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Matt's tight end (TE) fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 18 of 2024. His TE lineups advice for Week 18 fantasy football start/sit decisions.
Hello, fellow fantasy degenerates. If you have made it this far, it means two things. One, like me, you should seek immediate help. Second, your league's fantasy championship is within your grasp.
Even in the best of circumstances, the tight end position is considered unstable. Last week, Tyler Conklin, Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Jordan Akins, and Payne Durham each produced 10 or more fantasy points, outscoring perennial fantasy studs such as Jake Ferguson and Dalton Kincaid.
It's time to run it back one last time with your RotoBaller starts and sits at the tight end position for Week 18.
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Week 18 Starts - Fantasy Football Booms
Pat Freiermuth - TE, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
This game still has meaning for the Pittsburgh Steelers, at least for now. Things could easily change, but Pittsburgh could still take the AFC North should the Baltimore Ravens falter in Saturday's earlier matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Even then, should the Ravens be victorious, the Steelers could crush the Bengals' postseason hopes in the evening showdown.
One distinct advantage the Steelers have heading into Saturday is at tight end. Pat Freiermuth enters the contest as the TE10, finishing the 17-week fantasy season with 145.8 fantasy points, an average of 9.1 per contest. Freiermuth finished strong with 10 or more fantasy points in four of the last five games, which meant 27 targets over that period.
Expect those targets to continue this week, as the Bengals have allowed 37 receptions on 47 targets over the last four weeks. As a result, opposing tight ends are averaging 20.50 fantasy points per game over that span, thanks to 330 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown receptions. Only the Colts have been more generous.
Chig Okonkwo - TE, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans
Since Week 15, only Trey McBride has averaged more fantasy points per game than Chig Okonkwo. Last week, Okonkwo produced 10.9 fantasy points, hauling in five of his seven targets for 42 receiving yards while adding 17 additional yards on his lone carry. Okonkwo has been one of Mason Rudolph's favorite targets in the last three weeks, having been targeted on 28 occasions.
This game is about pride for the Titans and Okonkwo. Houston may not have all its defensive starters on the field, which means a Texans defense that is already responsible for the sixth-most (15.03) fantasy points per game to the position could be ripe for the picking in this contest. Over the last four weeks, the Texans have allowed opposing tight ends to haul in 24 of the 32 intended targets, making Okonkwo a solid play this week.
Mike Gesicki - TE, Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati is playing for their playoff lives. They need to win to even have a shot at getting into the playoffs. One player with a little extra to play for this week is Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki. Last week, Gesicki hauled in 10 passes, pushing his total to 57 and triggering a $250,000 bonus. This week, if he can produce three receiving yards, he can earn another $250,000, and if he somehow finds his way into the end zone twice, that would add $125,000 more.
On Saturday, Mike Gesicki hauled in 10 passes pushing his total to 57 and triggering a $250,000 bonus.
Week 18, if he can produce 3 receiving yards he can earn another $250,000 and if he were to somehow find his way into the end zone, twice, that would add $125,000 more. pic.twitter.com/TaXizZQdOL
— Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnellyFF) December 30, 2024
Again, for the Steelers, this game could have very little effect on their playoff seeding, depending on the result of the earlier AFC North contest. That said, this is a perfect matchup for Gesicki as the Steelers have surrendered three receiving touchdowns to opposing tight ends over the last four weeks, not to mention 233 receiving yards on 25 receptions. Add that up, and that works out to 17.10 fantasy points against, the third-most.
Week 18 Sits - Fantasy Football Busts
Kyle Pitts - TE, Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers
This would be the week Kyle Pitts would go off, wouldn't it? Yes, he scored last week. No, you don't start him this week. As bad as Pitts has been this season, the tight end position has been equally bad. After all, somehow Pitts finished as the TE14 with 127.7 fantasy points, 13 fewer than Cade Otton, who finished just ahead of him despite missing the final two weeks.
The targets have been there for Pitts, as he has seen 71 this season. However, the production has not met the promise. Of those 71 targets, Pitts was able to corral just 45 of them for 587 yards, and his touchdown on Sunday night was his first since he had a pair against the Buccaneers back in Week 8.
Despite the loss on Sunday to the Washington Commanders, Atlanta is in position to win the NFC South with a win over the Panthers. However, Pitts is not in a good spot for fantasy managers looking to trot him out one more time. The reason? Carolina has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the tight end position over the last four weeks, allowing just 6.78 per game and 81 receiving yards.
Dalton Schultz - TE, Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
Sure, the Texans could rest some starters. They are locked into the fourth seed and a home playoff game during Wild Card Weekend, but this offense needs to get something going, as they have looked rather stagnant much of the season.
I just put Pitts on blast a moment ago, but Dalton Schultz has arguably been a bigger fantasy bust. This season, Schultz finished as the TE20 with 112.3 fantasy points, an average of 7.0 fantasy points per game. That includes factoring in the loss of Stefon Diggs, who has been absent since Week 9.
As much as the Texans would like to get Schultz back involved in this offense ahead of the playoffs, this may not be the game to do so. This season, Tennessee is allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position and has allowed 607 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 16 contests.
Mark Andrews - TE, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns
Baltimore has not locked up the AFC North title yet, but with a win on Saturday, they will again be the Kings of the AFC North.
Their opponent this week can not generate offense. In the last two games in which Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been the starter, the Browns have scored nine points, all field goals. Thompson-Robinson has completed 44 of 81 passing attempts for 327 yards (163.5 per game) and three interceptions.
For the Ravens, they are averaging 30.8 points per game over their last five contests. In other words, this game could be over by halftime, with a majority of the Ravens starters earning some much-needed rest.
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