NFL Fantasy 2024 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Tight ends for Week 17

Last week was Smith’s worst fantasy game since Week 10, with 12.2 points. That shows you just how reliable he has been at a time when the tight end position offers very few consistent weekly starters. Smith may be the biggest league winner at tight end not named Brock Bowers, who has been a must-start and far too obvious to be included in this article. Smith has averaged 19.8 fantasy points over his last six games, making him a must-start option. The Browns are not a slam dunk matchup, but Smith has come through the last two weeks despite having two of the toughest matchups for a tight end. Keep riding the hot hand! Oh, and if you've been following along with us this season, my colleague LaQuan Jones has already bought the blonde hair dye! 

Njoku came through for fantasy managers once again despite the Browns switching to Dorian Thompson-Robinson from Jameis Winston. Against the Bengals, he led the Browns with 10 targets, eight catches and 66 receiving yards, scoring 14.6 fantasy points. He has 40 targets over his last three games, averaging eight catches, 53 receiving yards and 19.3 fantasy points with three touchdowns. He faces the Dolphins, who have allowed the sixth-most catches and rank just outside the top 10 in yards allowed to tight ends this season. Given the recent volume and production, you need to keep riding with him. 

Did anyone else lose your fantasy matchup on Henry’s garbage time touchdown last week, or just me? No, I am not still very, very salty about that. He caught that touchdown on his fourth end zone target of the series -- not even kidding. Yes, it is painful to those who lost, but that series shows Henry is a favorite of Drake Maye, especially when they get in the red zone. The veteran tight end has averaged 11.1 fantasy PPG since Maye took over in Week 6. He has just two games with fewer than nine fantasy points in that stretch, showing that he brings a safe floor. Henry remains in play at a position that does not offer many safe options. 

Don’t look now but Okonkwo has 21 targets over his last two games. He caught 17 of those targets for 140 yards and scored 13.9 and 19.1 fantasy points, respectively, in those games. Those were both top seven fantasy TE finishes. Tennessee's move to Mason Rudolph has clearly benefitted Okonkwo, who has been the QB's top option. According to Fantasy Points Data, Okonkwo was the first read on 32 percent of the Titans' dropbacks last week. On Sunday, he faces a Jaguars defense that has allowed the seventh-most yards and rank top 10 in fantasy PPG allowed to tight ends. For those of you who have been streaming tight ends, Okonkwo is a name for you this week. 

Last week, Pitts volleyballed a touchdown to the defense for Michael Penix Jr.’s first career interception. It was just another reminder of what Pitts has become since his rookie year: a tight end you simply can't trust in fantasy football. He has averaged 3.5 fantasy points over his last seven games. It has been the most disappointing stretch in what has been a very underwhelming three years for Pitts. We cannot blame the multiple QBs and play-callers that have come through Atlanta. The Commanders are a middle-of-the-pack matchup for tight ends, but there is no way you should trust him with the fantasy title on the line. And just for the record, I won't be hyping up Pitts next year. 

Last week was Ferguson’s best fantasy performance since Week 9. His 10 fantasy points showed that the floor AND ceiling are not very high. From Week 10 on, he has averaged just 5.4 fantasy PPG. Now he faces the Eagles, who have allowed the second-fewest yards and fourth-fewest fantasy PPG to tight ends. There is simply not enough upside to risk starting him in such a tough matchup. Stream elsewhere this week. 

Every few weeks, Kmet will hit with a big fantasy performance. The difficult part is it is nearly impossible to predict when those games will occur. He is buried behind three receivers in the Bears' pecking order, which is why he has just six total targets in his last four contests. He has had nine games with three or fewer targets. With Kmet being a familiar name to fantasy managers and the Seahawks presenting a middle-of-the-road matchup, some may consider streaming him. But don't do that to yourself. There are better options out there.

It was good to see Higbee return from the torn ACL he sustained last season. It's a great story, but unfortunately, stories don't score fantasy points. He ran just six routes and saw two targets against the Jets. Now he'll face the Cardinals, who have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy PPG to tight ends this season, on a shorter week. The fantasy championship is not the time to stream a player returning from injury.