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Week 17 Fantasy Football Tight End Preview

By Jared Smola | Updated on Fri, 27 Dec 2024 . 10:58 AM EST
Week 17 Fantasy Football Tight End Preview

  

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 17

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these TEs in Week 17 ...

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Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots

1 p.m. ET Saturday

Will Dissly, Chargers

Dissly (shoulder) was removed from the injury report on Thursday and will play vs. New England. The Pats have performed as a neutral fantasy matchup in 2024.

Hunter Henry, Patriots

Henry snapped an 8-game scoreless streak in Week 16. More critically: The veteran has hit 8 targets in four of his past five contests.

Austin Hooper, Patriots

Hooper's quietly hit 35 yards in six straight. Still, a lack of upside makes him an option only in deep leagues.

 

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

8:10 p.m. ET Saturday

Trey McBride, Cardinals

McBride endured a disappointing 3-20 receiving line at Carolina in Week 16. But nothing changed about his role. And that followed four straight games of 10+ targets, 7+ catches, and 70+ yards.

 

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Dalton Kincaid, Bills

Kincaid has been splitting playing time with TE Dawson Knox since returning from his knee injury, registering 59% and 41% route rates. He's seen seven targets in both games but managed just 4-53-0 and 4-15-0 receiving lines. Kincaid is not a recommended TE1 for Sunday's game vs. the Jets' sixth-ranked TE defense.

Tyler Conklin, Jets

Conklin has averaged 5.7 targets, 4.0 catches, and 41 yards per game over his last three -- his best three-game stretch since Weeks 3 through 5. He remains an unexciting Week 17 fantasy play, though, especially with a matchup against Buffalo's 12th-ranked TE defense.

 

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Chig Okonkwo, Titans

Okonkwo has racked up 21 targets, 17 catches, and 140 yards from QB Mason Rudolph over the last two games. And his route rate spiked to a season-high 83% last week. Next up is a matchup vs. the Jaguars' 30th-ranked TE defense. It all makes Okonkwo a viable -- if a little uncomfortable -- Week 17 TE1 play.

Brenton Strange, Jaguars

Strange crashed with a 2-22-0 line last week. He ran a route on just 38% of pass plays, barely playing after losing a fumble near the end of the first half. Strange would be very tough to trust in Week 17 fantasy lineups, especially vs. the Titans' 11th-ranked TE defense.

 

Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints

Brock Bowers, Raiders

Aidan O'Connell’s Week 16 return helped Bowers tally 11-99 with 13 targets. The rookie is back as a high-end TE1.

Juwan Johnson, Saints

Volatile play from Spencer Rattler makes Johnson a poor fantasy bet. Last week, the veteran posted only 27 yards on an 8% target share.

 

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

Last week produced Ferguson’s highs for targets, catches, and yards since Cooper Rush stepped in. If Philly plugs rushing lanes this week, we could see similar use for Ferguson. But it’s a far less favorable passing matchup. And Ferguson has featured limited upside all season.

  

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns

Jonnu Smith, Dolphins

Smith's recorded 12+ PPR points in six straight matchups. He draws a Browns defense that’s mid-pack in yards allowed to TEs.

David Njoku, Browns

Njoku missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday (knee). Even if active, he’ll be a risky TE1 alongside QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

  

Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings

Hockenson’s hit a 20% target share in two of his past three matchups. His route rate dipped to 70% last week in a close matchup at Seattle, but the veteran remains a low-end TE1.

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Kraft's posted 40 yards in three of his past four games. He went off for 6-53-1 against the Vikings back in Week 4. Low pass volume remains an issue here, although the Packers could be without WR Christian Watson.

 

Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders

Zach Ertz, Commanders

Ertz went quiet in a Week 16 game that seemed to find TD receptions for just about everyone else on his team. But his mere 2 targets belied a still-strong role. Ertz’s 37 routes trailed only Terry McLaurin (41), according to Pro Football Focus. Don’t fret the two straight 2-target games for Ertz, who left early with a concussion the week prior. He’s a solid bet for target share alongside one of the league’s hottest QBs.

Kyle Pitts, Falcons

The QB switch didn’t do anything yet for Pitts, who caught one target and flubbed the other into an INT. He also trailed three Atlanta WRs and RB Bijan Robinson in routes for the game while playing less than 50% of the team’s snaps. Pitts should be a fantasy afterthought for Week 17.

  

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

George Kittle, 49ers

Kittle remains the central cog of the 49ers passing game with three straight TE1 performances in PPR. He will stick as the Brock Purdy safety blanket and red zone target. He has at least six targets in four of the last five games and that should certainly continue. Top TE option this week.

Sam LaPorta, Lions

After a very slow season, LaPorta now has four straight TE1 performances. He caught four of seven targets last week for 43 yards, but did find the end zone. LaPorta is getting worked back in and the Lions may need to keep the scoring up to beat the 49ers. He is a low end TE1.

 

Jared Smola Author Image
Jared Smola, Lead Analyst
Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks 1st among 133 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.
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