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Week 5 Fantasy Football Tight End Preview

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 5

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

New York Jets vs. Minnesota Vikings

Tyler Conklin, Jets

Conklin had 17 yards receiving last week, but did have eight targets from Aaron Rodgers. He has had over 17% of the team’s targets in each of the last two weeks. The production will certainly come with that level of volume, and the Vikings have given up two of the four TE1 overall weeks this year. Conklin is a solid high-end TE2.

Johnny Mundt, Vikings

While TJ Hockenson recovers, Mundt has been the lead TE. He ran a route on nearly 70% of the Vikings dropbacks last week. The talent isn’t there for Mundt on film, but he could get a surprise red zone TD, making him a low-end TE2.

Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders

David Njoku, Browns

We’ll see if Njoku suits up after missing practice on Thursday (ankle). The Commanders have faced Cade Otton, Theo Johnson, Mike Gesicki, and Elijah Higgins, so they haven’t been tested by a go-to TE. Njoku’s potential to see 7-8 targets makes him a TE1 – if he’s healthy enough to go.

Zach Ertz, Commanders

Ertz already owns two top-ten fantasy finishes in 2024. He’s also coming off a Week 4 that produced a season-high 86% route rate. With Jayden Daniels performing at a high level, Ertz will retain a TE1 ceiling.

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

Hunter Henry, Patriots

Henry went off for 8-109 in Week 2. Sandwiched around that game: a combined 6 catches for 39 yards. He remains an unreliable fantasy option, despite a plus scoring matchup with Miami.

Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears

Cole Kmet, Bears

Kmet came back to earth with Keenan Allen returning for the Bears catching three passes for 34 yards. He will need to find the end zone to have a top-12 performance this week, so he settles as more of a low-end TE1 play.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Isaiah Likely, Ravens

After his explosive Week 1 game, Likely has fallen back to earth, catching only four passes for 56 yards over the last three weeks. Unlike Mark Andrews, though, Likely is on the field and running routes on over 55% of Ravens dropbacks. Likely is a high-end TE2 this week.

Mark Andrews, Ravens

With two straight goose eggs, starting Andrews for another week is hard. As the Ravens have moved more to a run-heavy offense, Andrews has been benched for Charlie Kolar far too often. Until he gets more snaps and targets, Andrews can’t be trusted. He is a low-end TE2 this week. 

Mike Gesicki, Bengals

Gesicki has lost ground to Erick All, especially when the Bengals run the ball. But, Gesicki is still the primary pass-catching TE. This could be a good gamescript in a potential shootout, so Gesicki is a solid TE2 this week.

Erick All, Bengals

All is starting to get more playing time and is well-liked by the Bengals coaching staff. He isn’t fantasy relevant yet, but as his snap count and route rate increases, All remains a TE to watch. He is a high-end TE3 in hopes of a TD this week.

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans

Dalton Kincaid, Bills

While the production hasn't been huge, Kincaid has finished TE14, TE5, and TE11 in PPR points over the past three weeks. And he's drawn a 20% target share during that span. The Texans have given up very little production to TEs so far this season, but they haven't been tested by the Colts, Bears, Vikings, or Jaguars. WR Khalil Shakir’s absence can’t hurt Kincaid’s target potential this weekend.

Dalton Schultz, Texans

Even with WR Tank Dell out last week, Schultz caught just three of five targets for 34 scoreless yards. He hasn't finished better than TE19 in PPR points in any week so far this season. With Dell expected back for Sunday's game vs. the Bills, Schultz is a weak fantasy bet.

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

Evan Engram, Jaguars

Engram has returned to limited practices this week after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury. HC Doug Pederson said Friday, though, that the TE will likely be a game-time decision. That doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in a player with a checkered injury history and who sustained the injury in pre-game warmups for Week 2. If Engram’s out again, Brenton Strange would get another start. He has managed just 3, 2, and 3 receptions filling in so far. If you’re willing to take the risk with an active Engram, though, there’s certainly upside. The Colts have been the friendliest matchup for TE scoring so far, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed.

Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos

Brock Bowers, Raiders

The Raiders will remain without Davante Adams (hamstring). That only boosts Bowers’ ceiling against Denver. Another benefit: Bowers shouldn’t see much of elite CB Patrick Surtain.

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

George Kittle, 49ers

The Cardinals have actually performed well against TEs so far. No player at the position has reached 40 receiving yards in a game against them, despite matchups including Detroit and Buffalo. (Sam LaPorta leaving that Week 3 clash a little early helped.) Kittle has delivered strong efficiency so far, though, catching 88% of targets and scoring twice. And Arizona’s pass defense has struggled overall. With San Francisco’s implied team total 2.75 points ahead of any other team’s this week, the star TE makes for a strong bet.

Trey McBride, Cardinals

McBride got back to full practice participation Thursday and should be good to go after missing Week 4 with a concussion. He has seen 6+ targets in each of three appearances, and his team enters the weekend as a 7.5-point underdog at San Francisco. The matchup’s likely to elevate Arizona’s passing volume. And an ankle injury appears likely to sideline 49ers star LB Fred Warner. That would make the middle of the field much easier for McBride to navigate.

Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Kraft is coming off a 6-53-1 line in the Week 4 loss to the Vikings, drawing a 17% target share on a season-high 86% route rate. He gets a Rams defense on Sunday that hasn't stopped anything yet this season. They rank 20th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs.

Colby Parkinson, Rams

Parkinson has totaled 12 targets on a 22% target share over the past two weeks. That's enough to get him on the Week 5 spot-start radar in what could be a high-scoring game vs. the Packers. Green Bay ranks 22nd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs.

New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks

Noah Fant, Seahawks

Despite playing for the league’s leading team in passing volume, Fant ranks just 20th among TEs in targets. He has exceeded 2 receptions just once in four games. The offense gives him upside if you’re hunting this far down for a starter. But there’s also risk that Fant continues losing opportunities to rookie TE A.J. Barner – as he did Monday night at Detroit.

Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

Ferguson saw a 27% target share last week, bringing his season-long average to 22%. His volume shouldn’t be an issue against Pittsburgh, especially with Dallas missing WR Brandin Cooks (knee).

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers

Freiermuth quietly sits fifth among TEs in PPR points. He’s notched 4+ catches in each game. While Pittsburgh’s low pass volume will add risk over the season, Freiermuth remains a viable TE1 vs. Dallas.

New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce was the biggest benefactor of Rashee Rice’s injury, having his highest totals of the year with seven catches, nine targets, and 89 yards. He is back to TE1 overall for this week with that type of usage. The Saints starting LBs are both on the injury report, so it could lead to an even better day for Kelce.

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.