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We have officially at the last week of the 2020 NFL regular season, which means your fantasy football season is likely over. Or you are in the second leg of your championship match and on the brink of possibly bringing home the win.
That being said, there are still a few teams with something to play for and their tight ends could have a major role on the field and in fantasy football. Let’s look at couple of tight ends you need to pickup and two you need to completely fade in Week 17.
Tight End Starts
Mark Andrews, Ravens vs. Bengals
Star tight end Mark Andrews has stepped up for the Ravens over the last five games and is one of the reasons why they are in the thick of the playoff race. Andrews has 28 receptions (37 targets) for 377 yards and two touchdowns over that span of time. Last week against the New York Giants, Andrews recorded six receptions (10 targets) for 76 yards. He also scored 7.6 fantasy points, which is not bad considering the volume of targets.
On Sunday, he’ll be looking to find the end zone for the third time in six games against the Bengals. This season, Cincinnati’s defense is allowing 9.8 fantasy points (fourth-most) and 10 touchdowns to opposing tight ends.
Jonnu Smith, Titans vs. Texans
The Titans are in the same position as the Ravens in that they need defeat their divisional rival in Week 17 to make the playoffs. Tennessee has a full artillery of weapons on offense that the Texans’ defense will have to account for. However, one player who may go under the radar is tight end Jonnu Smith.
Last week against the Green Bay Packers, Smith recorded three receptions (seven targets) for 30 yards and a touchdown. It was his second touchdown in four weeks. On Sunday, he’s going up against a Texans’ defense that has allowed two touchdowns in three games to opposing tight ends.
Tight End Sits
Tyler Higbee, Rams vs. Cardinals
With John Wolford making his first-ever start and the Rams likely down Darrell Henderson and maybe Cam Akers, conventional wisdom says that Tyler Higbee might see more targets coming towards his way. One could also make this inference as the Cardinals’ defense will try to take away either Cooper Kupp or Robert Woods.
In the Rams’ last four games, Higbee has 13 receptions (19 targets) for 159 yards and two touchdowns. However, Arizona’s defense has been at defending opposing teams tight ends only allowing three touchdowns and 6.2 fantasy points per game.
Noah Fant, Broncos vs. Raiders
This might come as a surprise especially with the way Noah Fant has played lately, but it would be wise to sit him in Week 17. We all know the Raiders’ defense has not been great this season in both stopping the run and pass. However, they have been good at slowing down the opposing team’s tight end.
The Broncos have allowed five touchdowns and 7.2 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. In their last five games, Denver’s defense has only given up one touchdown to a tight end and that was to Hunter Henry in Week 15.