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Rob's tight end fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Weeks 15-17 of the 2025 season. Who should I start at tight end for fantasy football in Weeks 15-17 lineups?
We are now just two weeks away from the start of the fantasy football playoffs. This article will identify six tight ends with positive matchups during the fantasy football playoffs (Weeks 15-17) and six tight ends with negative matchups during the fantasy football playoffs.
The tight end position is one where fantasy managers often stream tight ends, so identifying these positive and negative matchups in the playoffs can be useful. For some tight ends who have poor matchups (Travis Kelce and Dallas Goedert), fantasy managers shouldn't be dropping them or doing anything like that, just maybe lowering expectations.
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Best Playoff Schedules (Weeks 15-17)
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Andrews has disappointed in recent weeks, but so has the entire Baltimore offense, which starts with quarterback Lamar Jackson. If we are to trust Jackson (and we should), it's only a matter of time before this offense gets back on track. That's a bet I'm more than willing to make. Jackson has only ever been elite, and Andrews has always been a significant red-zone option for Jackson.
Andrews has two elite playoff matchups in Weeks 15 and 16, the first being against the Bengals. By now, the exploits of basically any tight end playing against the Bengals defense are well known, but his Week 16 game against the Patriots is also very appealing.
The Bengals are allowing 19.3 half-PPR PPG to tight ends, most in the NFL. In their other contests, those same tight ends have averaged 11.8 half-PPR PPG. Tight ends are scoring 7.5 more half-PPR PPG against the Bengals. That's incredible! The Patriots are not as generous, but they're still plenty friendly toward tight ends.
The Patriots are allowing 11.9 half-PPR PPG to opposing tight ends. This is the 10th most in the league. Tight ends have otherwise scored 10.5 half-PPR PPG, meaning tight ends are scoring 1.4 more half-PPR points against New England. Andrews will be ranked as a top-5 tight end in Week 15 and a top-10 TE in Week 16.
His Week 17 matchup is not nearly as friendly, but he does have two great matchups to kick off the fantasy playoffs with. With games against the Bengals and Patriots, Andrews could propel plenty of fantasy managers to the championship game.
Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins
Waller is currently on IR but eligible to return at any time. He has been limited in practice this week, and while he may not return in Week 13, it seems likely he'll return in Week 14. That'll give him one game to get his feet back underneath him before the fantasy playoffs start in Week 15. Waller is someone fantasy managers can stash right now, potentially even on their IR, depending on his status this weekend.
Waller will face off against the Steelers in Week 15. They're allowing 13.4 half-PPR PPG, which is the fifth most to tight ends. In their other games this season, those same tight ends have averaged 10.5 half-PPR PPG. Tight ends going against the Steelers have scored 2.9 half-PPR PPG more.
In Week 16, the Dolphins play the Bengals. We've already touched on just how generous they've been to tight ends. Like Andrews, Waller has two great matchups to start the fantasy football playoffs with. When Waller was healthy, he was operating as Tua Tagovailoa's No. 2 pass-catcher behind Jaylen Waddle with Tyreek Hill on IR.
His Week 17 matchup against the Buccaneers is difficult, and one that fantasy managers may want to consider using a different streamer. However, Waller's first two playoff contests are so generous that he could very well help fantasy managers get to the championship game. Unfortunately, they may need to find another tight end to use for championship week.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Strange, when healthy, has arguably operated as Jacksonville's most dependable and consistent pass-catcher. Parker Washington is another candidate. Travis Hunter is currently on IR. Brian Thomas Jr. is still dealing with a high-ankle sprain, and he's been brutally ineffective this year. The team traded for Jakobi Meyers, but in Strange's first game back from IR last week, he immediately led the team in receiving.
I’m super excited for #StrangerThings5 and speaking of Strange … how about Brenton? pic.twitter.com/IJuOwAe47g
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 26, 2025
He's a focal point of the passing attack, and he's someone Trevor Lawrence has significant trust in. His first two matchups are not ideal, but not terrible, either. He plays the Jets in Week 15 and the Broncos in Week 16. They've allowed 10.6 and 10.4 half-PPR PPG to tight ends, respectively. Those marks are the 18th and 20th most this season. They've been slightly tougher on tight ends than in their other matchups.
Tight ends have averaged 10.4 half-PPR PPG against the Broncos. In their other contests, those same tight ends have averaged 10.7 half-PPR PPG, so they're holding tight ends to ever so slightly below their season PPG average. The Jets are very similar, giving up 10.6 half-PPR PPG to tight ends, and those same tight ends have averaged 11.3 half-PPR PPG.
His Week 17 game is why fantasy managers should be excited. The Jaguars face the Colts, who are allowing 13.4 half-PPR PPG to tight ends, which is the fifth highest. Tight ends have otherwise averaged just 10.5 half-PPR PPG, so tight ends are scoring almost 3.0 more half-PPR PPG.
Strange will likely flirt with top-12 status in Weeks 15 and 16 because of how good he's been this year, but should be a locked-in top-10 option in Week 17, if you're able to make it there.
Other Tight Ends with Positive Playoff Matchups
- A.J. Barner, Seattle Seahawks
- Week 15 vs. Colts ++
- Week 16 vs. Rams
- Week 17 at Panthers +
- Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
- Week 15 at Seahawks +
- Week 16 vs. 49ers +
- Week 17 vs. Jaguars ++
- Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 15 vs. Falcons --
- Week 16 at Panthers +
- Week 17 at Dolphins ++
Worst Playoff Schedules (Weeks 15-17)
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Henry has the worst playoff schedule among all tight ends. The only one who is close to as bad is Brock Bowers, but he's a different tier of tight end who can overcome and still be started in some of those negative matchups. Although Geno Smith is doing his best to remove Bowers' "set it and forget it" status. Fantasy managers will not find a single playoff week where Henry can be started.
Hunter Henry was the hero of Week 12 but prepare for a reality check. The Giants have been absolute kryptonite to tight ends, allowing just 32 receiving yards and zero touchdowns over their last four games.
Start Henry with caution in Week 13.https://t.co/ctewjffWc6
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) November 27, 2025
In Week 15, they are against the Bills. They follow that up with games against the Ravens and the Jets on the road. These teams are allowing just 4.4, 8.7, and 10.6 half-PPR PPG, respectively. These teams have allowed the fewest (Bills), seventh-fewest (Ravens), and the 15th-fewest (Jets).
Buffalo's defense has limited tight ends to 3.7 half-PPR PPG less than their season average. Tight ends are scoring 1.8 half-PPR PPG less against Baltimore than their season average. The Jets defense is also allowing tight ends fewer PPG than their season average, 0.7 fewer half-PPR PPG.
There's not a single contest where fantasy managers can be even remotely confident starting Henry. New York is the best matchup Henry has, and it was just in Week 11 when the Jets held him to just 6.5 half-PPR PPG.
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert has been living off an incredible touchdown rate all year, and it's one that, based on his career average, is a clear and significant outlier. That should be a concern for fantasy managers right off the bat.
While Goedert has been a strong fantasy contributor thus far, if the touchdowns dry up, he'll be a disappointment in fantasy lineups. His playoff matchups don't inspire much confidence, unfortunately.
In Week 15, the Eagles play the Raiders. Philadelphia will likely cruise in this contest and can lean on its run game. This is something it does almost every game, but in a game like this, it'll be able to do it even more so. The Raiders are allowing the fourth-fewest points to tight ends this season. It gets slightly better in Week 16 against the Commanders, who are allowing 12.1 half-PPR PPG. This is the seventh most.
Fantasy managers should be able to start Goedert in Week 16 with confidence, but it's another brutal matchup in Week 17. Philadelphia goes on the road in Week 17, during championship week, to play the Buffalo Bills, who are allowing just 4.4 half-PPR PPG to tight ends this season.
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce has three negative matchups during the fantasy playoffs, and the first two in Weeks 15 and 16 are brutal. In Week 15, Kansas City plays the Chargers, and in Week 16, it goes against the Titans. These two defenses are allowing 7.8 and 8.7 half-PPR PPG to tight ends, respectively. Those rank as the sixth- and seventh-fewest points in the NFL. Both teams are holding tight ends below their seasonal average.
During Week 17, championship week, the Chiefs go against the Broncos. Kelce did score 19.6 half-PPR points against them in Week 11, but for the season, Denver is allowing just 10.4 half-PPR PPG to opposing tight ends.
Kelce isn't someone who fantasy managers need to drop due to their playoff matchups as opposed to Hunter Henry. That would be a vast overreaction. Kelce has been an excellent fantasy asset all year, but he's someone fantasy managers should be valuing a bit lower than his seasonal rank.
Other Tight Ends with Negative Playoff Matchups
- Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
- Week 15 at Giants -
- Weeks 16 vs. Eagles --
- Week 17 vs. Cowboys
- Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
- Week 15 vs. Cardinals
- Week 16 vs. Raiders --
- Week 17 at Chargers --
- Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 15 at Eagles --
- Week 16 at Texans -
- Week 17 vs. Giants -
Week 13 Rankings
1. Trey McBride at Buccaneers
2. Travis Kelce at Cowboys
3. Brock Bowers at Chargers
4. George Kittle at Browns
5. Mark Andrews vs. Bengals
6. Tyler Warren vs. Texans
7. Jake Ferguson vs. Chiefs
8. Dallas Goedert vs. Bears
9. Oronde Gadsden II vs. Raiders
10. Theo Johnson at Patriots
11. Juwan Johnson at Dolphins
12. Brenton Strange at Titans
13. Dalton Schultz at Colts
14. Harold Fannin Jr. vs. 49ers
15. Colston Loveland at Eagles
16. Hunter Henry vs. Giants
17. Kyle Pitts Sr. at Jets
18. Mike Gesicki at Ravens
19. Cade Otton vs. Cardinals
20. AJ Barner vs. Vikings
21. Zach Ertz vs. Broncos
22. Isaiah Likely vs. Bengals
23. Dawson Knox at Steelers
24. Chig Okonkwo vs. Jaguars
25. T.J. Hockenson at Seahawks
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