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I usually have a pretty good idea of how the TE Coach will go before I start my research. For instance, with Delanie Walker on a bye, Jordan Reed and Rob Gronkowski hurt and Greg Olsen facing the Seahawks, I figured the Week 13 edition of the TE Coach would mostly feature cheap players, since most of the expensive ones were already accounted for. I was wrong.
The premium and value options may not be quite as safe as I would normally prefer, but they distinguished themselves with their upside. The truly safe tight ends have pretty limited ceilings, so if you have to pay for some upside, that is what I am willing to do, especially in a GPP lineup.
| Pts | Opp Pa | Opp Ov | Opp Pa | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Tm | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tar | Tar% | Tar/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTD | Fum | YPC | Allow | Def Rk | Def Rk | Yds/G | O/U | $Line | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Tyler Eifert | CIN | H | PHI | 5 | 249 | 36 | 9.1% | 7.2 | 21 | 4.2 | 58.3% | 312 | 2 | 0 | 14.9 | 5.1 | 2 | 3 | 236.5 | 42 | -125 | $6800 | $5300 | $4800 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | H | CAR | 11 | 553 | 70 | 19.1% | 6.4 | 51 | 4.6 | 72.9% | 706 | 4 | 2 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 15 | 10 | 275.2 | 44.5 | -320 | $6400 | $5500 | $4900 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | A | ATL | 11 | 640 | 82 | 20.9% | 7.5 | 57 | 5.2 | 69.5% | 675 | 3 | 0 | 11.8 | 10.7 | 21 | 24 | 282.2 | 49 | -220 | $6300 | $4700 | $4750 |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | A | SEA | 11 | 757 | 90 | 23.4% | 8.2 | 58 | 5.3 | 64.4% | 790 | 3 | 0 | 13.6 | 7.7 | 5 | 4 | 235.5 | 44.5 | -320 | $6200 | $5100 | $4700 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | H | TB | 10 | 390 | 38 | 9.6% | 3.8 | 26 | 2.6 | 68.4% | 371 | 5 | 1 | 14.3 | 8.6 | 10 | 12 | 253.5 | 47.5 | -190 | $5800 | $2900 | $4150 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | A | NO | 8 | 438 | 49 | 12.9% | 6.1 | 35 | 4.4 | 71.4% | 451 | 1 | 0 | 12.9 | 9.8 | 25 | 22 | 271.4 | 53.5 | -265 | $5700 | $3900 | $4600 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | H | DET | 11 | 442 | 58 | 12.9% | 5.3 | 37 | 3.4 | 63.8% | 461 | 3 | 2 | 12.5 | 13 | 32 | 31 | 250.9 | 53.5 | -265 | $5500 | $3500 | $4300 |
| Cameron Brate | TB | A | SD | 11 | 528 | 57 | 13.8% | 5.2 | 41 | 3.7 | 71.9% | 442 | 5 | 1 | 10.8 | 7.5 | 9 | 9 | 271.3 | 47.5 | -190 | $5500 | $3600 | $4200 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | H | TB | 9 | 350 | 57 | 14.5% | 6.3 | 30 | 3.3 | 52.6% | 290 | 5 | 1 | 9.7 | 8.6 | 10 | 12 | 253.5 | 47.5 | -190 | $5300 | $4100 | $4000 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | A | CIN | 9 | 513 | 52 | 13.3% | 5.8 | 38 | 4.2 | 73.1% | 373 | 1 | 0 | 9.8 | 12.1 | 17 | 18 | 246 | 42 | -125 | $5300 | $4300 | $4200 |
| Julius Thomas | JAC | H | DEN | 9 | 453 | 51 | 11.6% | 5.7 | 30 | 3.3 | 58.8% | 281 | 4 | 0 | 9.4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 193.9 | 40 | 160 | $5200 | $2800 | $3800 |
| Martellus Bennett | NE | H | LA | 11 | 591 | 54 | 14.6% | 4.9 | 42 | 3.8 | 77.8% | 540 | 4 | 0 | 12.9 | 8.3 | 16 | 15 | 227.5 | 44 | -800 | $5100 | $4800 | $4350 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | A | GB | 11 | 492 | 59 | 14.9% | 5.4 | 39 | 3.5 | 66.1% | 429 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 10.5 | 23 | 17 | 260.6 | 45.5 | -275 | $5000 | $3800 | $4000 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | A | NE | 11 | 613 | 68 | 18.4% | 6.2 | 41 | 3.7 | 60.3% | 420 | 2 | 1 | 10.2 | 7.3 | 28 | 21 | 253.6 | 44 | -800 | $4900 | $2900 | $3800 |
| Vance McDonald | SF | A | CHI | 9 | 373 | 41 | 11.6% | 4.6 | 22 | 2.4 | 53.7% | 382 | 4 | 0 | 17.4 | 8.8 | 20 | 20 | 239.8 | 43.5 | -115 | $4900 | $2900 | $4300 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | A | NYJ | 9 | 419 | 37 | 9.2% | 4.1 | 24 | 2.7 | 64.9% | 256 | 2 | 1 | 10.7 | 9 | 29 | 23 | 262.8 | 48.5 | 110 | $4900 | $2600 | $4000 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | H | MIA | 11 | 583 | 76 | 17.2% | 6.9 | 52 | 4.7 | 68.4% | 439 | 0 | 0 | 8.4 | 9.9 | 6 | 8 | 229.7 | 40.5 | -180 | $4800 | $3100 | $4100 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | H | HOU | 11 | 433 | 39 | 8.7% | 3.5 | 23 | 2.1 | 59.0% | 203 | 1 | 0 | 8.8 | 6.9 | 12 | 14 | 209.2 | 45.5 | -275 | $4800 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Jared Cook | GB | H | HOU | 5 | 168 | 24 | 5.3% | 4.8 | 13 | 2.6 | 54.2% | 165 | 1 | 1 | 12.7 | 6.9 | 12 | 14 | 209.2 | 45.5 | -275 | $4700 | $2900 | $4200 |
| Levine Toilolo | ATL | H | KC | 11 | 277 | 12 | 3.2% | 1.1 | 8 | 0.7 | 66.7% | 145 | 2 | 0 | 18.1 | 5.9 | 11 | 13 | 260.5 | 49 | -220 | $4700 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | A | ARI | 11 | 412 | 37 | 8.6% | 3.4 | 31 | 2.8 | 83.8% | 450 | 2 | 0 | 14.5 | 3.8 | 3 | 5 | 195.1 | 49 | -135 | $4600 | $3300 | $4300 |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | H | KC | 11 | 226 | 22 | 5.9% | 2 | 17 | 1.5 | 77.3% | 257 | 2 | 0 | 15.1 | 5.9 | 11 | 13 | 260.5 | 49 | -220 | $4600 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Logan Paulsen | CHI | H | SF | 11 | 218 | 10 | 2.5% | 0.9 | 3 | 0.3 | 30.0% | 15 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9.3 | 24 | 29 | 252.6 | 43.5 | -115 | $4600 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | A | OAK | 11 | 616 | 57 | 18.8% | 5.2 | 36 | 3.3 | 63.2% | 323 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9.6 | 22 | 26 | 273.5 | 49 | -165 | $4500 | $2600 | $3700 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | A | GB | 11 | 331 | 52 | 13.1% | 4.7 | 34 | 3.1 | 65.4% | 289 | 1 | 0 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 23 | 17 | 260.6 | 45.5 | -275 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | A | NYJ | 11 | 514 | 49 | 12.2% | 4.5 | 39 | 3.5 | 79.6% | 411 | 4 | 0 | 10.5 | 9 | 29 | 23 | 262.8 | 48.5 | 110 | $4500 | $2700 | $3800 |
| Will Tye | NYG | A | PIT | 11 | 434 | 47 | 11.4% | 4.3 | 31 | 2.8 | 66.0% | 259 | 1 | 0 | 8.4 | 10.7 | 13 | 11 | 263.5 | 48.5 | -265 | $4500 | $3000 | $3500 |
| Jesse James | PIT | H | NYG | 11 | 553 | 44 | 10.5% | 4 | 29 | 2.6 | 65.9% | 236 | 3 | 0 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 7 | 7 | 264.7 | 48.5 | -265 | $4500 | $2600 | $4200 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | H | BUF | 10 | 461 | 38 | 9.1% | 3.8 | 26 | 2.6 | 68.4% | 270 | 2 | 0 | 10.4 | 8.4 | 19 | 19 | 227.7 | 49 | -165 | $4500 | $2500 | $3800 |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | H | PHI | 8 | 276 | 29 | 7.3% | 3.6 | 17 | 2.1 | 58.6% | 193 | 0 | 0 | 11.4 | 5.1 | 2 | 3 | 236.5 | 42 | -125 | $4500 | $2500 | $3350 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | A | JAC | 8 | 284 | 28 | 7.5% | 3.5 | 18 | 2.3 | 64.3% | 211 | 0 | 0 | 11.7 | 7.8 | 14 | 16 | 204.3 | 40 | 160 | $4500 | $2600 | $3500 |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | H | WAS | 11 | 509 | 37 | 8.2% | 3.4 | 22 | 2 | 59.5% | 212 | 2 | 1 | 9.6 | 10.9 | 18 | 25 | 252.9 | 49 | -135 | $4500 | $2500 | $3750 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | A | CHI | 11 | 354 | 35 | 9.9% | 3.2 | 21 | 1.9 | 60.0% | 275 | 1 | 2 | 13.1 | 8.8 | 20 | 20 | 239.8 | 43.5 | -115 | $4500 | $2700 | $3000 |
| Ladarius Green | PIT | H | NYG | 3 | 34 | 9 | 2.1% | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 55.6% | 97 | 0 | 0 | 19.4 | 8.5 | 7 | 7 | 264.7 | 48.5 | -265 | $4500 | $2800 | $3950 |
| Trey Burton | PHI | A | CIN | 10 | 150 | 28 | 7.2% | 2.8 | 17 | 1.7 | 60.7% | 165 | 1 | 0 | 9.7 | 12.1 | 17 | 18 | 246 | 42 | -125 | $4500 | $2500 | $3300 |
| Josh Hill | NO | H | DET | 8 | 338 | 20 | 4.4% | 2.5 | 14 | 1.8 | 70.0% | 146 | 1 | 0 | 10.4 | 13 | 32 | 31 | 250.9 | 53.5 | -265 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | A | BAL | 9 | 396 | 21 | 6.5% | 2.3 | 15 | 1.7 | 71.4% | 167 | 1 | 0 | 11.1 | 7.3 | 8 | 1 | 222.9 | 40.5 | -180 | $4500 | $2500 | $3700 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | A | PIT | 9 | 179 | 21 | 5.1% | 2.3 | 15 | 1.7 | 71.4% | 92 | 1 | 1 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 13 | 11 | 263.5 | 48.5 | -265 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
Premium Options
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I don’t usually put too much stock in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, because it tends to reflect the strength of the tight ends faced rather than a team’s ability to defend those tight ends. The Falcons are an exception. Atlanta is 27th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends despite shutting out the Denver and Green Bay tight ends earlier this season. They made up for it by surrendering big days to guys like Jermaine Gresham, Cameron Brate and Clive Walford. Travis Kelce is much better than those players, and he is coming off two consecutive 100-yard games.
With so much seeming uncertain at the tight end position I would probably prefer to play cheaper options, but Jimmy Graham is too good to ignore. The Panthers have struggled to defend the pass all season, and Graham has at least six receptions in five of his last nine games. Graham is pretty safe, but he has 100-yard, two-touchdown upside as well.
Value Options
In the two games Jordan Reed missed this season, Vernon Davis caught eight passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. Davis may be the second most popular tight end play of the week, but that probably won’t stop me from using him.
This is probably the last week Martellus Bennett will be a value option, as he is already priced higher than Travis Kelce on DraftKings. Bennett has been pretty terrible the last two weeks with Rob Gronkowski out, but Tom Brady will likely have to lean on Bennett sooner or later. Bennett is less of a no-brainer than Vernon Davis, but Bennett probably has a better chance to lead the position in fantasy points in Week 13.
No team has allowed as many fantasy points to opposing tight ends as the Lions, and while Josh Hill outscored him last week, Coby Fleener is worth a shot, especially in GPP lineups. Fleener hasn’t put together a big game since Week 6 against the Panthers, but we know he is capable. Fleener may not have Bennett’s upside, but he is $1300 cheaper on DraftKings.
Bargain Options
Like many people, I expected Logan Paulsen to step in as the primary tight end in Chicago with Zach Miller out, and I was wrong. Ben Braunecker was involved as well, but Daniel Brown led the tight ends in targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns. Brown isn’t necessarily the top tight end target moving forward, and it may not even matter considering Matt Barkley targeted 11 different Bears last week. Even so, Brown could be the top tight end against a poor San Francisco defense, and that makes him a reasonable punt play.