NFL Fantasy 2024 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Tight ends for Week 12

Some will say Otton has a tough matchup this week, but I don’t care. He had a down week by his standards before Tampa’s Week 11 bye with 8.5 fantasy points, but that’s a very safe floor for a tight end. Otton has averaged 19.3 fantasy points and 9.8 targets per game in his last four contests, leading the position in yards and ranking second in targets, catches and touchdowns in that span. He’s elite and a must-start.

Last week was disappointing fantasy-wise for Hockenson (3.3 points). That will happen with a player working his way back from injury. However, Hockenson caught eight passes for 72 yards the week prior, proving he has a high ceiling. The Bears rank in the middle of the pack against tight ends, and the upside keeps him in play, especially with six teams on a bye.

I have been telling you that Drake Maye’s favorite target is Henry, yet he remains available in a good number of leagues. Let’s change that! Since Maye took over as QB1, Henry has a 26 percent first-read share, sixth-best among tight ends, per Fantasy Points Data. He has also averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game, making him a tight end you can start, especially against Miami, which has allowed the fourth-most yards to tight ends since Week 7.

Since Week 7, Dissly has a first-read rate of 22 percent, eighth-highest among tight ends, per Fantasy Points Data. He has averaged 6.6 targets, 48 yards and 10.8 FPPG in that span. Dissly is a usable tight end against the Ravens, who have allowed the second-most yards and ninth-most FPPG to tight ends.

In his last six games, Smith has topped 11 fantasy points three times. He has topped 22 points twice, including last week’s game, when he went for 101 yards and two touchdowns. What I like even more than that is the consistent volume he has seen. He has six or more targets in five of his last six games. The Patriots are a middle of the pack defense against tight ends, but the upside is high here. That has him in play in a week with so many teams on bye. 

Sanders has produced eight-plus fantasy points in four of his last five games. He has five or more targets in four of his last six. Now he gets the Chiefs, who have allowed the most yards and fourth-most FPPG to tight ends. He’s an upside streamer in a game where the Panthers are likely to be chasing points.

Johnson has six targets in two straight games. He routinely plays 80 to 90-plus percent of the snaps. Now he gets the Bucs, who have allowed the fourth-most yards and fifth-most FPPG to tight ends. The floor is low, but he brings some upside for those diving deeper. 

Last week was rough for Kraft and his fantasy managers. He finished with no catches on one target against the Bears. He has averaged just 3.6 targets per game in his last five contests. Kraft was getting by with big plays and touchdowns earlier in the season, but we have seen over the last five games that the floor is very low when he doesn’t find the end zone. This week he gets the 49ers, who have allowed the fourth-fewest yards to tight ends this season (second fewest since Week 7). If you can get away, I would. 

It just isn’t clicking for Russell Wilson and Freiermuth. He has three targets or fewer in all four games Wilson has started. He has been held to less than 20 yards in each of the last three. He has averaged 6.3 FPPG in Wilson’s starts. The Browns rank in the middle of the pack against tight ends, but they have allowed just two touchdowns to TEs all season. There hasn’t been enough production to trust him. 

Last week may have been better for Kmet and the Bears offense, but it wasn’t good enough to trust him in your starting lineup. He has averaged just two targets per game in his last four. He has 69 total yards and 14.9 fantasy points in that four-game span. Those would be good numbers in a single game, but for a whole month? That’s not going to cut it. The Vikings rank among the top 10 defenses in yards and FPPG allowed to tight ends. Stay away. 

Schultz has seen a slight bump in volume as of late, but it has not led to much fantasy success. He has yet to reach double-digit fantasy points in any game this season. There simply is not enough upside to start him in fantasy. Plus, the Titans have been a tough matchup for tight ends. They have allowed the fifth-fewest yards and just two touchdowns to the position. In total, they have allowed the seventh-fewest FPPG to tight ends. There are streaming options with more upside. 

Full disclosure: I was going to put Jake Ferguson in this spot, but he suffered a concussion on Monday night and is unlikely to play this week, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. Instead, I will say do not chase the points from last week with Parkinson. He caught a 19-yard touchdown pass, but that was his only target in the last three games. He has five targets in his last five games. With the big dawgs at wide receiver back for the Rams, there is not enough volume for Parkinson. Plus, the Eagles have been very stingy to tight ends.