TE Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 9 (2024)

National Tight Ends Day has come and gone; with it, there is some hope for the tight end position moving forward. In Week 9, Cade Otton, Kyle Pitts, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Trey McBride all registered more than 20 fantasy points. Another four tight ends finished Sunday with more than 16 fantasy points. More than 15 tight ends posted double-digit fantasy totals. They also produced 19 touchdowns, the most in a single week since Week 17 of 2022.

Fantasy managers hope this trend will continue in Week 9. After all, Kittle and Pat Freiermuth will both be taking this week off due to their respective bye weeks.

There are no bye weeks in fantasy, so let's break down the RotoBaller Week 9 starts and sits at the tight end position.

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Week 9 Starts - Fantasy Football Booms

Tucker Kraft - TE, Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions

Only nine tight ends are averaging 10 or more fantasy points per game this season in PPR formats, and Tucker Kraft happens to be one of them. In standard scoring, Kraft sits only behind George Kittle in fantasy thanks to his five touchdown grabs, which are tied for the fourth-most among pass catchers this season.

We often don't consider tight ends as significant producers after the catch. However, it should be noted that Kraft is averaging an astonishing 8.25 yards after the catch in his career, the most at the position since the start of the 2022 season.

Tucker Kraft with some serious YAC!

📺: #GBvsJAX on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/9l2P89UmI5

— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024

Like Evan Engram, Kraft's matchup is not great. The Detroit Lions have allowed just nine fantasy points per game to the position over the last four weeks, and Jordan Love did suffer a groin injury during last week's contest against the Jaguars. Love's status is still unknown, which could turn this start into a sit, considering that during Malik Willis's two starts, Kraft saw just five targets, hauling in four for 40 yards.

Then again, Kraft's touchdown last week came courtesy of Willis, so I'll choose to use that as it fits my narrative. He has 12 or more fantasy points in four of the last five games.

Evan Engram - TE, Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles 

Engram may be the last man standing in Jacksonville. Christian Kirk was lost for the season on Sunday after breaking his collarbone. Brian Thomas Jr. exited early last week with a chest/rib injury, which puts his status in question for this week.

Jacksonville's offense started to resemble something we hadn't seen in quite some time. Last week, Trevor Lawrence completed 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns, one of which found its way into the hands of Engram. With Kirk done for the season and Thomas a name to watch on the injury report, Engram will need more if the Jaguars are to repeat that offensive performance in Week 9.

Evan Engram jumps over everyone for that TD pic.twitter.com/wrHNlhXlwl

— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) October 27, 2024

The matchup against the Eagles this week is less than favorable, but Engram may be the only option available to Lawrence in the passing game. Philadelphia has been stellar over the last four weeks, allowing just 7.26 fantasy points per game to the position.

Consider Engram a volume-based start this week and beyond, as he projects to be a top-5 fantasy tight end the rest of the season. Last season, when Kirk was available, Engram averaged 7.5 targets per game. Without Kirk, targets increased to 10.2 per contest.

Noah Fant - TE, Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams

Nothing about what Noah Fant has done this season should get fantasy managers excited. His 55 fantasy points through eight weeks rank 20th at the position. His 6.9 fantasy points per game sit 24th.

So why the Fant love this week? In two of his last three contests, Fant has recorded double-digit fantasy production, and the matchup against the Rams is a good one for fantasy tight ends. Los Angeles ranks inside the top 5 in receiving yards, yards per reception, and fantasy points generated per game to the position.

If you need a TE streamer for Week 9...

Noah Fant should be at the TOP of your list

LAR vs. TEs this season:

4th-most receiving yards per game allowed
4th-highest yards per reception allowed
2nd-most fantasy points per game allowed

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) October 28, 2024

Over the 2024 campaign, the Rams have allowed an average of 15.81 fantasy points per game, and over the last four weeks, that number has gone up to 18.13 per contest, the fourth-most. Over that time, they have conceded 29 receptions, 234 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns.

I mentioned Kraft's yards after the catch numbers. Surprisingly, Fant sat 10th in YAC among tight ends between 2022 and 2024, averaging 4.92 yards after contact. Before last week, Fant had caught 21 of 21 targets for 238 yards, an average of 11.3 yards per target.

Week 9 Sits - Fantasy Football Busts

Zach Ertz - TE, Washington Commanders at New York Giants 

As far as pleasant surprises go, Zach Ertz has been one thus far this season, currently slotted in as the TE13 in fantasy and averaging 9.3 fantasy points per game. Last week, Ertz finished with 14 fantasy points thanks to his seven receptions for 77 yards in that Miracle in Maryland finish.

This week, business is sure to pick up against a New York Giants defense allowing less than eight fantasy points to the position on a per-game basis this season. I love a good game called "Cat and Mouse." This week, Jayden Daniels will play the role of the mouse as the New York Giants again look to extend upon their league-leading sack and sack-yard loss totals.

Suppose the Giants continue to exert the pressure we are accustomed to. In that case, it's reasonable to suggest the Commanders will look to run some draws with Brian Robinson Jr. and Daniels, not to mention some quick screens to slow down that Giants pass rush, which will cut into Ertz's opportunity share this week.

Jake Ferguson - TE, Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons

I have no problem admitting that I can occasionally become a scorned fantasy manager. Jake Ferguson became the rotten candy apple of my eye last week after producing just 23 yards on six receptions, averaging 3.8 yards per reception against the 49ers.

The matchup is not terrible. Atlanta is in the middle of the pack when it comes to defending opposing tight ends this season. However, if Ferguson isn't producing the yardage, he needs touchdowns.  

People will see Cade Otton's monster performance and think Ferguson is a smash play this week. Rust has to be earned, and if Otton was Mr. Hyde, Ferguson looked more like Dr. Jekyll.

As a complete side note, Otton is also a must-start tight end moving forward. That two-touchdown, nine-reception performance last week without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin is too good to ignore.

Dalton Kincaid - TE, Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins

Even Dalton Kincaid got in on the action on National Tight Ends Day, which is good for him. Yesterday was like a birthday party for tight ends. Everyone was excited, there were gifts and games, and then the following day, you wake up a year older and sick from all the cake you shoved down your throat. Okay, maybe that's just me. 

It's time to wake up again regarding Kincaid and his fantasy stock. Unfortunately, Kincaid has produced just two double-digit fantasy performances in eight weeks. His 8.8 fantasy points per game are less than those of Mark Andrews, whom everyone discarded early in the season. Kincaid is the TE16 and he's been more of a trick than a treat thus far.

If you are dressing up as a tight end this Halloween season, I would avoid knocking on the Miami Dolphins' door. Miami is as likely to steal your candy as they are to hand you an "L." Over the last four weeks, Miami has allowed a league-low 3.87 fantasy points per game to the position and yielded just 56 yards on six receptions.

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