Week 18 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. Sam LaPorta vs. Minnesota Vikings
2. Trey McBride vs. Seattle Seahawks
3. Evan Engram at Tennessee Titans
4. Dallas Goedert at New York Giants
5. Jake Ferguson at Washington Commanders
6. Juwan Johnson vs. Atlanta Falcons
7. Dalton Kincaid at Miami Dolphins
8. Darren Waller vs. Philadelphia Eagles
9. Cole Kmet at Green Bay Packers
10. Tucker Kraft vs. Chicago Bears

Week 18 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 18 Start ’Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Dallas Goedert vs. Giants (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Goedert has recorded 14-plus PPR points in two straight games, during which time he’s been targeted 15 times. That is a major improvement over his previous four games, where he had been held to single digits. With DeVonta Smith banged up and a matchup against the Giants next on the schedule, Goedert should be considered a nice option.

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Start ’Em

Tucker Kraft vs. Bears (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Kraft has been quietly consistent in the last four weeks, scoring at least 10 points in each contest. With several of the Packers wideouts dealing with injuries, Kraft should continue to see enough looks to be a low-end fantasy starter. He also has a nice matchup against the Bears, who have allowed six touchdowns and the sixth-most points to tight ends in 2023.

Juwan Johnson vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Johnson has been on a nice hot streak, scoring 11-plus points in three straight games including 23 in last week’s win over the Buccaneers. He’s a worthwhile add and start this week, too, as he goes up against an Atlanta defense that’s surrendered an average of close to 13 points per game to tight ends this season. Consider Johnson a low-end starter.

More Starts

Trey McBride vs. Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Darren Waller vs. Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
Dalton Kincaid at Dolphins (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Tucker Kraft vs. Bears ($3,700)
Juwan Johnson vs. Falcons ($3,600)
Harrison Bryant at Bengals ($2,500)

Week 18 Sit ’Em: Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Dalton Schultz at Colts (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Schultz, listed as a sit ’em last week, scored just 3.9 points in a win over the Titans. He’s now posted single digits in three of his last four games, and his last meeting against this week’s foe, the Colts, resulted in just 7.4 points. Overall, the Colts have allowed one enemy tight end (Kyle Pitts) to beat them for more than 11.4 fantasy points this season.

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Sit ’Em

Kyle Pitts at Saints (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pitts put up an absolute stinker in a loss to the Bears, scoring just 1.5 points on a single reception for five measly yards. He’s now scored single digits in eight of his last 10 contests, and he’s scored just one touchdown since Week 7. Pitts was also held to a mere 4.2 PPR points against the Saints earlier this season, so it’s tough to trust him if you’re in a championship.

Pat Freiermuth at Ravens (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): Freiermuth has been a serious disappointment this season, scoring single digits in five straight games and seven of his last eight games overall. The Ravens could decide to rest their starters this week, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Freiermuth will pop in the stat sheets. With just two games in double digits all year, he’s a fade in this AFC North clash.

More Sits

Tyler Conklin at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Cade Otton at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Noah Fant at Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Travis Kelce at Chargers ($6,600)
David Njoku at Bengals ($6,400)
George Kittle vs. Rams ($5,200)