RADIO
The fantasy football playoffs are in full swing and every start or sit decision becomes that much more important as your team advances to the next round.
The margin for error is small when it comes to playoff matchups. Unless you have a player or two go off, you simply need some solid production from every roster spot to give your team a chance to win and advance.
The tight end position can be tricky, with fewer reliable options than other positions. Let's take a look at three tight ends who you should consider putting in your lineups in Week 16.
Should I Start Jonnu Smith for Fantasy Football?
Jonnu Smith's breakout season has been fun to watch for those who backed him as a late-round value, but has also come at the cost of others (Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle) underachieving.
The fantasy TE1 over the last 10 weeks of the season:
Jonnu Smith pic.twitter.com/CspN9Zwgkq
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) December 19, 2024
Smith sits at a 21% target share through Week 15 and is coming off another double-digit target game as he hauled in nine of 11 targets last week against the Texans.
That makes three weeks in the last four where Smith has 11 targets. And against the 49ers this weekend, he should continue to be a major part of the offense for a few reasons.
Not only is Jaylen Waddle out, but the Niners are likely to key on Tyreek Hill while trying to get pressure on Tua Tagovailoa. That should result in a lot of quick passes to Smith and Miami running backs as the Dolphins attempt to keep the chains moving.
Smith is a must-start in all formats, you didn't ride him all these weeks to bench him now!
Should I Start Brenton Strange for Fantasy Football?
Evan Engram is done for the season and in his stead, Strange put up a big number last week. The Jacksonville tight end reeled in 11 of 12 targets against the Jets for a modest 73 yards, functioning as the check-down safety net for Mac Jones.
Over the last 3 weeks, here are the TEs targeted the most on a per-route basis: (min. 40+ total routes run)
31%- David Njoku
29%- Chig Okonkwo 👀
28%- Hunter Henry
27%- Trey McBride
26%- Noah Gray, Brenton StrangePer @FantasyPtsData
— Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg) December 20, 2024
Strange has been limited at practice this week, but expects to play against the Raiders this week. Vegas has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing TEs this season, so the matchup is very favorable.
As long as he's in the lineup, Strange is startable in pretty much all formats. He should continue to see a lot of volume in the passing game and lead the team in targets alongside wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Should I Start Tucker Kraft for Fantasy Football?
Kraft has looked phenomenal at times this season, carrying fantasy managers to wins with big outings earlier in the year. However, his production has been very uneven as he's also been held to five or fewer fantasy points (half-PPR) in five weeks.
Tucker Kraft leads the league in YAC/catch among TEs.
Jacobs an elite after-contact runner.
Psycho time. https://t.co/A5g3jMaYAv
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) December 20, 2024
Kraft has a nice matchup this week against a New Orleans defense that ranks 25th in DVOA vs. the tight end position. However, the Packers also tend to spread the ball around to a lot of different receivers and they love to pound the football with Josh Jacobs as often as possible.
The inconsistency of Kraft's involvement makes him a tough start for standard formats. You should probably look for a more reliable option if there is one available.
Popular Week 16 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 16 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Jonnu Smith, Brenton Strange, Tucker Kraft compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Hunter Henry or Brenton Strange
Pat Freiermuth or Brenton Strange
Tucker Kraft or Brenton Strange
Hunter Henry or Tucker Kraft
Jake Ferguson or Brenton Strange
Sam Laporta or Jonnu Smith
Brenton Strange or Tucker Kraft
Tj Hockenson or Brenton Strange
Mark Andrews or Tucker Kraft
George Kittle or Jonnu Smith
David Njoku or Jonnu Smith
Tj Hockenson or Tucker Kraft
Brock Bowers or Jonnu Smith
Dalton Kincaid or Brenton Strange
Dalton Schultz or Brenton Strange
Cade Otton or Brenton Strange
Tj Hockenson or Jonnu Smith
Stone Smartt or Brenton Strange
Travis Kelce or Brenton Strange
Dalton Kincaid or Tucker Kraft
Pat Freiermuth or Tucker Kraft
Travis Kelce or Jonnu Smith
Sam Laporta or Tucker Kraft
David Njoku or Brenton Strange
Mark Andrews or Brenton Strange
Khalil Shakir or Jonnu Smith
Trey Mcbride or Jonnu Smith
Cade Otton or Tucker Kraft
Jakobi Meyers or Jonnu Smith
Dalton Schultz or Tucker Kraft
Kyle Pitts or Brenton Strange
Adam Thielen or Jonnu Smith
Courtland Sutton or Jonnu Smith
Jake Ferguson or Tucker Kraft
Chuba Hubbard or Jonnu Smith
Cole Kmet or Brenton Strange
Jonnu Smith or Brenton Strange
Juwan Johnson or Brenton Strange
Ladd Mcconkey or Jonnu Smith
Stone Smartt or Tucker Kraft
Tyjae Spears or Brenton Strange
Calvin Ridley or Jonnu Smith
Darnell Mooney or Brenton Strange
Pat Freiermuth or Jonnu Smith
Tucker Kraft or Jonnu Smith
Tyreek Hill or Jonnu Smith
Zach Ertz or Tucker Kraft
Cade Otton or Jonnu Smith
Mark Andrews or Jonnu Smith
Marvin Harrisonjr or Jonnu Smith
Terry Mclaurin or Brenton Strange
Derrick Henry or Brenton Strange
Dk Metcalf or Brenton Strange
Isaac Guerendo or Jonnu Smith
Jauan Jennings or Jonnu Smith
Kendre Miller or Brenton Strange
Mike Gesicki or Brenton Strange
Amari Cooper or Brenton Strange
Brian Thomasjr or Jonnu Smith
David Njoku or Tucker Kraft
Isiah Pacheco or Brenton Strange
Sam Laporta or Brenton Strange
Alexander Mattison or Tucker Kraft
Brenton Strange or Jonnu Smith
Brian Robinsonjr or Jonnu Smith
Brock Bowers or Brenton Strange
Bucky Irving or Jonnu Smith
Chig Okonkwo or Brenton Strange
Dallas Goedert or Jonnu Smith
Dalton Kincaid or Jonnu Smith
Devonta Smith or Jonnu Smith
Dk Metcalf or Jonnu Smith
Jerome Ford or Jonnu Smith
Jonnu Smith or Jonnu Smith
Keenan Allen or Tucker Kraft
Malik Nabers or Jonnu Smith
Michael Mayer or Brenton Strange
Rico Dowdle or Jonnu Smith
Travis Kelce or Tucker Kraft
Tyrone Tracyjr or Jonnu Smith
Will Dissly or Brenton Strange
Will Dissly or Jonnu Smith
Zach Ertz or Brenton Strange
Alexander Mattison or Brenton Strange
Breece Hall or Jonnu Smith
Chigoziem Okonkwo or Brenton Strange
Cooper Kupp or Brenton Strange
Cooper Kupp or Jonnu Smith
Dandre Swift or Brenton Strange
Dandre Swift or Jonnu Smith
Darnell Mooney or Jonnu Smith
Dj Moore or Jonnu Smith
Drake London or Jonnu Smith
Drake London or Tucker Kraft
George Kittle or Tucker Kraft
Gus Edwards or Brenton Strange
Hunter Henry or Jonnu Smith
Isiah Pacheco or Jonnu Smith
Jake Ferguson or Jonnu Smith
Jalen Coker or Brenton Strange
Jalen Coker or Tucker Kraft
Jalen Mcmillan or Jonnu Smith
Jalen Mcmillan or Tucker Kraft
Jonnu Smith or Tucker Kraft
Jordan Addison or Jonnu Smith
Keenan Allen or Jonnu Smith
Kyle Pitts or Tucker Kraft
Mike Gesicki or Tucker Kraft
Najee Harris or Tucker Kraft
Noah Fant or Brenton Strange
Quentin Johnston or Brenton Strange
Rachaad White or Tucker Kraft
Rashod Bateman or Brenton Strange
Rashod Bateman or Tucker Kraft
Rome Odunze or Brenton Strange
Romeo Doubs or Tucker Kraft
Terry Mclaurin or Jonnu Smith
Terry Mclaurin or Tucker Kraft
Tony Pollard or Jonnu Smith
Travis Etiennejr or Jonnu Smith
Trey Mcbride or Tucker Kraft
Tyjae Spears or Jonnu Smith
Tyrone Tracyjr or Brenton Strange
Tyrone Tracyjr or Tucker Kraft
Zay Flowers or Brenton Strange
Zay Flowers or Jonnu Smith
Aaron Jones or Jonnu Smith
Aj Brown or Jonnu Smith
Alvin Kamara or Brenton Strange
Alvin Kamara or Jonnu Smith
Amari Cooper or Tucker Kraft
Brandin Cooks or Tucker Kraft
Breece Hall or Brenton Strange
Brian Robinsonjr or Brenton Strange
Bryce Young or Tucker Kraft
Bucky Irving or Tucker Kraft
Chig Okonkwo or Tucker Kraft
Christian Watson or Brenton Strange
Christian Watson or Jonnu Smith
Darnell Mooney or Tucker Kraft
Deandre Hopkins or Brenton Strange
Deandre Hopkins or Jonnu Smith
Deebo Samuelsr or Jonnu Smith
Devin Singletary or Tucker Kraft
Devon Achane or Tucker Kraft
Elijah Moore or Brenton Strange
Elijah Moore or Tucker Kraft
Eric Gray or Brenton Strange
George Kittle or Brenton Strange
George Pickens or Jonnu Smith
Grant Calcaterra or Brenton Strange
Isaiah Likely or Brenton Strange
Isaiah Likely or Tucker Kraft
Jalen Mcmillan or Brenton Strange
Jameson Williams or Jonnu Smith
Jauan Jennings or Brenton Strange
Javonte Williams or Jonnu Smith
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Jonnu Smith
Jayden Reed or Brenton Strange
Jaylen Waddle or Brenton Strange
Jaylen Waddle or Jonnu Smith
Jaylen Warren or Jonnu Smith
Jaylen Warren or Tucker Kraft
Jerome Ford or Brenton Strange
Jerry Jeudy or Jonnu Smith
Jonathan Taylor or Brenton Strange
Jordan Addison or Brenton Strange
Jordan Addison or Tucker Kraft
Jordan Akins or Tucker Kraft
Josh Downs or Jonnu Smith
Kenneth Walkeriii or Brenton Strange
Kenneth Walkeriii or Jonnu Smith
Khalil Shakir or Tucker Kraft
Marvin Harrisonjr or Tucker Kraft
Michael Pittmanjr or Brenton Strange
Minnesota Vikings or Brenton Strange
Najee Harris or Brenton Strange
Najee Harris or Jonnu Smith
Noah Gray or Brenton Strange
Noah Gray or Tucker Kraft
Patrick Mahomes or Jonnu Smith
Patrick Taylorjr or Jonnu Smith
Quentin Johnston or Tucker Kraft
Rachaad White or Jonnu Smith
Ray Davis or Brenton Strange
Rayray Mccloudiii or Brenton Strange
Romeo Doubs or Brenton Strange
Russell Wilson or Jonnu Smith
Tank Bigsby or Tucker Kraft
Tank Dell or Brenton Strange
Tim Patrick or Tucker Kraft
Tony Pollard or Brenton Strange
Tre Tucker or Tucker Kraft
Trey Benson or Brenton Strange
Trey Mcbride or Brenton Strange
Tyjae Spears or Tucker Kraft
Tylan Wallace or Brenton Strange
Zach Charbonnet or Tucker Kraft
Zach Ertz or Jonnu Smith
Zay Flowers or Tucker Kraft
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