Admin October 17, 2024
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There’s not much consistency about fantasy football – the tight end position embodies this every week. Tight ends are truly a fantasy wasteland.
Despite the lack of options, fantasy players received some good news last week and strong performances. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram returned after a four-week absence and scored over 20 fantasy points. Lions tight end Sam LaPorta finally delivered on his ADP, reeling in a 50-yard touchdown.
Fantasy teams who invested in the position early in their drafts have been disappointed. Mark Andrews was off to a slow start but he’s coming off of his best game of the season.
Fantasy teams constantly face difficult start-sit decisions for their tight ends. Week 7 brings a new opportunity for your team to make a statement. Here is a breakdown of who you should start and who you should sit at tight end in Week 7 of the fantasy football season.
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Fantasy football start ’em: Week 7 TEs
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
On Sunday, the Texans will meet the Green Bay Packers. Houston has placed star wide receiver Nico Collins on IR, opening up opportunities for the remaining Texans pass catchers. Last week, the expectation was that Schultz would see an uptick in usage, and that’s exactly what occurred. Despite finishing second on the team in targets behind Tank Dell, he didn’t get results.
Green Bay has allowed the fifth-most yards to opposing tight ends (341) and is tied with the most receptions allowed to the position. In two games last season without Collins, Schultz finished with 71 yards and 58 yards, and four receptions in each. Last week, he posted four catches for just 27 yards. Collins left Week 5’s game at halftime, and Schultz finished with nine targets in the win over Buffalo. Some people are ready to drop Dalton, giving him one more week is optimal.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson isn’t a guy we commonly think of in fantasy football. However, similar to Schultz, he has a chance at a greater opportunity due to some injuries to his wide receiver teammates. Chris Olave will likely be ruled out with a concussion, which he suffered on Sunday. Meanwhile, Rashid Shaheed missed multiple practices and is dealing with a knee injury he suffered late in the fourth quarter of Week 6.
After Olave went down, Johnson’s route share percentage boomed, with a season-high 75% route rate. He out-snapped Foster Moreau by 20 snaps and 20 routes in the game. The Broncos’ defense is strong but will be without star corner Patrick Surtain. Denver is tied with the third-most receptions allowed to tight ends this season. If you’re in a 12-team league with Jake Ferguson on a bye, Johnson could deliver decent production for you in Week 7.
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Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Last week, the Patriots No. 3 overall pick, Drake Maye, made his NFL debut. He impressed enough to insert Hunter Henry back into lineups this week confidently. Henry is New England’s leading receiver and has run the most routes for the team this season.
The Patriots’ offensive line will be an issue all season, so expect Maye to lean on his quarterback-friendly veteran tight end. New England faces the Jaguars in London in Week 7. Jacksonville has allowed the most passing yards per game (276.7). The Jaguars deploy a 2-deep coverage scheme, which bodes well for Henry on underneath routes. Cole Kmet torched the Jaguars last week for 5 catches, 70 yards, and two touchdowns. Start Henry this week.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 7 TEs
Grant Calcaterra, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles head to MetLife in Week 7 to take on the division rival New York Giants. Notably, this game will be Saquon Barkley’s first against the Giants as a member of the Eagles. Grant Calcaterra isn’t a household name, but fantasy owners who roster Dallas Goedert may want to turn to third-year tight end on Sunday if Goedert is ruled out because of a hamstring injury he suffered last week against the Browns.
Calcaterra posted a solid stat line after Goedert went down. He played 92% of the snaps and finished with four catches for 67 yards on a 17% target share. Some fantasy owners may want to plug-and-play him against the Giants defense but I recommend leaving him on the bench or waivers this week. The Giants have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. The Eagles will likely heavily involve the game plan around Barkley against his former team and, therefore, not leave enough meat on the bone for Calcaterra in Week 7.
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love returned in Week 4, and the Packers passing game has rebounded. Kraft was one of those players who benefited, reeling in 6 of 9 targets for 53 yards and a touchdown in Week 4, and followed it up with an outstanding four-catch, 88-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Rams in Week 5. However, wide receiver Christian Watson returned in Week 6, and Kraft’s breakout campaign seemingly had the brakes pumped.
Houston’s defense has been terrific. They have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. The Texans kept Dalton Kincaid in check in Week 5, who has been their toughest tight end faced yet.
Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’ems, Week 7
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start and who to sit in Week 7.
→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 7.
→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 7 with start ’em, sit ’em advice for wideouts.
→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent’s offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 7.
→ Kickers are people, too: Here are some of the most clutch kickers to have on your fantasy team in Week 7.