You have lineup questions. We have answers. At least we hope. Start 'Em & Sit 'Em has helped fantasy managers for years make those pressing lineup decisions. And you know what is a good decision? Starting 锘. But that's too obvious, so you won't see that here. Instead here are some of the most-pressing questions. And, if you can't find a player you are looking for, please check out .
Well, I made fun of you for buying into the 鈥済ood one week, bad the other鈥 trend that had developed with Waller. I might have even called you names. But turns out, Waller had a bad game as the trend would have predicted. And now I hate my life because you鈥檙e all jumping back on this week, too. Jokes on you, because the Jets have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. When Waller hits this week it鈥檚 because of the matchup and opportunity, not some random trend. Although I believe there鈥檚 going to be no convincing you to start him the following week.
The Bears have been getting beat by tight ends this season. They have given up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends. Last week it was all-stars 锘Marcedes Lewis锘 and 锘Robert Tonyan锘 who got into the end zone. That was fun. Can鈥檛 wait for the Bears to offer Lewis a five-year contract next season. Just kidding, Theo Epstein would never. But we鈥檙e supposed to be talking about Hockenson here. He鈥檚 been great. Double-digit points in five of his last six.
Engram had his breakout game. Finally. He had 129 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. Engram led the Giants with nine targets in the game. In fact, he鈥檚 had at least nine targets in four of his last five games. Not a surprise, he鈥檚 had double-digit points in four of his last five. His 25% target share since Week 7 has been the second-most among tight ends since that time. I know 锘Daniel Jones锘 is struggling through an injury. I still start Engram and 锘Wayne Gallman锘, even with 锘Colt McCoy锘.
Damn dude, Henry had seven receptions last week against the Bills and finished with 13.7 fantasy points. And honestly, we鈥檝e been looking for him to be a productive player when he鈥檚 not getting into the end zone. His 10 targets were a season-high. I expect him to maintain that production this week against the Patriots. I know, not the best, as the Patriots have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. That鈥檚 great. I鈥檓 still starting Henry.
Find somebody who looks at you the way 锘Carson Wentz锘 looks at his tight ends, seeing that the embattled quarterback has attempted more passes to tight ends than any other quarterback in the league. At some point, it feels like they are going with 锘Jalen Hurts锘. I mean, they shouldn鈥檛. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 entirely Wentz鈥檚 fault. But let鈥檚 dial up Goedert, who has seen his points increase in four consecutive games. And even when 锘Zach Ertz锘 returns, the Eagles run so much 12 personnel, it鈥檚 not going to make much of a difference.
When you take Gronk away from the available tight ends for the week, it鈥檚 kind of like when you have a Challenge without Johnny Bananas. Which they are totally doing this season. But you can鈥檛 blame him after he just set a milestone. That notwithstanding, when looking for tight ends outside of the normal starters, I鈥檓 looking for the guy who gets targeted in the red zone a lot. That鈥檚 what Ebron has done this season, despite the Steelers having one of the best trios of receivers in the league.
Sit 'em
Thomas had a great game against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, and it was like, finally. I had been waiting for that, dude. But that was a matchup thing. The Cowboys defense is, well, the Cowboys defense. Thomas has the Steelers this week. The Steelers entered Week 12 allowing the fewest fantasy points to tight ends. I鈥檓 also writing this before the Steelers WEDNESDAY game. I expect that stat to hold up unless something crazy happens.
Gesicki scored a touchdown. Which is the kind of like getting into a line at the grocery store and then watching all of the other lines move swiftly, while the person in front of you is looking for their loyalty club card. It鈥檚 your phone number! Use mine if you have to! So that was good if you were starting him. But he was targeted five times. He caught two passes. He鈥檚 even got a great matchup against the Bengals this week. I鈥檓 just not sure I can trust him again. But it鈥檚 the Bengals. I might have to do just that. No, no. I鈥檓 out. I can鈥檛 do it. I won鈥檛 be chasing those points.
The Rams tight ends are a nightmare. I mean, I鈥檓 sure they are nice people. Their production has been awful. I mean, it鈥檚 one thing when you鈥檙e trying to figure out who to start between 锘锘Robert Woods锘锘 and 锘锘Cooper Kupp锘锘. Higbee and 锘锘Gerald Everett锘锘 are the low-end version of that.
Again, I鈥檓 looking forward to some pride on the Bears offense this week. But unless pride can make 锘Mitchell Trubisky锘 throw some accurate passes, I鈥檓 not sure how much that is going to help this week. There are better options out there. Like just about every other fantasy tight end.
