Entering Week 14 of the 2023 Fantasy Football season, the importance of this juncture cannot be overstated. Whether you're strategically managing the clock to secure a first-round bye, clawing back for a last-minute comeback and a playoff spot, or looking to disrupt a rival's season, the stakes are at their peak. With Week 14 upon us, the critical decisions on whom to put on your lineup carry significant weight. This can potentially shape the outcome with substantial consequences for any misjudgments.
Sure, this week may not hold significance for some fantasy football owners who have already secured their postseason berth or are far from contention. However, it is crucial for those in must-win scenarios. This isn't the time to have a gap in your tight end lineup. That said, if you find yourself in that situation, our Week 14 fantasy football TE PPR rankings are here to assist.
Thankfully, despite challenging byes and notable injuries to key tight ends, there are several reliable sleepers and streaming options available. The tight end position is inherently unpredictable. This makes it challenging to determine whom to trust. To aid in decision-making, we analyze which tight ends offer higher floors for those expected to win comfortably and which ones present higher ceilings for those needing to chase big points.
In our customary fashion, we delve into the tight end position each week. We thoroughly examine statistics, matchups, and injuries before presenting our rankings. Let's dive into the tight end landscape and evaluate the scenario for the final week of the fantasy regular season.
Teams on Bye
Week 14 presents an unexpected challenge with the absence of two teams on bye, namely the Commanders and Cardinals. The late-season loss of Logan Thomas and Trey McBride might leave some fantasy owners scrambling. Fortunately, both teams boast above-average tight end defenses. This means that removing them from consideration only serves to benefit the position this week.
Top Fantasy Football Picks
In our Week 14 rankings, Travis Kelce maintains his customary top spot. However, close behind are TJ Hockenson, Sam LaPorta, George Kittle, and Dalton Kincaid.
Travis Kelce had a relatively quiet start and a subdued role in the passing game during the Chiefs' Week 13 loss to the Packers. He managed to salvage his fantasy football performance by leading the team in receiving yards with four catches for 81 yards. He retains the TE1 overall position heading into Week 14 against the Bills.
TJ Hockenson last played in a Week 12 Monday night game against the Bears. He showcased his skills by catching five of six targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. Despite the team's overall struggles, Hockenson stood out as a bright spot. He led the team in receiving yards and scored the sole touchdown of the game. Heading into Week 14, he boasts 80 catches for 786 yards and five touchdowns.
LaPorta has a favorable matchup against a defense that ranked in the top 10 in fantasy football points per game (FPPG) allowed to tight ends last week. Meanwhile, Kincaid continues to be a reliable performer in PPR formats.
Despite a less-than-ideal matchup, George Kittle also remains a must-start. This is particularly true considering his high ceiling in any matchup. That's even though he had a modest performance with three catches for 19 yards against Seattle in Week 12.
Fantasy Football Sleepers
Putting trust in Taysom Hill can be challenging in full-point PPR leagues. However, facing the league's second-worst run defense gives him a high ceiling regardless of the format. Hill's increased involvement as a receiver this season adds value. In addition, with Derek Carr (concussion) potentially limited, Hill might see more passing opportunities this week.
Gerald Everett and Isaiah Likely have favorable matchups against bottom-six tight end defenses. Cole Kmet, Jake Ferguson, and Kyle Pitts also enjoy above-average matchups. This provides them with both higher floors and higher ceilings than usual.
For those navigating deeper leagues, Tyler Conklin and Cade Otton find themselves against defenses that ranked in the top five for FPPG allowed to tight ends last week. Brevin Jordan and Tanner Hudson also have highly favorable matchups and could serve as deep-league PPR plays. However, Jordan's outlook hinges on Dalton Schultz's hamstring issue.
Fantasy Football Busts
Dallas Goedert isn't a definite “must-start” if he returns from his forearm injury this week. That said, he's not a clear “must-sit” either. His previous performance against Dallas in Week 9 (three catches for 50 yards) indicates his ability to produce against this defense. However, it's wise to explore other options before relying on Goedert.
The same cautious approach applies to Evan Engram, who, while generally more reliable in PPR leagues, faces a Browns' defense that allows the fewest FPPG to tight ends. Both Engram and Pat Freiermuth are in challenging situations against top-five tight end defenses.
Fantasy Football Injuries
In addition to the previously mentioned injuries to Goedert (forearm) and Schultz (hamstring), another tight end who might return this week is Darren Waller (hamstring). The Giants will likely assess Waller's condition carefully. Tyler Higbee (neck) also dealt with an injury last week. He is uncertain for this week's matchup against the Ravens and is not a recommended play. This is especially true against the Ravens' top-10 tight end defense.
Now, let's dive into our NFL Fantasy Football Tight End rankings for Week 14 of the 2023 regular season. Standard rankings are indicated in parentheses.
NFL Fantasy Football Week 14 Tight End Rankings
1. Travis Kelce, KC vs. BUF (1)
2. TJ Hockenson, MIN @ LV (2)
3. Sam LaPorta, DET @ CHI (4)
4. George Kittle, SF vs. SEA (3)
5. Dalton Kincaid, BUF @ KC (5)
6. Jake Ferguson, DAL vs. PHI (6)
7. Isaiah Likely, BAL vs. LAR (8)
8. Evan Engram, JAC @ CLE (7)
9. David Njoku, CLE vs. JAC (9)
10. Cole Kmet, CHI vs. DET (16)
11. Taysom Hill, NO vs. CAR (11)
12. Pat Freiermuth, PIT vs. NE (10)
13. Kyle Pitts, ATL vs. TB (12)
14. Cade Otton, TB @ ATL (15)
15. Gerald Everett, LAC vs. DEN (14)
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