.

Start ‘Em

Juwan Johnson at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Johnson has been on a nice heater in the last two weeks, scoring a combined 30.4 fantasy points. He’s become one of the top options in the Saints' pass attack for Tyler Shough, who has played at a high level over the last month. Johnson also faces a Falcons defense that has allowed four tight ends to score double digits since Week 12, including Johnson (10.6 points) in Week 12.

AJ Barner at 49ers (Sat. 8 p.m. ET, ESPN): Barner has posted a combined 28.3 points in his last two games, and he’s seen at least six targets in two of his past three contests overall. I’d stream him where needed in a massive Saturday night matchup against the 49ers, who have allowed 10-plus fantasy points to tight ends 12 times this season. Barner is still a free agent in a lot of leagues, so add and start him for Week 18.

Brenton Strange vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Strange continues to play a ton of snaps and should be a big part of the Jaguars' offense in a game they need to win to secure the AFC South. The matchup is favorable too, as the Titans have allowed 11-plus fantasy points to five different tight ends since Week 11. In fact, a tight end has scored 13-plus points against them in four of their last five games, including Strange’s 13.5 points.

More Starts

Dalton Schultz vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Colston Loveland vs. Lions (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Michael Mayer vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)

Week 18 Sit ‘Em Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Travis Kelce at Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Could this be Kelce’s last NFL game? If it is, it might be a bit of a stinker in the stat sheets. The veteran has been held to single digits in three of his last four games (including two games with fewer than two points), and his catching passes from backup quarterback Chris Oladokun makes Kelce even less attractive. The Raiders have also allowed the fourth-fewest points to tight ends.

Sit ‘Em

Mark Andrews at Steelers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Andrews has seen his stock sink in the last month-plus, scoring fewer than seven points five times in his past six games. He also hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 10, and the veteran was held to just 1.9 fantasy points in his previous meeting with this week’s opponent, the Steelers. Andrews would have more value if Lamar Jackson returns, but he’ll be a risk regardless.

Oronde Gadsden at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Gadsden scored 12.2 fantasy points in last week's loss to the Texans, and he's now scored 10-plus points in two of his last three games. Still, it's tough to start him with confidence this week with the nothing on the line. In fact, there's a chance he'll be limited or be rested aganist the Broncos. Even if he plays, the rookie will be catching passes from Trey Lance, not Justin Herbert.

Cade Otton vs. Panthers (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): Otton was a useful fantasy option earlier in the season, but his stock has fallen over his last six games. In that time, he's scored no more than 7.3 points in any of those contests, and Otton has seen no more than four targets in each of his last four games. At this point he's almost completely touchdown dependent to have fantasy value, and Otton hasn't scored all season.

More Sits

Tyler Warren at Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Dawson Knox vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Evan Engram vs. Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)