You have lineup questions, we have lineup answers -- at least we hope so. Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is here to help fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. And you know what is a good move? Starting Christian McCaffrey. But that's too obvious, so you won't see such simple analysis here. Instead, we're exploring more debatable situations. And if you can't find a player you are looking for, please check out the latest NFL Fantasy lineup rankings.
NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, all stats come from NFL Pro, Next Gen Stats or NFL Research.
Start 'Em
Last Sunday, with Davis Mills at the helm, Schultz had a season-high 11 targets. His 18.6 fantasy points were his second-most of the year. He has proven to be a safe floor option with 8-plus fantasy points in all but one game since Week 3. Lately, though, we've seen totals closer to his ceiling, with Schultz hitting 13-plus in three of his last four games. He topped 18 in two of those. Wouldn't be surprised if we see another double-digit outing from him in Tennessee.
With Dalton Kincaid week-to-week with a hamstring injury, Knox takes over as Buffalo's top TE option. We already know Knox and Josh Allen have a strong chemistry, especially in the red zone, and that the Bills like to feature their lead TE in their passing attack. In what could be a high-scoring game, I like Knox's chances of finding the end zone.
Both TEs are in play in this Bucs-Bills matchup! That might surprise some of you, considering how tough Buffalo has been against opposing tight ends. Like, allowing the fewest fantasy PPG to the position tough. I suspect Otton will be a popular sit call this week. I, however, think he's worth rolling the dice on unless you also have one of the league's elite TEs on your roster. With the Bucs so banged up at receiver, Otton has seen his share of opportunities. Last week alone he had 12 targets. Since Week 5, he's averaged 12.2 fantasy PPG, with more than 10 points in all but one game. He could be involved in one of the higher-scoring matchups of the week, as well.
Is it 2022 again? Because Pitts is back to being a regular fixture in this section. He flopped last week in Berlin, but he gets another favorable matchup this week against the Panthers. Carolina has allowed the third-most yards and seventh-most fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Plus, over the last month, he leads the Falcons in catches and is second on the team in targets and yards.
Don’t look now, but Fant has averaged 10 fantasy PPG since Joe Flacco took over the Bengals' QB1 duties. Fant's floor is, admittedly, low, as he's seen a max of four targets in each of those Flacco-led games. But how about this for a fun fact: He's caught 13 of the 14 passes Joe's thrown his way. On Sunday, he faces a Steelers team he already hung 14.4 fantasy points on back in Week 7. If you need to dive a bit deeper this week, Fant should be in consideration.
If you need a streamer ...
The last time the Steelers played the Bengals I made probably my best call of the year: Three Pittsburgh tight ends would find the end zone. And they did! But it was Freiermuth who had the biggest day of them all. He led the Steelers in targets (six), catches (five), receiving yards (111) and touchdowns (two). The floor may be low, but he offers a high ceiling against a Bengals defense that has allowed the most fantasy PPG and touchdowns, and second-most yards to tight ends. If you are diving deeper, take a shot on this matchup.
Sit 'Em
For much of last year and early on this season, Henry looked like Drake Maye's go-to guy. That has changed quite a bit since late-September, with Henry seeing six or more targets in a game only once since Week 3. He has scored in the single-digits in six straight games. Meanwhile, Patriots receivers have continued to eat more and more downfield. Henry isn't worth a lineup spot this week.
Taylor has shown to have a very low floor with some boom potential. The problem is that his breakout games have been almost entirely based on matchup; his best performances have come against the Dolphins, Cowboys and Bengals -- some of the worst defenses in the league. Although the Patriots have struggled against tight ends this season, the Jets' offense has been way too hard to trust this season. Do you want to take a chance on an offense that had 54 passing yards last week? Perhaps volume wins the day in catchup mode, but Taylor feels risky.
Njoku caught a touchdown pass on Sunday and managed to score double-digit fantasy points for a second straight week. But he had just two targets in a game in which Dillon Gabriel threw 32 passes. He continues to be out-targeted -- and, more often than not, out-scored in fantasy -- by Harold Fannin Jr.. Against the Ravens this weekend, I'd expect another heavy workload from Gabriel. But Baltimore has allowed only one touchdown pass over its past three games. So, unless Njoku hauls in an unlikely scoring strike, I see his floor at fewer than five points.
Hockenson has topped double-digit fantasy points just twice this season and is averaging just 4.7 fantasy PPG with J.J. McCarthy under center. In fact, his high mark in four games with McCarthy is a measly 15 yards. You simply cannot trust him in your lineup this week ... and probably for the rest of the fantasy season.
It doesn't look like it's going to happen this season for Engram. He has only one game with double-digit fantasy points thus far, producing just 12 yards and 3.2 fantasy points in his previous two games combined. This week's matchup, against the Chiefs, doesn't favor the veteran tight end, as Kansas City has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy PPG to the position this season. I've already dropped him in one of my leagues, and I'd recommend you do the same.
