Week 16 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: Tight Ends

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 vs. Raiders (Mon.)
2. T.J. Hockenson vs. Lions
3. Sam LaPorta at Vikings
4. Trey McBride at Bears
5. George Kittle vs. Ravens (Mon.)
6. David Njoku at Texans
7. Evan Engram at Buccaneers
8. Jake Ferguson at Dolphins
9. Isaiah Likely at 49ers
10. Dallas Goedert vs. Giants (Mon.)

Week 16 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 16 Start ’Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Trey McBride at Bears (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): McBride has been the hottest tight end in fantasy football, scoring 20-plus points in each of his last two games. He has also seen at least nine targets in four of his last five games, including 11 last week. He’s a must start against the Bears, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends in the last four weeks, including 26.4 points to David Njoku last week.

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Start ’Em

David Njoku at Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Njoku continues to roll, posting 26-plus points in two straight games. He’s also scored at least 11.8 points in seven of his last eight games, and he’s been even better since Joe Flacco took over as the top quarterback. He should remain in starting lineups against the Texans, who have given up the sixth-most points and a 73.7% catch rate to tight ends this season.

Dalton Kincaid at Chargers (Sat. 8 p.m. ET, Peacock): Kincaid’s value has taken a hit in the last two weeks, and it culminated in a goose egg last week. With that said, this week’s plus matchup against the Chargers at least makes him worth a look. Their defense has allowed five touchdowns, the fifth-most receiving yards and the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends. Consider him a low-end option.

Pat Freiermuth vs. Bengals (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, NBC): Freiermuth has been a “Scrooge” in the stat sheets lately, scoring fewer than seven points in each of his last three games. The good news is that the last time he posted a nice line, it was against this week’s opponent, the Bengals. Their defense has been bad against tight ends, allowing the second-most points to tight ends in the last four weeks.

More Starts

Taysom Hill at Rams (Thur. 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Hunter Henry at Broncos (8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Isaiah Likely at 49ers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Jake Ferguson at Dolphins ($4,900)
Cole Kmet vs. Cardinals ($4,400)
Cade Otton vs. Jaguars ($3,300)

Week 16 Sit ’Em: Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Kyle Pitts vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Pitts, listed as a sit ’em last week, put up a mere 6.7 PPR points in a loss to the Panthers. He’s now been held to fewer than 10 points in seven of his last eight games, and his target share remains less than stellar. I’d avoid him this week, as Pitts faces a Colts defense that hasn’t allowed more than 11.4 points to a tight end this season. Pitts remains a fantasy risk.

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Sit ’Em

Dalton Schultz vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Browns have been bad against tight ends lately, allowing 32.5 points to Evan Engram in Week 14 and 13.3 points to Cole Kmet last week. Still, their defense has allowed the second-fewest points to the position overall. Schultz could be worth a roll of the dice for those in need, but he’s tough to trust during the second week of the playoffs against a tough unit.

Tucker Kraft at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Kraft scored a touchdown and 15.7 points in last week’s loss to the Buccaneers, and he’s now scored 10-plus points in each of his last two games. Regardless, this week’s matchup against the Panthers makes him a fade. Their defense has allowed just four touchdowns and the fourth-fewest points to opposing tight ends, so Kraft is better left to the sidelines.

Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. Seahawks (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Okonkwo was held to just 6.6 fantasy points in last week’s loss to the Texans, ending a streak of three games in which he posted at least 8.5 points. I’d keep him on the sidelines this week, as he faces a Seahawks defense that’s allowed just three touchdowns to tight ends. In traditional leagues, Okonkwo should be considered a gamble this weekend.

More Sits

Gerald Everett vs. Bills (Sat. 8 p.m. ET, Peacock)
Noah Fant at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Michael Mayer at Chiefs (Mon. 1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Dalton Schultz vs. Browns ($4,600)
Kyle Pitts vs. Colts ($4,000)
Tucker Kraft at Panthers ($3,700)