Well, with Kelce (and Gerald Everett) on bye this week, you’re going to have to get into the mud with (most) of the rest of us. Fortunately, this is a good week to be without Kelce, as there are several top-flight, widely available streamers with great matchups who can fill in admirably for your superstar.
Daniel Bellinger (@ Seahawks), if active after his eye injury, and Irv Smith Jr. (vs. Cardinals) are facing two of the three worst TE defenses in the NFL and should be in line for nice games. Smith Jr. gets a few more targets per game, so he has a slightly higher floor in PPR leagues, but Bellinger’s matchup is slightly better. Either way, both could put up TE1-caliber numbers. Juwan Johnson (vs. Raiders), who scored twice in a matchup against the Cardinals last week, has a top-three matchup and is once again a top streaming option, too.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGSQBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers
While those are the best Kelce or Everett fill-ins, there are several other decent streaming options if you just don’t like your regular starter. Will Dissly (vs. Giants), Tyler Conklin (vs. Patriots), Logan Thomas (@ Colts), if he returns from his calf injury, and Cade Otton (vs. Ravens) also have favorable matchups. Otton is the safest bet for targets and has the highest floor in PPR leagues, but all of these TEs are in good spots this week.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGSQBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Some of the tight ends to be wary of this week are Pat Freiermuth (@ Eagles), Dawson Knox (vs. Packers), Robert Tonyan (@ Bills), Evan Engram (vs. Broncos), and Dalton Schultz (vs. Bears). Freiermuth, Knox, and Tonyan have especially brutal matchups, and while they’ve proven they can post decent numbers against anyone, they’re far from consistent, even in PPR leagues. Tyler Higbee (vs. 49ers) and Kyle Pitts (vs. Panthers) also have tough matchups against defenses in the bottom 10 in fantasy points per game allowed to TEs, but they usually have decent PPR floors because of their steady targets. Pitts has dropped quite a bit in our rankings, so consider him a risk either way.
WEEK 8 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
Similarly, Hayden Hurst (@ Browns) has a solid PPR floor despite a mediocre matchup. Mike Gesicki (@ Lions) and Hunter Henry (@ Jets) are the types of inconsistent, lower-target TEs we’re leerier of, but they do have decent touchdown potential.
WEEK 8 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
You could also try Foster Moreau (@ Saints) if Darren Waller (hamstring) is out again, as he should once again get a decent amount of targets. However, the tough matchup will keep his ceiling low. Waller is still a must-start if active, but he’ll carry more risk than usual. The same is true for Harrison Bryant (vs. Bengals) and David Njoku (ankle). Njoku has become a must-start this year, but if he can’t go, Bryant should fill in admirably.
WEEK 8 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
We’ll be updating these TE PPR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.
Week 8 fantasy TE PPR rankings
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring
Rank Player 1 Mark Andrews, Ravens @ Buccaneers 2 Zach Ertz, Cardinals @ Vikings 3 Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Steelers 4 George Kittle, 49ers @ Rams 5 Darren Waller, Raiders @ Saints 6 Tyler Higbee, Rams vs. 49ers 7 T.J. Hockenson, Lions vs. Dolphins 8 Irv Smith Jr., Vikings vs. Cardinals 9 Juwan Johnson, Saints vs. Raiders 10 Taysom Hill, Saints vs. Raiders 11 Hayden Hurst, Bengals @ Browns 12 Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Panthers 13 Greg Dulcich, Broncos vs. Jaguars 14 Cade Otton, Buccaneers vs. Ravens 15 Mike Gesicki, Dolphins @ Lions 16 Harrison Bryant, Browns vs. Bengals 17 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers @ Eagles 18 Hunter Henry, Patriots @ Jets 19 Logan Thomas, Commanders @ Colts 20 Dawson Knox, Bills vs. Packers 21 Dalton Schultz, Cowboys vs. Bears 22 Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Patriots 23 Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Broncos 24 Will Dissly, Seahawks vs. Giants 25 Robert Tonyan, Packers @ Bills 26 Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. Giants 27 Tanner Hudson, Giants @ Seahawks 28 Kylen Granson, Colts vs. Commanders 29 Cole Kmet, Bears @ Cowboys
Week 8 TE PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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