Honorable mention Start: Sam LaPorta (DET), George Kittle (SF)
Honorable mention Sit: Jake Ferguson (DAL), Tucker Kraft (GB), Will Dissly (LAC)
Start: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Super obvious, and you can stop reading now if you like and move on to the other guys in my column. I’m just here to remind you that Brock Bowers’ skill and opportunity have blessed us with ridiculous numbers this season, and now he gets the Bucs, who have been bottom of the barrel in defending the position all season. I haven’t looked yet (I intend to), but this season is historic and has to be in contention for top TE seasons of all time. 40 targets in the last three games. FORTY. 27 receptions, nearly 300 yards, and two touchdowns. My god. I’m just filling the column at this point. Of course, you are starting him this week and all others, and don’t forget to put cookies under the tree for him this holiday season.
Start: Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Long, audible siiiiiiigh. Mike Evans came back from injury and promptly pilfered 18 targets in two games from this offense, primarily from Cade, who was fantasy gold (Bowers-esque) while Mike was out. Otton’s targets in the games Evans was out – 10, 10,11,8. He hasn’t hit those numbers in either game since, and it makes me sad. But I love the matchup this week, especially considering the large number of teams on the bye. The Raiders are about as bad as it gets against the position, especially generous since week 8 (surrendering 30.3, 49.2, 37.2, 23.6 in four of those five games). This game has a decent O/U and two QBs who love their big guys, so welcome to the Tight End Bowl 2024. I like Brock more, but Cade is Top 5 for me this week.
Sit: Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Gesicki has had a game here or there, but other than that, it really hasn’t been that impressive for him in 2024. Three top 10s in 12 games and only one finish above 23 in the remaining nine games (including finishes of TE97, TE68, TE51, TE79). Outside of super matchup plays and game scripts, he’s just not useful for fantasy. Dallas is a tasty matchup, and the O/U is the highest on the slate. This wouldn’t be the first time I eat crow in the tight end column. I go back to one of my earlier musings where I highlighted the Bengals offensive trends – specifically Joe Burrow – and their aversion to incorporating the tight end position. Let’s check the tape – Joey B. has attempted 144 passes over the last three games, and Gesicki only saw 16 of those. Friends, 11% target share doesn’t pay the bills.
Sit: Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Dalton Kincaid is another player we loved in the preseason, but for various reasons, it just hasn’t translated. Too many mouths to feed on the offense as a whole, a switch to a run first philosophy, various injuries, etc. Focusing on the tight ends on this roster, Kincaid has to share space with another phenomenal talent in Dawson Knox, and there’s just not enough for either player to be fantasy-relevant. On the season, Knox leads in snap share (if Kincaid had played against the Chiefs it would be pretty even), though trails significantly in team target share (7.0% vs. Kincaid’s 17.3%). The metrics are goofy, but the result is still the same – meh – Kincaid has finished above TE14 just once all year. This is another big O/U, so Kincaid (or Knox) could hit paydirt (for a TE), but the Rams have only given up four touchdowns in 12 games. It’s not looking good for either TE in this one.
