Tight Ends Fantasy Football Start 'Em and Sit 'Em For Week 11

The tight-end position has never been easy to navigate. This year was supposed to be where tight ends returned to glory, with a deep group of players ready to take the position to new heights. Unfortunately, that didn't come to pass, and fantasy managers have been left with one of the more depressing groups in recent memory.

This season was supposed to be a changing of the guard with the younger players unseating our old faithful, but that hasn't been the case. George Kittle and Travis Kelce remain two of the best tight ends available. The tight-end position, week to week, is often dictated by matchups. That's certainly been true this season.

In this article, I'll identify several tight ends with the best and worst matchups, along with two deep streamers fantasy managers can target this season and one big-name player fantasy managers should be wary of. To take advantage of our great premium tools and save yourself some money, please use promo code "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount.

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Best Matchups for Week 11

Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins

Since Miami’s Week 6 bye, Smith has been more involved in the passing game. He has three games with six or more targets, including three games with four or more receptions and 40 or more yards. He has scored at least 6.0 half-PPR points in three of the last four games. He was also one yard away from a touchdown in Week 10.

Jonnu Smith fights through for a 33-yard catch and run, bringing the Dolphins down to the 1-yard line 💪

🎥 @NFLpic.twitter.com/LpXdPVHDKy

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 12, 2024

That doesn’t sound like a lot, but we’re discussing tight ends here. No one is scoring a lot, but that steady volume is starting to pay dividends. Tua Tagovailoa has not thrown downfield this season, as we’re accustomed to seeing, likely positively impacting Smith’s volume.

Last year, Tagovailoa averaged 7.7 intended air yards per attempt. In 2022, that number was at 9.5. This year, it’s down at 5.8. That’s the area of the field where Smith is utilized. Smith was already trending in the right direction, but his Week 11 matchup makes him more appealing.

The Dolphins play against the Raiders, who allow the fifth-most half-PPR PPG to opposing tight ends this season at 12.3. Most of that damage has come in the past two weeks, with Travis Kelce scoring 20.0 and Mike Gesicki scoring 24.5. He’s worth taking a shot on in Week 11.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Since Drake Maye became the starter, Henry averages 6.4 targets per game. That would put him on pace for 109 targets over 17 games. The volume has been there, but so has the production. Henry scored 7.0 or more half-PPR points in four of five games with Maye under center. He has five or more receptions in three games and 40 yards in four.

He has solidified himself as Maye’s No. 1, or at worst, No. 2 favorite target. Their Week 11 matchup is one where Henry should be featured and could shine for fantasy managers. The Patriots face the Rams, who are coming off a tough loss to the Dolphins. The Rams will be heavy favorites in this game, potentially leading to a pass-heavy script for Maye and the Patriots. That’s good news for Henry.

More good news is that the Rams are allowing the eighth-most half-PPR PPG to tight ends this season at 11.6. Four tight ends have scored 10.0 or more half-PPR points against the Rams in nine games this season. Two of them have scored 15 or more.

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Ravens have the most pass-funnel defense in the NFL. No one can run on them, but everyone has been able to throw the ball. They’ve given up the most passing yards and passing touchdowns this season.

They are also giving up the ninth-most half-PPR PPG to opposing tight ends at 11.2 this season. That includes one game against the Broncos, whose best tight end is Adam Trautman. Shutting him down isn’t exactly difficult. Five of the 10 tight ends they’ve faced have scored double digits. Two others have scored 7.2 and 8.8. That matchup keeps him on the streaming radar because his utilization since Russell Wilson has returned has been suspect.

Wilson has started the last three games for Pittsburgh. Freiermuth has eight total targets, never eclipsing three in a single contest. He has also failed to reach 20 yards in back-to-back games. Streaming Freiermuth isn’t for the faint of heart. Freiermuth would have back-to-back weeks (without a short touchdown catch last week) with less than 3.0 half-PPR points. The matchup, however, is enticing.

Worst Matchups for Week 11

Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence has already been ruled out for Week 11. That means another start for Mac Jones; the first one was ugly. Jones completed just 14-of-22 passes for 111 yards and no touchdowns. Engram still had eight targets, six receptions, and 40 yards in the contest. He finished with 7.0 half-PPR points, which is far from the worst thing at tight end. The problem with Engram is there’s virtually no ceiling outcome possible with Jones under center.

Considering how poorly he’s played the past two years in New England and his spot start last week, fantasy managers should have zero confidence in Jones to command a competent Jacksonville offense. On top of the questions at quarterback, the matchup doesn’t get much worse.

The Jaguars will play the Lions this week, giving up just 5.7 half-PPR PPG, which is the second-lowest in the NFL. Detroit has not allowed a single tight end to score double digits this season. If you were to add up the total amount of points Detroit has given up to tight ends in each game, only one team’s tight ends have scored more than 9.0 half-PPR points. In seven of its nine games, the other team’s combined tight-end group failed to score 7.0.

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Andrews has been on a roll as of late. Since Week 5, Andrews has scored 12.0 or more half-PPR points in four out of six games. He’s averaging 4.5 targets, 4.0 receptions, and 48.7 yards per game during that time. He is averaging 11.86 half-PPR PPG during this stretch.

However, there’s reason to lower expectations this week. The Ravens play the Steelers, who allow the 14th-fewest points to tight ends this season at just 8.5 half-PPR PPG. Over their last three games, tight ends are only averaging 6.3 half-PPR PPG.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has also mentioned getting Diontae Johnson more involved in the game plan. This could also cause a slight target dip for players like Andrews and Rashod Bateman. While that may not sound like a lot, Andrews’ 4.5 target per-game average over the last six games isn’t anywhere close to what we’ve come to expect from him.

It’s a tough matchup, and with Johnson likely getting more involved, Andrews’ involvement could be slightly less. He’s not a sit or someone to fade. It’s tough to do that, considering the state of the tight-end position and how well he’s played lately, but I’d temper expectations.

Deep Streamers

Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

Dalton Kincaid hurt his knee in Week 10 and was unable to continue. Based on current reports, he seems unlikely to be available this weekend, putting Knox firmly back into the starting lineup. Keon Coleman has already been ruled out. Amari Cooper is questionable. Even if he plays, he’ll likely be less than 100%. The target competition is slim right now in Buffalo. Knox has excellent touchdown potential with Josh Allen, especially with Kincaid and Coleman out.

With Dalton Kincaid likely out, can Dawson Knox take over responsibilities?@Applebees pic.twitter.com/808vU0rQ1i

— Rotoworld Football (@rotoworld_fb) November 12, 2024

Their matchup against the Chiefs could also be a high-scoring affair if Patrick Mahomes and their offense cooperate. Regardless, the Chiefs allow the second-most half-PPR PPG to tight ends this season, 13.1. Kansas City has allowed four tight ends to score more than 12.5 half-PPR points, which includes two games where an opposing tight end scored more than 17.5. It also allowed two other tight ends to score more than 8.0 half-PPR points.

The only three teams that Kansas City has faced whose tight ends did not score 8.0 half-PPR were Atlanta (Kyle Pitts, 6.9 half-PPR points), Los Angeles Chargers (Will Dissly, 3.4), and Denver (Adam Trautman, 3.9). Knox is an excellent streamer in Week 11.

Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers

Since their Week 5 bye, the Chargers have thrown the ball quite a bit. In Weeks 1-4, they averaged 22.8 pass attempts per game and 144.5 yards. From Weeks 6-10, they’re averaging 30 pass attempts and 262 yards per game.

That has impacted Dissly, averaging 6.4 targets per game since the bye week, including a game with 11 targets. He has recorded four receptions in four out of the last five games. He’s become a fixture in the team’s passing offense.

#Chargers Week 10 first-read target shares (per @FantasyPtsData) ...

Will Dissly - 41.7%
Josh Palmer - 16.7%
Ladd McConkey - 8.3%
Quentin Johnston - 8.3% pic.twitter.com/KSQqgXK49X

— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) November 12, 2024

The Bengals, their Week 11 opponent, are tied for the third-most half-PPR PPG allowed to tight ends this season at 12.5. The Chargers and Bengals have one of the highest implied point matchup totals of the week, and this game has some shootout appeal.

The Bengals defense has been putrid all year and has hemorrhaged yards and points to everyone it has faced. Recently, Cincinnati’s defense has been exceptionally generous to opposing tight ends. Over its last six games, Cincinnati has allowed 17.8 half-PPR PPG to opposing tight ends. It has allowed five tight ends to score 13.0 or more half-PPR points in a game this season. All five have come in its last six games.

Beware

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

In theory, this is an excellent matchup for LaPorta. The Jaguars allow the seventh-most half-PPR PPG to tight ends this season at 11.7. The Jaguars have one of the worst pass defenses in the entire NFL. If it weren’t for the Ravens, they’d be the worst.

Jacksonville has allowed six tight ends to reach double digits this season. On paper, it’s a great matchup. Here’s the problem: Jacksonville is atrocious, and Trevor Lawrence is not playing. The Lions are 13.5-point favorites. Jared Goff is averaging just 26.8 pass attempts per game. If Jacksonville cannot make this a competitive game (it won’t), Detroit will have very little reason to throw the ball all that much.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Goff finish with 15-20 pass attempts and sit out the entire fourth quarter with the starting offense before they’re up by so many points. This is my expectation. Due to this, LaPorta is someone fantasy managers should try to avoid if possible.

He’ll need to fall into the end zone to make starting him worth it. There likely won’t be enough volume for positive production without it. He certainly has the talent and the matchup to do that, but it’s also possible LaPorta lays a big dud in a heavy run-centric approach with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs going wild.

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