Fantasy Football: Tight Ends to Start and Sit in Week 16

Week 16 of the NFL season is here and, most likely, that also means it’s championship game time in your fantasy league. All the mock drafts in the summer, waiver wire pickups and blockbuster trades that shaped your season have all led to this moment. Capitalize on the great opportunity before you and you’ll have bragging rights for a year (and whatever prize your league gives out), while if you lose you’ll spend the off-season wondering ‘what if I had drafted Drew Brees instead?’ With the stakes, so high at this time of year, finding an advantage at any position is ideal for capturing victory. Tight end can be a difficult position to pin down definite value on, luckily for you BTSC is here with some suggestions. Below are three tight ends to start, three to sit, and three additional suggestions to fill in for those players to sit for this week.

Start:

Greg Olsen – Keep an eye on the injury report since Olsen is currently listed as questionable with an elbow injury, but assuming Olsen is cleared to play he should appear in your lineup. He’s facing an Atlanta team that is ranked only 29^th at defending tight ends this year.

Kyle Rudolph- Rudolph led the Vikings in receiving last week, and is a safe bet to do so this weekend. While the Packers only gave up 31 yards to Rudolph when they met earlier this season, Rudolph was able to score a touchdown in that game. If Adrian Peterson is able to get himself going with a second week of practice under his belt, Rudolph could the one to cash in on a play action pass.

Delanie Walker – Walker is coming off two weeks of low point totals thanks to facing the Broncos’ and Chiefs’ defenses. Thankfully for owners, Walker gets to play the lowly Jaguars defense this week and should find plenty of room to work with.

Sit:

CJ Fiedorowicz – There were a few weeks where Fiedorowicz was a starting caliber tight end. Unfortunately, this week Fiedorowicz is coming off a concussion and has to deal with a quarterback change late in the season. Not and ideal recipe for success, even against the Bengals.

Start instead: Cameron Brate TB

Travis Kelce – Kelce is a stud tight end no doubt about it, but that Denver defense is no joke. I understand the temptation to start him anyway because of how good he is, but do so at your own risk. Asking Kelce is record two big games against this defense is a tall task.

Start Instead: Tyler Eifert Cin

Jason Witten – It’s been seven weeks now since Witten has scored double digit points, and that came against the Browns in week nine. Witten’s best days in fantasy are well behind him at this point of his career. There are simply better options available.

Start Instead: Antonio Gates