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Tight end was already a mess with players going on IR or dealing with nagging injuries, so when you throw in teams resting their players ahead of the playoffs, it can be something of a crapshoot. When that is the case I generally prefer to go with the bargain options, and that is true for this week, with one exception. I absolutely love the first value option on my list, and I could play him a ton even though I suspect he will be popular.
| Player | Tm | H/A | Opp | G | Snaps | Tar | Tar% | Tar/G | Rec | Rec/G | Catch% | ReYds | ReTDs | YPC | Pts Allowed | Opp Pass Rk | Opp Rk | Opp Pass Yds/G | O/U | $Line | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | A | TB | 15 | 986 | 125 | 24.0% | 8.3 | 77 | 5.1 | 61.6% | 1,051 | 3 | 0.0 | 7.8 | 6 | 7 | 253.7 | 46 | -220 | $6900 | $5500 | $4600 |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | H | NYG | 11 | 531 | 83 | 14.9% | 7.5 | 61 | 5.5 | 73.5% | 646 | 5 | 10.6 | 8.5 | 3 | 1 | 251.5 | 45 | -300 | $7000 | $5100 | $5000 |
| Travis Kelce | KC | A | SD | 15 | 839 | 115 | 22.6% | 7.7 | 84 | 5.6 | 73.0% | 1,117 | 4 | 0.0 | 7.7 | 5 | 4 | 248.3 | 44.5 | 200 | $6800 | $5000 | $5000 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | H | DAL | 13 | 781 | 90 | 16.0% | 6.9 | 65 | 5 | 72.2% | 677 | 2 | 10.4 | 10.7 | 19 | 15 | 262.3 | 43 | -200 | $5900 | $4800 | $4550 |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | H | CHI | 15 | 921 | 117 | 21.2% | 7.8 | 72 | 4.8 | 61.5% | 723 | 6 | 10 | 7.5 | 15 | 20 | 223.2 | 42.5 | -260 | $5900 | $4600 | $4750 |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | A | SF | 15 | 752 | 88 | 17.2% | 5.9 | 61 | 4.1 | 69.3% | 859 | 6 | 14.1 | 8.6 | 28 | 30 | 237.3 | 43 | 350 | $6400 | $4500 | $4700 |
| Ladarius Green | PIT | H | CLE | 6 | 140 | 34 | 6.2% | 5.7 | 18 | 3 | 52.9% | 304 | 1 | 16.9 | 12.4 | 30 | 32 | 250.2 | 43 | -250 | $6000 | $4300 | $4200 |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | H | HOU | 14 | 675 | 94 | 20.2% | 6.7 | 60 | 4.3 | 63.8% | 765 | 7 | 12.8 | 5.7 | 9 | 14 | 206.2 | 40 | -170 | $6200 | $4000 | $4550 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | A | TEN | 14 | 637 | 82 | 15.5% | 5.9 | 52 | 3.7 | 63.4% | 547 | 3 | 10.5 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 270.9 | 40 | -170 | $4800 | $3900 | $3800 |
| Martellus Bennett | NE | A | MIA | 15 | 815 | 68 | 13.3% | 4.5 | 52 | 3.5 | 76.5% | 668 | 6 | 12.8 | 10.9 | 14 | 17 | 239.9 | 44.5 | 350 | $5800 | $3900 | $4350 |
| Antonio Gates | SD | H | KC | 13 | 512 | 85 | 16.1% | 6.5 | 48 | 3.7 | 56.5% | 493 | 6 | 10.3 | 5.8 | 4 | 12 | 245.9 | 44.5 | 200 | $5800 | $3800 | $4100 |
| Eric Ebron | DET | H | GB | 12 | 657 | 79 | 14.7% | 6.6 | 55 | 4.6 | 69.6% | 650 | 1 | 11.8 | 8.7 | 20 | 21 | 265.1 | 49.5 | 170 | $5800 | $3600 | $4200 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | A | NYJ | 14 | 813 | 80 | 18.7% | 5.7 | 54 | 3.9 | 67.5% | 532 | 4 | 9.9 | 11.4 | 31 | 25 | 249.1 | 42.5 | 160 | $5600 | $3500 | $4150 |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | A | CIN | 15 | 757 | 105 | 17.1% | 7 | 75 | 5 | 71.4% | 638 | 2 | 8.5 | 10.4 | 17 | 19 | 235.8 | 41.5 | -110 | $4700 | $3400 | $4300 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | H | NYG | 15 | 617 | 56 | 10.0% | 3.7 | 42 | 2.8 | 75.0% | 534 | 2 | 12.7 | 8.5 | 3 | 1 | 251.5 | 45 | -300 | $4800 | $3300 | $4100 |
| Jason Witten | DAL | A | PHI | 15 | 942 | 94 | 20.8% | 6.3 | 68 | 4.5 | 72.3% | 663 | 3 | 9.8 | 4.6 | 2 | 13 | 247.1 | 43 | -200 | $4800 | $3100 | $4300 |
| Coby Fleener | NO | A | ATL | 15 | 607 | 74 | 12.0% | 4.9 | 47 | 3.1 | 63.5% | 593 | 3 | 12.6 | 10.8 | 24 | 23 | 261.7 | 56.5 | -320 | $4800 | $3100 | $3900 |
| Jared Cook | GB | A | DET | 9 | 288 | 43 | 7.5% | 4.8 | 26 | 2.9 | 60.5% | 321 | 1 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 32 | 31 | 245.3 | 49.5 | 170 | $4800 | $3100 | $3800 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | H | JAC | 15 | 692 | 70 | 13.1% | 4.7 | 57 | 3.8 | 81.4% | 574 | 4 | 10.1 | 8.4 | 16 | 11 | 210.3 | 47 | -220 | $4600 | $3000 | $4100 |
| Jesse James | PIT | H | CLE | 15 | 726 | 57 | 10.3% | 3.8 | 37 | 2.5 | 64.9% | 322 | 3 | 8.7 | 12.4 | 30 | 32 | 250.2 | 43 | -250 | $4500 | $3000 | $3800 |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | A | PIT | 15 | 898 | 77 | 14.9% | 5.1 | 50 | 3.3 | 64.9% | 572 | 1 | 11.4 | 8.9 | 13 | 5 | 245.1 | 43 | -250 | $4500 | $2900 | $3900 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | A | TEN | 15 | 455 | 70 | 13.2% | 4.7 | 48 | 3.2 | 68.6% | 432 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 270.9 | 40 | -170 | $4500 | $2900 | $3500 |
| Will Tye | NYG | A | WAS | 15 | 634 | 65 | 11.4% | 4.3 | 44 | 2.9 | 67.7% | 348 | 1 | 7.9 | 10.2 | 25 | 27 | 263.9 | 45 | -300 | $4600 | $2800 | $3750 |
| Gavin Escobar | DAL | A | PHI | 15 | 18 | 4 | 0.9% | 0.3 | 3 | 0.2 | 75.0% | 23 | 1 | 7.7 | 4.6 | 2 | 13 | 247.1 | 43 | -200 | $4500 | $2800 | $3000 |
| Lance Kendricks | LA | H | ARI | 15 | 778 | 84 | 16.7% | 5.6 | 48 | 3.2 | 57.1% | 487 | 2 | 10.1 | 4.3 | 7 | 10 | 219.6 | 40.5 | 220 | $4600 | $2700 | $3800 |
| Hunter Henry | SD | H | KC | 14 | 478 | 48 | 9.1% | 3.4 | 32 | 2.3 | 66.7% | 435 | 7 | 13.6 | 5.8 | 4 | 12 | 245.9 | 44.5 | 200 | $5300 | $2700 | $4100 |
| Garrett Celek | SF | H | SEA | 15 | 486 | 49 | 10.5% | 3.3 | 28 | 1.9 | 57.1% | 341 | 2 | 12.2 | 6.1 | 11 | 8 | 228.1 | 43 | 350 | $4700 | $2700 | $3000 |
| Erik Swoope | IND | H | JAC | 15 | 188 | 21 | 3.9% | 1.4 | 14 | 0.9 | 66.7% | 275 | 1 | 19.6 | 8.4 | 16 | 11 | 210.3 | 47 | -220 | $4500 | $2700 | $3500 |
| Brandon Myers | TB | H | CAR | 15 | 221 | 14 | 2.6% | 0.9 | 7 | 0.5 | 50.0% | 59 | 1 | 8.4 | 11.5 | 12 | 9 | 273.5 | 46 | -220 | $4500 | $2700 | $3000 |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | A | LA | 15 | 724 | 59 | 9.9% | 3.9 | 37 | 2.5 | 62.7% | 391 | 2 | 10.6 | 6.4 | 21 | 16 | 231.5 | 40.5 | 220 | $4500 | $2600 | $3800 |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | H | JAC | 13 | 570 | 49 | 9.2% | 3.8 | 32 | 2.5 | 65.3% | 372 | 5 | 11.6 | 8.4 | 16 | 11 | 210.3 | 47 | -220 | $5100 | $2600 | $3900 |
| Trey Burton | PHI | H | DAL | 14 | 278 | 54 | 9.6% | 3.9 | 32 | 2.3 | 59.3% | 288 | 1 | 9 | 10.7 | 19 | 15 | 262.3 | 43 | -200 | $4500 | $2500 | $3300 |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | H | BAL | 9 | 337 | 35 | 6.8% | 3.9 | 22 | 2.4 | 62.9% | 221 | 0 | 10 | 7.5 | 8 | 3 | 233.7 | 41.5 | -110 | $4500 | $2500 | $3350 |
| Clive Walford | OAK | A | DEN | 14 | 660 | 49 | 8.8% | 3.5 | 32 | 2.3 | 65.3% | 342 | 3 | 10.7 | 10.1 | 1 | 2 | 187.2 | 40.5 | -125 | $4500 | $2500 | $3800 |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | A | DET | 15 | 543 | 46 | 8.0% | 3.1 | 29 | 1.9 | 63.0% | 257 | 2 | 8.9 | 11.2 | 32 | 31 | 245.3 | 49.5 | 170 | $4600 | $2500 | $3700 |
| Virgil Green | DEN | H | OAK | 11 | 361 | 33 | 6.2% | 3 | 19 | 1.7 | 57.6% | 220 | 0 | 11.6 | 9.4 | 23 | 22 | 260.9 | 40.5 | -125 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Dion Sims | MIA | H | NE | 13 | 630 | 34 | 7.9% | 2.6 | 26 | 2 | 76.5% | 256 | 4 | 9.8 | 6.7 | 22 | 6 | 240.1 | 44.5 | 350 | $5100 | $2500 | $3800 |
| Crockett Gillmore | BAL | A | CIN | 7 | 197 | 14 | 2.3% | 2 | 8 | 1.1 | 57.1% | 71 | 1 | 8.9 | 10.4 | 17 | 19 | 235.8 | 41.5 | -110 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Demetrius Harris | KC | A | SD | 15 | 355 | 30 | 5.9% | 2 | 17 | 1.1 | 56.7% | 123 | 1 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 5 | 4 | 248.3 | 44.5 | 200 | $4500 | $2500 | $3200 |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | H | NO | 14 | 354 | 27 | 5.5% | 1.9 | 19 | 1.4 | 70.4% | 271 | 3 | 14.3 | 8.3 | 29 | 29 | 270.5 | 56.5 | -320 | $4600 | $2500 | $3700 |
| Tyler Higbee | LA | H | ARI | 15 | 301 | 29 | 5.8% | 1.9 | 11 | 0.7 | 37.9% | 85 | 1 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 7 | 10 | 219.6 | 40.5 | 220 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Xavier Grimble | PIT | H | CLE | 12 | 166 | 21 | 3.8% | 1.8 | 11 | 0.9 | 52.4% | 118 | 2 | 10.7 | 12.4 | 30 | 32 | 250.2 | 43 | -250 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | A | WAS | 13 | 180 | 22 | 3.9% | 1.7 | 15 | 1.2 | 68.2% | 92 | 1 | 6.1 | 10.2 | 25 | 27 | 263.9 | 45 | -300 | $4500 | $2500 | $3500 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | H | BUF | 2 | 52 | 3 | 2.2% | 1.5 | 3 | 1.5 | 100.0% | 44 | 1 | 14.7 | 5.9 | 18 | 28 | 225.3 | 42.5 | 160 | $4500 | $2500 | $3600 |
| Darren Waller | BAL | A | CIN | 11 | 158 | 16 | 2.6% | 1.5 | 10 | 0.9 | 62.5% | 85 | 2 | 8.5 | 10.4 | 17 | 19 | 235.8 | 41.5 | -110 | $4500 | $2500 | $3000 |
| Levine Toilolo | ATL | H | NO | 15 | 432 | 16 | 3.2% | 1.1 | 12 | 0.8 | 75.0% | 246 | 2 | 20.5 | 8.3 | 29 | 29 | 270.5 | 56.5 | -320 | $4700 | $2500 | $3000 |
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Premium Options
I still wish he had a few more touchdowns, but there is no denying Travis Kelce has been great the last six weeks. The Chiefs have to win if they want a soft matchup against the Texans in the first round, so Kelce has an excellent shot at his sixth 100-yard game in seven weeks.
Only seven teams have allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than the Cowboys, and the only thing Dallas has to play for is to not get hurt. Ertz was pretty poor last week but had at least six catches and 79 yards in each of the three games prior.
Value Options
I suspect Antonio Gates will be the most owned tight end Sunday, but I will play him anyway. I completely buy the argument the Chargers will try to get Gates the two touchdowns he needs to tie Tony Gonzalez’s all-time record among tight ends, and you might even get a Brett Favre/Michael Strahan situation where an opponent lays down and fraudulently allows someone to break a record on the final day of the season. On a day with so much uncertainty, Antonio Gates feels like the sure thing at tight end.
If you fade Gates, Eric Ebron has a high floor and a pretty decent ceiling. Ebron has at least four receptions in four consecutive games including eight for 93 yards last week.
Coby Fleener is almost always worth a shot in a GPP, and he did have his best receiving game of the season against the Falcons in Week 3. The Saints are a decent bet to have a big game in a dome, and Fleener is the cheapest way to get some exposure to New Orleans’ passing attack.
Bargain Options
Last week I wrote “C.J. Uzomah was pretty solid early in the season with Tyler Eifert out,” and he was pretty solid in Week 16 as well, with five catches for 28 yards. If he gets that again for the minimum price I will be content, and there is always the chance he falls in the end zone.
Brandon Myers is probably a bit riskier than Uzomah, but he might have a better shot at a touchdown. Tampa Bay needs to win to keep its playoff hopes alive, and only the Browns have allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than the Panthers this season.