As the season winds down, the tight end position does not get any easier for DFS. There are a lot of injured tight ends this week, and even the guys who will probably play, like Jordan Reed and Martellus Bennett, are nearly impossible to trust. In a week where even the premium options are risky my inclination is to go cheap, though you may lose some upside going for the value and bargain options.

               PtsOpp PaOpp OvOpp Pa     
PlayerTmH/AOppGSnapsTarTar%Tar/GRecRec/GCatch%ReYdsReTDYPCAllowDef RkDef RkYds/GO/U$Line$FD$DK$FA
Travis KelceKCHTEN136799822.1%7.5705.471.4%916313.18.52528297.842-230$6900$5900$4900
Tyler EifertCINHPIT7297449.7%6.328463.6%385513.89.21310273.744150$7200$5600$4900
Jordan ReedWASHCAR105028216.9%8.260673.2%640510.711.41612295.151-270$6800$5500$5200
Greg OlsenCARAWAS1381510423.4%865562.5%90731412.12226279.351-270$6300$5000$4600
Zach ErtzPHIABAL115838016.1%7.3575.271.3%56429.97.672255.740.5-240$5900$4900$4550
Kyle RudolphMINHIND137259821.4%7.5584.559.2%57369.99.82625284.345.5-200$5800$4300$4600
Antonio GatesSDHOAK113837015.4%6.4393.555.7%38859.98.62121286.349.5130$5300$4100$3900
Martellus BennettNEADEN136456213.7%4.8483.777.4%614512.88.211198.844150$5500$4000$4700
Delanie WalkerTENAKC125257920.1%6.6514.364.6%687613.55.6811272.142-230$6100$3900$4600
Cameron BrateTBADAL135686614.9%5.1473.671.2%528611.2102423290.246.5-300$5700$3800$4400
Eric EbronDETANYG104926013.2%6434.371.7%521112.19.55327841-200$5800$3700$4150
Ladarius GreenPITACIN569204.4%4112.255.0%207118.810.91720258.144150$5600$3700$4150
C.J. FiedorowiczHOUHJAC135386815.8%5.2453.566.2%473310.57.81513220.139.5-220$5000$3600$4000
Jason WittenDALHTB127468020.3%6.7564.770.0%579210.37.967270.646.5-300$5000$3400$4200
Dennis PittaBALHPHI136179216.9%7.165570.7%54728.45.235263.440.5-240$4800$3300$4300
Coby FleenerNOAARI134836513.2%5423.264.6%5473133.944218.650.5-155$5100$3200$4200
Gary BarnidgeCLEABUF137276814.7%5.2433.363.2%495111.56.51922248.841.5-450$4500$3000$3800
Vernon DavisWASHCAR13471459.3%3.5372.882.2%498213.511.41612295.151-270$4900$3000$4100
Will TyeNYGHDET134815311.0%4.1352.766.0%30018.611.53030273.641-200$4500$2900$3500
Hunter HenrySDHOAK12414449.7%3.7292.465.9%398613.78.62121286.349.5130$5200$2900$3900
Charles ClayBUFHCLE126165716.8%4.836363.2%3231913.23132271.741.5-450$4500$2800$3800
Jared CookGBACHI7197305.9%4.3172.456.7%199111.77.51414237.839210$4900$2700$3900
Jack DoyleINDAMIN135655312.3%4.1433.381.1%441410.37.228219.145.5-200$4500$2700$3900
Garrett CelekSFAATL12354359.5%2.9211.860.0%275113.110.82327298.251.5-900$4500$2700$3000
Dwayne AllenINDAMIN11464419.5%3.7282.568.3%328511.77.228219.145.5-200$5300$2600$4100
Richard RodgersGBACHI13460438.5%3.326260.5%22718.77.51414237.839210$4600$2600$3700
Ryan GriffinHOUHJAC133485813.5%4.5382.965.5%32428.57.81513220.139.5-220$4500$2500$3000
Jermaine GreshamARIHNO13581509.5%3.8322.564.0%30929.78.22824290.750.5-155$4500$2500$3850
Jesse JamesPITACIN135984810.5%3.7322.566.7%26838.410.91720258.144150$4500$2500$3800
Clive WalfordOAKASD12506448.9%3.7292.465.9%309210.77.899283.249.5130$4500$2500$3800
Virgil GreenDENHNE10324316.9%3.1181.858.1%211011.76.62717268.544150$4500$2500$3500
Dion SimsMIAANYJ10456277.0%2.720274.1%215210.810.43229274.137.5115$4500$2500$3600
Crockett GillmoreBALHPHI7197142.6%281.157.1%7118.95.235263.440.5-240$4500$2500$3000
Larry DonnellNYGHDET11180224.6%2151.468.2%9216.111.53030273.641-200$4500$2500$3500
Austin HooperATLHSF13272265.9%2181.469.2%262214.682931264.951.5-900$4600$2500$3700
Austin Seferian-JenkinsNYJHMIA25232.2%1.531.5100.0%44114.710.61116253.237.5115$4600$2500$3750
Stephen AndersonHOUHJAC1074122.8%1.210183.3%8618.67.81513220.139.5-220$4500$2500$3000

Premium Options

I can’t argue with anyone who says Travis Kelce or Tyler Eifert are better, safer premium options than Greg Olsen, but they both have their own risks. Kelce hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 8 and Eifert hasn’t topped five receptions or 70 yards since Week 10. Olsen is cheaper than both of those guys, and I like his matchup better, too. Only four teams have allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than the Redskins this season.

Value Options

Ladarius Green caught just two passes last week, but he still had six targets, which is pretty encouraging. Green is still probably a slightly better GPP play than a cash play, but you could do far worse than a talented tight end in one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Kyle Rudolph fell off a bit during the middle of the season, but he has at least 10.5 fantasy points in each of his last three games. Rudolph is tied for the most touchdowns among tight ends this season, and he gets an Indianapolis pass defense that has been pretty terrible all season.

Bargain Options

With C.J. Fiedorowicz in the concussion protocol, Ryan Griffin has a chance to start at tight end, though Stephen Anderson will likely get some work as well. Griffin probably won’t go for 100 yards, but he can get you a handful of catches and a decent chance at a touchdown at a minimum price.

Garrett Celek caught just one pass for five yards last week even though Vance McDonald left after 15 snaps due to a broken scapula. Even so, the Falcons are 26th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, and Celek has gone for more than 75 receiving yards on two separate occasions this season. While Griffin is a better cash play, Celek could be a sneaky GPP play.