Tight Ends Fantasy Football Start 'Em and Sit 'Em For Week 12

We are officially in the home stretch of the fantasy football regular season. Traditional 12-team leagues have three more weeks, making our start/sit decisions even more critical and stressful. Securing a playoff spot is always the goal, but that first-round bye can be the difference between a championship or an early playoff exit.

The tight end position has been difficult to navigate this season, but heading into Week 12, there looks to be approximately 10 tight ends who should now be viewed as weekly starts. After these 10, fantasy managers will typically have between five to six streamers they can choose from, depending on matchups. However, in terms of elite production, there are only three to four of those.

In this article, I'll identify several tight ends with the best and worst matchups, along with two deep streamers fantasy managers can target this season and one big-name player fantasy managers should be wary of. To take advantage of our great premium tools and save yourself some money, please use promo code "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount.

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Must Starts

1 . George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

2. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

4. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

5. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

6. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Strong Starts

7. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

8. Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers

9. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

10. Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins

Preferred Streamers

11. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

12. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

13. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

14. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Desperation Starts

15. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

16. Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys

17. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

18. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers

19. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

20. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

21. Theo Johnson, New York Giants

Tight Ends with a Favorable Matchup

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

LaPorta didn’t play against the Jaguars last week, but he should return to the lineup this week to face the Indianapolis Colts. The good news is that the Colts allow the seventh-most half-PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends this season at 11.7.

#Lions HC Dan Campbell has a 90% reliability rating on injury coachspeak

We’re cautiously optimistic about Sam LaPorta suiting up this week, based on Campbell’s language here https://t.co/R4thhnt1u4 pic.twitter.com/dEqcv5dZAC

— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) November 21, 2024

The bad news is that they’re also giving up the 13th-most and 14th-most points to running backs and receivers, respectively. Their defense has been abysmal all season. They are allowing the 14th-most points per game to NFL offenses and the fifth-most yards per game.

They’re giving up the 26th-most passing yards and 28th-most rushing yards. There isn’t anything this defense does well. The concern with that is that any of Detroit’s offensive playmakers could have a huge week, leaving someone out in the cold.

The other concern is that the Colts’ offense never threatens Detroit enough where Detroit needs to throw the ball. That was a concern last week against the Jaguars, too, but that turned out just fine. However, LaPorta has a great matchup at the end of the day.

The Colts’ defense hemorrhages yards and points, which gives LaPorta the potential for a ceiling outcome. It’s possible Jared Goff isn’t asked to do much, and LaPorta has a quiet game, especially after returning from his ankle injury. The risk, however, is worth the reward. LaPorta is worth firing up this week in hopes he can find the end zone in a contest where Detroit could score 40 or more points.

Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers

Since Week 7, Dissly has had a 21.7% target share. He’s averaging 6.6 targets per game since that time, a pace that would have him finish with 112 targets over an entire 17-game season. Over these last five games, Dissly is averaging 4.8 receptions and 48.2 yards per game. That may not sound like much, but it’s a 17-game pace of 82 receptions and 819 yards.

He’s averaging 8.4 half-PPR PPG during this stretch. This includes two games where he scored 12.1 and, most recently, 16.0 half-PPR points. He has recorded four or more receptions in four of his last five games and has become a fixture in the Chargers’ passing attack.

Since Week 6, LAC TE Will Dissly leads the team in target share.🤯

Maybe its not actually all that surprising as Dissly ranked 5th over that stretch in separation score among TEs. @FantasyPtsData

Perhaps my man is earning himself some targets and has a TE heavy play caller.

— Brett Whitefield (@BGWhitefield) November 18, 2024

His utilization and production already have him trending upward, but this weekend's matchup is mouth-watering. The Ravens allow the 10th-most half-PPR points to tight ends this season at 10.8 PPG. Baltimore has allowed the most passing yards and the fourth-most passing touchdowns.

Opposing offenses do not even try running the ball on the Ravens. Baltimore is in the top 5 in rush attempts, rushing yards, and yards per carry. This makes them the most pass-funnel defense in the NFL. It’s not overly close, either. If you want to move the ball on Baltimore, throw it.

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

The matchup is so appealing that fantasy managers can ignore (to some extent) the concerns regarding the run-heavy approach of Philadelphia’s offense. The Rams' defense has been most generous this season, and that includes to tight ends.

Los Angeles allows the sixth-most points to tight ends this year at 11.9 half-PPR PPG. They’ve also given up the 11th-most passing yards and eighth-most passing touchdowns. Their run defense isn’t much better, so it’s possible this could also turn into a Saquon Barkley game.

Jalen Hurts has not thrown over 30 pass attempts in a game since Week 3. Over his last seven games, Hurts is averaging just 23 pass attempts and 204 passing yards per game. When you’re competing with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, that minimal volume is a concern.

AJ Brown is playing at an incredibly high level.

But the #Eagles have gone full boomtown. Dead last in PROE over the last month. pic.twitter.com/tIH2PbBMxo

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) November 19, 2024

However, the Rams have also allowed four tight ends to score more than 14 half-PPR points in a game this season. Goedert is averaging 12.5 yards per reception. He has four plays of 30 or more yards this season. Goedert has the potential to break one or two big plays and put together a quality outing.

The Rams’ offense has been clicking lately, thanks to the return of several offensive line starters. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua also appear to be 100%. That could put Philadelphia in a position where they can’t just run the ball out. Their offense may need to put up points this week, giving Goedert a chance for a ceiling outcome.

Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers

Sanders is a desperation play. Ideally, you have better options, but his matchup is appealing. The Chiefs are tied for the fourth-most points allowed to tight ends this year at 12.5 half-PPR PPG.

Given the matchup, there will be no concerns about a lack of potential volume. The Panthers will be trailing in this one; realistically, that’ll happen quite early. It’ll put Bryce Young and the offense in catch-up mode and facilitate a pass-heavy game script.

It’s tough – borderline impossible – to trust Young, but the matchup is favorable, the game script should be gone, and Sanders has been productive in recent games. Sanders has scored 7.0 half-PPR points or more in four of his last five games.

He has four or more receptions in three of his last five games. He also has games of 49, 61, and 87 receiving yards in the previous five contests. The floor is low, and trusting any Panthers offensive player not named Chuba Hubbard is not for the faint of heart. However, if you’re truly desperate, Sanders has some appeal this week.

Tight Ends with a Poor Matchup

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

It's not surprising, but Andrews’ route participation rate plummeted last week with the return of Isaiah Likely. Likely missed Week 10 and Andrews had an 85% route participation rate. He returned in Week 11, causing Andrews’ route rate to drop to 43%.

Andrews has just one game with more than five targets this season. With Likely healthy, Andrews’ ceiling and floor decreases. He did have a hot streak from Weeks 6-8, where he averaged 14.76 half-PPR PPG, but much of that was on the back of touchdowns.

He scored four touchdowns over a three-game stretch, which resulted in 54% of his fantasy production during this span. Andrews has yet to score over 7.5 half-PPR points in a game where he doesn’t score a touchdown. That’s not uncommon for your non-elite tight ends, but it makes him a touchdown-dependent play.

The problem with that is his matchup is brutal. The Chargers have allowed the ninth-fewest half-PPR PPG average to tight ends this season, at 7.9. They have also allowed a single touchdown to an opposing tight end this season.

Only one tight end, Travis Kelce, has scored more than 9.0 half-PPR points, finishing with 12.4. The Chargers held Trey McBride to 7.6 half-PPR points, Brock Bowers to 8.8 half-PPR points, and David Njoku to 5.4, well below their season averages. If you’re starting Andrews this week, you’re praying for a touchdown. Without one, he may not even net you five points.

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

The 49ers have only allowed five tight ends to score more than 6.0 half-PPR points in a game against them this season. None of them have scored more than 9.5. Of those five outings, one stat line was one target, catch, yard, and touchdown.

Another was two targets, two catches, 13 yards, and a touchdown. They held Trey McBride to just 8.3 half-PPR points. They also held Travis Kelce to 3.7, Jake Ferguson (when they still had Dak Prescott) to 5.3, and Cade Otton to 6.0 half-PPR points.

The 49ers allow just 7.1 half-PPR PPG to tight ends this season, which is the fifth-lowest in the NFL. They have one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, allowing the eighth-fewest passing yards and ninth-fewest passing touchdowns. Kraft’s full-time role, Jordan Love, and the potent team offense give Kraft a chance to find the end zone and keep him in fringe starter status, but he needs to be downgraded this week. It’s one of the toughest matchups for any tight end.

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

Most tight ends are boom-or-bust players, but no player matches that definition more than Kmet. He has scored 58.8% of his total points in two contests. In those two games, he's averaging 21.1 half-PPR PPG. In those other eight games, he's averaging 3.7 half-PPR PPG.

Last week, in the first game with new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, Kmet cleared a 95% route participation rate. He had not been above 90% in any season this year under Shane Waldron. That's a step in the right direction and could help Kmet become a solid streamer in future weeks when he has a favorable matchup. Unfortunately, that is not this week.

The Vikings allow the 10th-fewest points per game to opposing tight ends at 8.0. They have allowed just two tight ends to score more than 8.5 half-PPR points. Those two were George Kittle and Tucker Kraft. They haven't faced the toughest group of tight ends, but Minnesota has still been one of the more aggressive and havoc-wreaking defenses this season.

Caleb Williams has only thrown a touchdown pass in four out of 10 games this season, which lowers Kmet's weekly upside. Even last week, when Kmet had his highest route participation of the season, he had just a 9.6% target share.

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

Schultz has yet to catch a touchdown pass this season. He has yet to score 8.5 half-PPR points in a game this season. He's had more than three receptions in four out of 11 games this season. This is despite the fact that Nico Collins has effectively missed five games, Stefon Diggs has missed the last couple, and Tank Dell still does not appear to have returned to form after a 2024 season-ending injury.

Collins returned last week but was still on a snap count. With one game now under his belt, his role and offensive involvement should increase this week. That's bad news for Schultz because he struggled to produce without Collins on the field. The matchup is another problem for him this week.

The Texans play the Titans, who allow the seventh-fewest half-PPR PPG to opposing tight ends at 7.3. Only one tight end, Sam LaPorta, has scored double-digit points (13.8). They held Hunter Henry to 9.1, Will Dissly to 5.5, T.J. Hockenson to 2.3, Dalton Kincaid to 6.7, and Tucker Kraft to 3.4.

Tennessee has given up the fewest passing yards this season. The Titans have had to defend just 281 pass attempts, the fifth-fewest this year. Offenses have attacked this Tennessee defense on the ground, and with Joe Mixon running as effectively as he has been, fantasy managers should expect Houston to use the same approach.

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