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Final injury report
Fantasy managers can count their lucky stars — the impact of injuries for the tight end position is relatively minimal. Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. remains questionable after getting some limited practice sessions this week. If inactive, Kyle Rudolph should once again be serviceable for fantasy managers. He posted four receptions for 63 yards in Smith’s absence for Week 10. Fantasy managers will also need to keep an eye on Noah Fant, who has been limited through the week with a rib injury. The sentiment is that he’ll be active for Sunday, though he’s posted just 110 receiving yards and no scores in his last three games. He’ll still be a play regardless, as long as he’s active, considering the current tight end landscape.
Out: Josh Hill (concussion), James O’Shaughnessy (knee), MyCole Pruitt (knee)
Doubtful:
Questionable: Irv Smith (groin), Chris Manhertz (shoulder), Jack Doyle (concussion), Noah Togiai (knee), Noah Fant (ribs), Ryan Izzo (hamstring, hand)
Thursday injury report
Tight ends didn’t see too many updates to the Thursday injury report. Most significantly, Noah Fant was upgraded to limited on Thursday after earning the DNP tag earlier this week. It’s possible that he’s good to go for Week 11, but given the current state of the offense, he’s not primed for a major bounce back.
TJ Hockenson remains limited with a toe injury as well. He suffered the injury in last Thursday’s practice but was able to suit up in Week 10. The Lions will sorely need him Sunday considering the health of their wide receivers, so he could be in for a monster day of healthy enough.
DNP: Josh Hill (concussion), James O’Shaughnessy (knee), MyCole Pruitt (knee)
Limited: Irv Smith (groin), T.J. Hockenson (toe), Chris Manhertz (shoulder), Mo Alie-Cox (knee), Robert Tonyan (ankle), Noah Fant (ribs), Tyler Eifert (shoulder)
Full: Darren Waller (back), Durham Smythe (knee), Jack Doyle (concussion)
Wednesday injury report
Irv Smith Jr. practiced in a limited fashion to start the week. It’s a good step toward facing the Cowboys this week.
Both Darrell Daniels and Maxx Williams are questionable for TNF. If both sit, Dan Arnold has some fantasy value against the Seahawks.
T.J. Hockenson was limited with a toe injury on Wednesday. He played through it last week, but not well. A full practice would be good to see before Sunday.
Noah Fant missed practice with a ribs injury. If he can’t go, Nick Vannett is the last man standing.
Jack Doyle remains in concussion protocol.
DNP: Josh Hill (concussion), Noah Fant (ribs), James O’Shaughnessy (knee), MyCole Pruitt (knee)
Limited: Irv Smith (groin), T.J. Hockenson (toe), Chris Manhertz (shoulder), Mo Alie-Cox (knee), Robert Tonyan (ankle)
Full: Darren Waller (back), Durham Smythe (knee), Jack Doyle (concussion)
The right end position continues in shambles. Considering Travis Kelce’s Week 10 bye, the position was all but a dart throw this week. Then again, when isn’t it?
Injury news
Fantasy managers had Austin Hooper return to the lineup in Week 10, much to the chagrin of Harrison Bryant truthers. The bad news? Hooper didn’t do much either. He finished the day with just one catch for 11 yards, despite playing 85% of offensive snaps. It’s still safe to say this is a run-first team.
Eagles TE Zach Ertz has been designated to return from IR but has yet to be formally activated. His Week 10 status is up in the air, as the team has three weeks to activate him once designated to return.
Bye weeks
The San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills will be on a bye in Week 11. Considering that George Kittle is on injured reserve, fantasy managers won’t be missing out on much. Fantasy managers will be without Evan Engram, Jimmy Graham and Dawson Knox.
Streaming options
Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints
The injury of Drew Brees may have most on alarm, but don’t let it affect fantasy football rosters. Though he hasn’t been a centerpiece of the offense in recent weeks, we haven’t seen much production from any Saints skill player outside of Alvin Kamara. We’re likely to see Jameis Winston get the start for an injured Drew Brees, however, and we’ve seen a large sample size of his preference for the TE position. This week, the Saints will face the Falcons, who are allowing the most fantasy points to the tight end position among NFL teams.
Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made TE Eric Ebron a staple of the offense in 2020. Though he’s posted no games beyond 52 receiving yards, he’s had no fewer than 5 targets in all but two games so far on the season. Considering his steady target share and matchup against the Jaguars, Ebron looks to be a relatively safe play this week at TE. The Jaguars are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to the TE position, including an average of 58 receiving yards and 0.8 TDs per game to the position.
Tight end non-PPR rankings for Week 18
Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
1 | Travis Kelce | KC | @ DEN |
2 | Mark Andrews | BAL | vs PIT |
3 | George Kittle | SF | @ LAR |
4 | Rob Gronkowski | TB | vs CAR |
5 | Zach Ertz | ARI | vs SEA |
6 | Darren Waller | LV | vs LAC |
7 | Dawson Knox | BUF | vs NYJ |
8 | Dalton Schultz | DAL | @ PHI |
9 | Kyle Pitts | ATL | vs NO |
10 | Mike Gesicki | MIA | vs NE |
11 | Hunter Henry | NE | @ MIA |
12 | Noah Fant | DEN | vs KC |
13 | Tyler Higbee | LAR | vs SF |
14 | Gerald Everett | SEA | @ ARI |
15 | Tyler Conklin | MIN | vs CHI |
16 | Jared Cook | LAC | @ LV |
17 | Cole Kmet | CHI | @ MIN |
18 | C.J. Uzomah | CIN | @ CLE |
19 | Evan Engram | NYG | vs WAS |
20 | Albert Okwuegbunam | DEN | vs KC |
21 | Pat Freiermuth | PIT | @ BAL |
22 | Brock Wright | DET | vs GB |
23 | David Njoku | CLE | vs CIN |
24 | Cameron Brate | TB | vs CAR |
25 | Brevin Jordan | HOU | vs TEN |
26 | Foster Moreau | LV | vs LAC |
27 | Jack Doyle | IND | @ JAC |
28 | Austin Hooper | CLE | vs CIN |
29 | Jonnu Smith | NE | @ MIA |
30 | Dallas Goedert | PHI | vs DAL |
31 | Tyler Kroft | NYJ | @ BUF |
32 | Anthony Firkser | TEN | @ HOU |
33 | Tyree Jackson | PHI | vs DAL |
34 | James O'Shaughnessy | JAC | vs IND |
35 | Josiah Deguara | GB | @ DET |
36 | Geoff Swaim | TEN | @ HOU |
37 | Ricky Seals-Jones | WAS | @ NYG |
38 | Dan Arnold | JAC | vs IND |
39 | Adam Trautman | NO | @ ATL |
40 | Jack Stoll | PHI | vs DAL |
41 | Hayden Hurst | ATL | vs NO |
42 | Mo Alie-Cox | IND | @ JAC |
43 | John Bates | WAS | @ NYG |
44 | Jimmy Graham | CHI | @ MIN |
45 | Will Dissly | SEA | @ ARI |
46 | Stephen Anderson | LAC | @ LV |
47 | Marcedes Lewis | GB | @ DET |
48 | Pharaoh Brown | HOU | vs TEN |
49 | Ian Thomas | CAR | @ TB |
50 | Darrell Daniels | ARI | vs SEA |
51 | Durham Smythe | MIA | vs NE |
52 | Adam Shaheen | MIA | vs NE |
53 | O.J. Howard | TB | vs CAR |
54 | Nick Vannett | NO | @ ATL |
55 | Jesse James | CHI | @ MIN |
56 | Jeremy Sprinkle | DAL | @ PHI |
57 | Nick Boyle | BAL | vs PIT |
58 | Blake Bell | KC | @ DEN |
59 | Kyle Rudolph | NYG | vs WAS |