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Week 8 Fantasy Football Tight End Preview

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 8

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

Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals

None inside our top 25 TEs.

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns

David Njoku, Browns

Njoku saw three of Jameis Winston’s four targets after he entered the game in Week 7. It’s a small sample, but there’s reason to believe Njoku’s volume will remain strong against Baltimore. The Ravens have allowed the most catches and yards to enemy TEs. Cleveland also enters the weekend as big home underdogs.

Mark Andrews, Ravens

Andrews has delivered lines of 4-55-0, 3-66-1, and 4-41-2 over the past three weeks. He still hasn’t reached his pre-2024 levels of route participation, though, and his season-long target share remains scary low (12%). He remains a volatile TE1.

Isaiah Likely, Ravens

Likely’s route rates continue to sit above Mark Andrews’ … but the fantasy production hasn’t followed. Since the explosive Week 1, Likely hasn’t topped 3 catches or 30 yards.

Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions

Sam LaPorta, Lions

LaPorta has disappointed with only two targets last week. The Lions gameplan doesn’t seem to favor him, but with Jameson Williams out with a two-game suspension, this could be the time for more work. He is a low-end TE1 in hopes of a score. 

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

Dalton Schultz, Texans

Schultz has totaled 10 targets on a 19% share over the last two games without lead WR Nico Collins, who remains out this weekend against the Colts. Indianapolis ranks 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs, providing a 36% scoring boost to the position. The Colts have allowed a TE to top 12 PPR points in four of their last five games.

Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars

Evan Engram, Jaguars

Engram caught five passes for 35 yards last week, but the Jaguars were run heavy in that win over the Patriots. In a game vs. the Packers this weekend that will likely find them playing from behind, Engram should get more work. He is a solid TE1 for Week 8.

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Kraft caught another TD last week and is a Jordan Love favorite in the red zone. With the Packers’ WR corps at full strength, Kraft won’t be as consistent, but he always has TD upside. Low-end TE1 this week.

Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins

Trey McBride, Cardinals

McBride still hasn’t found the end zone. But his targets have remained steady, with 6-9 surfacing in each game. Note: Miami’s excelled against TEs this year, allowing 35+ yards to only one opponent (Noah Fant).

Jonnu Smith, Dolphins

Smith’s posted big games over the past two weeks. Those games have included spikes in routes (78%), targets per route (37%) and targets (32%). Smith simply wasn’t as involved alongside Tua Tagoviloa, who’s set to return against Arizona. Of course, we’re working with a small sample alongside Tua – but it’s still reasonable to expect a step back from the TE. 

New York Jets at New England Patriots

Hunter Henry, Patriots

Henry sits tied for fifth among TEs in receptions after his second 8-catch game of the season last week. Drake Maye’s two starts have produced Henry’s second- and third-best fantasy outings of the year. The Jets arrive as just the No. 19 defense in TE DVOA.

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kyle Pitts, Falcons

Pitts led the Falcons in targets last week with nine and continues to be utilized in the game plan. If the Falcons are pass heavy in this one, Pitts should have solid targets again. He is a low-end TE1.

Cade Otton, Buccaneers

Otton may be the biggest benefactor of no Mike Evans or Chris Godwin. He had 10 targets this past week, catching eight for 100 yards. The volume is likely to be there to make Otton a TE1 this week.

New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers

Will Dissly, Chargers

Dissly surprised with an 8-81 line against Arizona. He saw a whopping 29% target share – easily a career high. He also set a clear season-high in route rate (75%). If Hayden Hurst (groin) remains out, Dissly can be considered a low-end streamer. Just note: Dissly missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a shoulder. We'll monitor his status.

Juwan Johnson, Saints

Johnson's routes have proven steady, ranging from 65% to 75% over the past month. The potential issue this week is the return of Taysom Hill (ribs), who’s been sidelined since Week 4. 

Taysom Hill, Saints

Hill practiced in full on Thursday, putting him in position to return from a rib injury. He was a non-factor in the passing game prior to injury but saw two goal-line carries. He projects as a TD-or-bust option against the Chargers.

Buffalo Bills at Seattle Seahawks

Dalton Kincaid, Bills

Kincaid continues to disappoint, catching only three of his six targets for 52 yards last week. He is being used more down the field, and the usage is there. But Kincaid hasn’t broken through yet. The Seahawks give up plenty of receptions to TEs, so this should be a solid TE1 week for Kincaid.

Noah Fant, Seahawks

With no DK Metcalf, Fant could get more usage. He caught four passes for 65 yards last week. He has had two straight games with 60+ yards, and he could extend that streak this week. The Bills are a strong team against TEs, however, so Fant is more of a low-end TE2.

Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos

Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers

Sanders has totaled 18 targets, 14 catches, and 123 yards over the last three weeks. All three marks rank top-14 among TEs. Next up for the rookie is Denver's 18th-ranked TE defense. But QB Bryce Young adds major downside to the offense. Carolina is implied for just 15.5 points -- second lowest on the week.

Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders

Brock Bowers, Raiders

You know Bowers’ volume has been excellent. Now he draws a Chiefs defense that’s 32nd in yards per route run allowed to TEs.

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Shockingly, Kelce enters Week 8 without a score. He was the TE27 in Week 7 after two straight top-five weeks. Fantasy owners will just have to stomach the volatility, as he remains a clear starting option against Vegas. 

Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders

Cole Kmet, Bears

Kmet caught two TDs in the game before the bye. He has two TE1 weeks this season and remains a red zone threat. The matchup is also great against the Commanders this week. But his TD dependence makes him only a high-end TE2.

Zach Ertz, Commanders

Ertz caught four passes for 40 yards last week, including a TD. He is a check-down option for Marcus Mariota if Jayden Daniels is out, so there is target potential. TE2 this week.

Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers

George Kittle, 49ers

Kittle opened the week not practicing because of a foot sprain. But he returned to the field Thursday and should be ready for the game. We’ve seen Kittle play after going all week without practicing. Assuming he’s good to go for the game, You’re obviously starting fantasy’s leading TE in points per game.

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

Struggles by Dak Prescott and the Cowboys this season might be keeping Ferguson out of the end zone. But only four other TEs have seen more targets per game. And just seven TEs have more total receptions, even though Ferguson has played only five games. This difficult matchup keeps him from being an auto-start if you have multiple good options. But don’t reach too far for a replacement. The past three San Francisco opponents have each totaled at least 7 TE receptions.

New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers

Freiermuth saw a season-low 8% target share in Russell WIlson's 2024 debut. In fact, No. 2 TE Darnell Washington saw a 16% target share while playing only 29% of the snaps. We’d expect that to normalize a bit against the Giants, but it’s a reminder that Freiermuth carries a questionable ceiling. He’s beaten a TE12 finish only once all year. 

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.