We have officially reached the point in the season where the cupboard is bare at the bottom of the tight end class. There is still one bargain option worth considering, but for the most part, if you want tight end production you are going to have to pay for it.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to pay all the way up. The Value Options may be the safest plays of the week, with Greg Olsen facing a tough matchup and guys like Delanie Walker and Travis Kelce falling flat in Week 7. That being said, there is a lot of upside to be had with the premium options, so you may want to pay a bit more for your tight end in GPP lineups.

               PtsOpp PaOppOpp Pa     
PlayerTeamH/AOppGSnapsTgtsTgt%Tgt/GRecRec/GCatch%ReYdsReTDYPCAllowDef RkDef RkYds/GO/U$LINE$FD$DK$FA
Rob GronkowskiNEABUF52272310.7%4.6173.473.9%375222.16.01616235.747220$8,100$7,000$5,700
Jimmy GrahamSEAANO62834119.5%6.8274.565.9%408115.17.22829287.048125$6,700$6,100$5,150
Jordan ReedWASACIN52874617.8%9.2336.671.7%31629.68.42123236.148-150$6,800$5,900$4,900
Greg OlsenCARHARI64286026.3%10.0396.565.0%610215.64.244193.048-145$7,400$6,500$4,750
Travis KelceKCAIND63483516.8%5.8274.577.1%276210.27.62931281.150115$5,700$4,900$4,700
Kyle RudolphMINACHI63794824.4%8.0264.354.2%291311.27.71819243.441190$5,100$3,500$4,550
Tyler EifertCINHWAS11520.8%2.011.050.0%909.07.71222243.648-150$5,600$4,100$4,500
Martellus BennettNEABUF73753516.2%5.0273.977.1%367413.66.01616235.747220$5,400$4,000$4,500
Hunter HenrySDADEN72912911.9%4.1202.969.0%326316.38.325175.044-230$5,800$3,700$4,300
Jack DoyleINDHKC73343312.4%4.7294.187.9%28249.76.0913257.050115$4,900$3,500$4,300
Coby FleenerNOHSEA62963713.8%6.2213.556.8%281213.43.853226.048125$5,700$3,400$4,300
Jason WittenDALHPHI64114223.3%7.0284.766.7%27409.82.411204.344-220$5,200$3,600$4,250
Gary BarnidgeCLEHNYJ74574016.5%5.7304.375.0%361012.012.23127282.744155$5,000$3,300$4,250
Zach ErtzPHIADAL4206168.7%4.0112.868.8%131011.916.12220266.244-220$4,800$3,600$4,200
Cameron BrateTBHOAK62893113.3%5.2203.364.5%226211.310.82628302.150-125$5,200$3,200$4,200
Zach MillerCHIHMIN73734417.3%6.3334.775.0%30539.28.232197.841190$5,500$3,000$4,200
Vernon DavisWASACIN7256218.1%3.0182.685.7%223112.48.42123236.148-150$4,500$2,900$4,200
Jacob TammeATLHGB73322912.0%4.1202.969.0%19139.614.2107242.253-150$5,300$2,800$4,150
Eric EbronDETAHOU42422510.6%6.3184.572.0%210111.74.0712184.746-135$5,300$3,000$4,000
Charles ClayBUFHNE73853619.4%5.1243.466.7%268011.210.42518258.747220$4,900$2,900$4,000
C.J. FiedorowiczHOUHDET72883111.7%4.4213.067.7%236211.218.43232273.046-135$4,900$2,800$4,000
Virgil GreenDENHSD4138125.2%3.0102.583.3%9509.512.368276.344-230$4,500$2,700$4,000
Antonio GatesSDADEN51713012.3%6.0173.456.7%11927.08.325175.044-230$5,300$2,700$3,900
Richard RodgersGBAATL6272177.2%2.891.552.9%8419.317.42426294.353-150$4,800$2,700$3,900
Dwayne AllenINDHKC62862710.1%4.5183.066.7%192210.76.0913257.050115$5,400$2,900$3,800
Clive WalfordOAKATB6251238.8%3.8162.769.6%15519.74.41715237.550-125$4,600$2,500$3,800
Jared CookGBAATL393114.7%3.762.054.5%5308.817.42426294.353-150$4,500$2,500$3,700
Austin Seferian-JenkinsNYJACLE25232.2%1.531.5100.0%44114.715.13030285.744155$4,600$2,500$3,500
Erik SwoopeINDHKC77383.0%1.140.650.0%93023.36.0913257.050115$4,500$2,500$3,500

Premium Options

Jimmy Graham

If you want to try to take advantage of the Saints’ terrible pass defense, Jimmy Graham is probably the best way to do it. Graham has at least five receptions in four straight games, averaging 89 yards per game over that span.

Martellus Bennett

The Patriots’ offense is beginning to feel a bit like the Saints’ in that you know points are coming, but not necessarily where they will come from. I would rather play Bennett than guys like Delanie Walker or Travis Kelce—that he is cheaper than they are is just a bonus.

Rob Gronkowski

I feel much the same way about Gronk as I do about Bennett. Gronk’s fantasy production was solid in Week 7, but he had just four targets. One of the great things about Gronkowski is he doesn’t need a ton of targets to rack up yardage and touchdowns, but I worry he is too volatile to justify his price. That being said, he could easily catch two touchdowns this week, which is why he is pretty much always a solid GPP consideration.

Value Options

Gary Barnidge

Gary Barnidge has at least three receptions and 37 yards in six consecutive games, and I expect him to make it seven against the Jets’ secondary. Barnidge is still looking for his first touchdown of the season, but Josh McCown’s return could actually help.

Jack Doyle

Jack Doyle is fourth among tight ends in fantasy points this season. He probably won’t catch nine passes again like he did last week, and his ceiling could be capped a bit if Donte Moncrief returns, but Doyle has a great chance to outperform his price yet again. Doyle seems like a lock for at least four receptions, and no one would be surprised if he finds the end zone for the third consecutive week.

Bargain Options

Erik Swoope

Swoope has averaged 46.2 yards over the last weeks, and he has a good chance to repeat that production with Dwayne Allen out again. Swoope had five targets in Week 7, and he should be a solid minimum play yet again.