With six full weeks of the NFL regular season having already come and gone, fantasy football owners currently find themselves in one of three positions.
Fantasy football owners are either very much in contention, very much out of contention or somewhere right smack dab in the middle fighting for their postseason lives.
With quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers continuing to fluctuate in performance, health and status on their respective depth charts, now is the time to make sure your fantasy football rosters are well-rounded with rock solid options on defense and special teams in addition to the tight end position. Especially with byes weeks kicking in this past week, depth is going to be key for those that are going to succeed this time around.
When considering the players that are going to make their way into your fantasy football starting lineup this week, it is imperative that the tight end position is well covered and thoughtfully selected.
Start ‘Em
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
The Miami Dolphins have lost five consecutive games after starting the season at 1-0 with a win over the rival New England Patriots. With things going downhill in a hurry for Miami these days and Atlanta Falcons rookie tight end Kyle Pitts finally finding his stride in Week 5 before encountering a bye week in Week 6, it appears as though the Dolphins might be in for a long day once again this week. Pitts put up an absolutely monster performance in Week 5 against the New York Jets while managing to do so overseas in London, England. Now not only hitting his stride but also fresh off a week of rest, Pitts should surely dominate the lowly Dolphins in Week 7 and create a fantasy football bonanza.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
The Detroit Lions have yet to win a game this season and there is definitely a reason why — this team is terrible on offense, defense and special teams. With the Los Angeles Rams possessing one of the more high-powered and prolific offenses in the entire NFL this season, pretty much every player on the roster should be starting in your fantasy lineup this week. In addition to quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Darrell Henderson Jr. and wide receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, Rams tight end Tyler Higbee should no doubt be in your starting lineup if possible against the Lions. With the Rams slated to move up and down the field against Detroit, there is a tremendous possibility that Higbee ultimately finds the end zone in Week 7 and makes a fantasy football impact.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
The New York Jets are absolutely terrible and the New England Patriots have seemingly always enjoyed beating up on “Gang Green” when the two AFC East franchises clash twice per season. Fantasy football owners know this. Even with the Patriots currently in the midst of another down year in the absence of current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick is still at the helm in New England while the Jets will more than likely encounter yet another heartbreaking loss. If that is indeed going to happen, rookie quarterback Mac Jones will need to feature tight end Hunter Henry, who is red hot at the present moment, as the Patriots are seriously lacking weapons on offense.
Sit ‘Em
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals
Even with the lowly Houston Texans next up on the schedule for the undefeated Arizona Cardinals, newly acquired tight end Zach Ertz has yet to suit up for the surging NFC West franchise. With Ertz previously suiting up for the Philadelphia Eagles alongside fellow standout tight end Dallas Goedert, the Cardinals newcomer had continued to underperform in the “City of Brotherly Love,” leading to a relocation to the desert. Even with Ertz going out on a high note with the Eagles after catching a touchdown in Week 6, his first game with the Cardinals, a team with a million weapons on offense, is just simply too soon to fully trust him in fantasy football.
Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Although the Chicago Bears don't currently possess as stout of a defense as the NFC North franchise typically does, playing it safe and staying away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski is certainly the correct plat in Week 7. With “Gronk” still listed as questionable due to some lingering injury trouble, the veteran tight end has also seen both O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate step up massively in his recent absence, which doesn't bode well for fantasy owners with only Gronkowski on their roster. Fantasy football owners who still have “Gronk” on their roster should sit tight to see how this all plays out before relying too heavily on him.
Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots
Even with the New York Jets up next for the New England Patriots, former Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith continues to underwhelm in a big way in his first season outside of “Music City.” Smith hasn't been able to get anything going thus far into the 2021-22 campaign as former Los Angeles Chargers tight end and another Patriots newcomer in Hunter Henry carrying the majority of the workload for New England. With Henry red hot and Smith ice cold, it is simply best for fantasy football owners to just stay away from the struggling Patriots tight end despite an easy matchup against the Jets.
Follow Us
Subscribe