Rest Of Season Top 25 Tight End Rankings, Week 5

The Elites

What do you want here? They’re really good. They play every down. They get a bunch of targets. 

So Good! So Good! So Good!

• Darren Waller is one more strong week in a row from jumping into the elite tier, again. He leads all TEs in receptions and targets. 
• Mark Andrews either puts up 19+ points in a week or 3. Neither snap % or targets are amazing for Andrews, he gets pulled on blocking downs, but he’s tied for 5th in red zone targets and he’s pulled down 4 of them already. 
• Had no intention of getting Dalton Schultz up to this tier, but he’s averaging 8 targets in the 3 weeks since he took over the job. He is also 3rd in PPR points over that period. Defenses have to pick their poison against the Dallas passing weapons, and Schultz seems to be a low priority so far. 

Pretty…Pretty Good

• Ertz drops a tier after failing to capitalize on his opportunity in week 4. He was never the fastest or most athletic TE, but it seems to have taken another step back this year. I’m not giving up hope as he was blanketed all last week, but that will likely be the scenario for Ertz. Still plenty of targets and he’s the only act in town right now.  
• Hunter Henry had a down week, but he’s still consistent and he has to find the end zone one of these days, right? Please. 
• Evan Engram is a terrific TE, and while he’s getting the snaps and targets you want from your starting TE, he plays for the Giants. He hasn’t scored yet on the season and only has 1 game over 50 yards. Engram may find himself slipping down the list if he can’t take advantage of some of the better match ups forthcoming. The Giants have faced as many tough defenses in the first 4 weeks as they may face the rest of the season. So, all hope is not lost, for Engram at least. 
• Jonnu and the Titans sat last week, much to fantasy owners disappointment. Of course, it had to be done and still may not have been enough given all the recent news about COVID players, but the Titans are on schedule for now to play the Bills. A.J. Brown was a limited participant Wednesday and Corey Davis is on the COVID list, so, I expect Jonnu to continue to get plenty of work. However, for the rest of the season, once they get all of their receiving options back, I don’t expect the target rate to maintain. Plus, I still don’t believe he’s a very good TE. Athletic, but not overly skilled. 
• Noah Fant would be up a full tier if he hadn’t suffered an ankle injury in week 4, but, here we are.
• Tyler Higbee has seen his targets equal Josh Reynolds’s targets over the last 3 weeks. Gerald Everett also just had his highest snap rate on the season. So, while there are still likely to be big games here and there for Higbee, I don’t expect him to be that guy we saw at the end of 2019. 
• Mike Gesicki only has 3 targets in each of the last 2 games. The good news is that his snap rate jumped back up north of 60% in week 4. I’m leaving him in this tier for another week because I believe in the talent. Maybe he can take advantage of the banged up 49ers defense. Plus, depending on what source you use, he’s either 1st or 4th in red zone targets at the position.

Best of the Rest

• Robert Tonyan did everything you could possibly want in week 4. He had 6 receptions on 6 targets for 98 yards and 3 TDs. Davante Adams and Allen Lazard were both out, so, I’m waiting to see how he fits in the offense with all the pieces, but so far, so good. 11 targets in the last 2 weeks and a week 4 that moved him to the 2nd overall points scorer at TE in PPR.
• Hayden Hurst has started to find himself in the Atlanta offense. Last 3 games, he’s had 2 TDs, averaging 5 2/3 targets per game.
• Week 4 was the first game Hock didn’t go for 4 or 5 receptions between 50 and 60 yards, but he found the end zone. Steady at the position and I’d be happy to start him week in and week out, just waiting to see him pop for a big game before he gets a move up the ranks. 
• MAC’s upside is still limited by his fellow Indianapolis TEs taking away snaps and targets. Between MAC, Doyle, and Burton, the Colts seem to be happy with a 3 TE rotation, which limits the upside for any given one. MAC looks the best of the group, but he’s banished to this tier until we see him take over. 
• Jimmy G stays steady at 17. Either tied for 1st or tied for 2nd in red zone targets (depending on the site). So, despite the poor play that we’ve come to expect over the last 5 decades at the QB position for the Bears, Jimmy has value. 

Waiting

• 5 receptions on 7 targets for Hooper. At least he’s getting involved in the offense now. Has the talent and getting the snaps to potentially move up the rankings. For now, it’s more of a wait and see like the other 2 (injured) members of this tier. 
• We have a pretty decent idea what we’ll get from Goedert and Cook, once they return, but until they do, we’re just waiting. 

So, You’re Saying There’s a Chance

• I foresee about 3 QB changes in Logan Thomas’s future and all behind the same terrible O line with a mediocre run game and only 1 other receiving threat. So, while I like Logan Thomas and he has both snaps and targets for his team, he’s down in the 20s at the position. 
• Gronk just keeps finding ways to stay relevant. After week 3 where Gronk had 48 yards on 6 receptions, Gronk laid an egg in week 4. However, with the O.J. Howard injury, Gronk stays on the list. Cameron Brate is an interesting pick up in deeper leagues or TE premiums. 
• Olsen is splitting snaps more evenly with Dissly in week 4, but has had 10 receptions on 13 targets in the last 2 weeks. With the Seahawks offense cruising, Olsen at least deserves some recognition. 
• Herndon looks as bad as the Jets. I can’t recommend rostering him at this point unless we see a change in the Jets philosophy (and probably personnel). 
• Drew Sample is actually tied for the lead in red zone targets (or 2nd depending where you look), and the Bengals offense has been looking up as Burrow gets more comfortable each week. Keep an eye on Sample. Don’t let the snap rate fool you either, he’s had 85% or more in back to back weeks. 
• Eifert left the last game with a possible concussion, but is already off the injury report. He hasn’t had yardage to compliment it this year, but he’s averaged 5 targets the last 3 weeks. 
• Ebron sat last week as part of that whole Titans situation. He was coming off of 5 receptions for 52 yards and a TD in week 3, so, another good week of targets and he could climb out of the bottom of the TE barrel. However, he’s splitting snaps with Vance McDonald still and his week 3 performance came with Diontae knocked out of the game.