My weekly matchup chart highlights the best positional matchups vs. the toughest. Translation: green is a good matchup for the position, red is bad, and yellow is neutral. This information is updated weekly based on fantasy points against (to date) and a few other factors and presented in no particular order per tier.
My Guys This Week
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Njoku has always been a gifted athlete, but none of the Browns QBs (save Joe Flacco) could figure that out. And he’s been hurt a bit this season, so I get it if he hasn’t been on your radar. Well, friends, he should be now. In the past two weeks, Njoku has come to life – 21 targets, 15 receptions, 107 yards, and one touchdown. With Amari Cooper shipped out, those targets are going somewhere, and based on Week 7 my bet is it’s Njoku who sees a substantial uptick – Tillman stepped up and had a nice game as well, while Jeudy disappeared after proclaiming he was ready for WR1 duty. Most of Njoku’s targets and production came before Watson went down with an injury, so we’ll have to see if he’s as productive with a different QB (most likely Jameis Winston this week) under center. Baltimore has given up the fifth most points to the TE position this year, so the matchup couldn’t be much better for Njoku.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 07: Tight end Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots catches a touchdown in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 07, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Speaking of resurgence, Hunter Henry has been pretty great since Drake Maye took over slinging the rock. In Maye’s two starts, Henry has averaged seven targets, five receptions, and nearly 70 yards a game – not to mention a touchdown – all good for 12.0 points per. Friends, we’ll take that from our tight ends all day, every day, especially on Sunday. And while the Jets have been pretty good against the position, the Bills and Steelers’ tight ends managed to put up decent totals in the last two weeks. The Patriots top two receivers are knicked up a bit – Douglas (illness) and Polk (concussion), so we’ll see what the week’s preparation brings. But if one or both were to miss, Henry will be the biggest beneficiary. Even if they do play, expect Maye to continue to feed Henry. Henry is top 10 in the league in red zone targets, and has a fantastic average depth of target on the season (9.7 yards). He’s got solid route participation and target share and runs more than half his routes from the slot. All of which speaks to elite opportunity at a bleak position. Top 12 this week.
Honorable mention: Travis Kelce (KC), Kyle Pitts (ATL), Cole Kmet (CHI)
My Fades This Week
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 24: Sam LaPorta #87 of the Detroit Lions scores a touchdown in the second quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
I’ve discussed Kelce, Andrews, and Pitts already, as guys, we expected to get much more than we’re getting from them. It’s LaPorta’s turn in this spot, and to be truthful, I’ve kind of avoided it. I picked him as TE1 in my preseason TE rankings, and while he hasn’t been there, I expected he and the Lions would have figured it out by now. They haven’t. And don’t let Week 6’s point total fool you. He’s only been targeted 17 times this season (barely twice a game and only three times in the last two games), and he only has one touchdown to boot. And considering this offense has picked it up lately and that LaPorta has barely been involved, it concerns me for his rest-of-season outlook. Sure, there is time to course-correct. But we’re almost through half the season, and this appears to be more than just “trending down.” The Titans still haven’t given up a score to the TE position this season and rank second in points allowed at 6.0 points per. Fun fact – the other three I mentioned earlier all stepped up after I wrote unfavorably about them. Maybe Sammy will also.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
24-25-38-20-25-22-32. No, that’s not my high school locker combination. It’s Dalton Schultz’s fantasy finishes this season. Not one above 20. Not one. And don’t expect that to change this week against the Colts, despite Indianapolis’ generosity to the position (30th). It might not be all Schultz’s fault. C.J. Stroud has been brutal this season, so maybe there’s that. The targets haven’t been lacking, so to speak, but the efficiency sure has. He’s dominating snap share and target share (for Houston’s TE), his route participation is okay, and I don’t hate his ADOT. He’s simply not doing much with his opportunities, even with Nico Collins out. If he’s going to get it going, this would have to be the matchup to exploit. But I’m not getting in the van unless I see the candy first.
Honorable mention: Mike Gesicki (CIN), Will DIssly (DEN), Zach Ertz (WAS)