Fantasy football playoffs are here, and every lineup decision matters more than ever. This week’s tight end matchups feature some surprising opportunities and potential traps. A few familiar faces are trending back up, while others may be better left on the bench. Let’s break down which players could swing your matchup in Week 15.
Start ‘Em: Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens (at CIN)
One of the more baffling decisions you will see from an NFL team is the extension the Baltimore Ravens just gave Mark Andrews. The once elite tight end is on his last legs. I would be stunned if he remained on the team for the duration of his deal. He is completely washed.
With that said, nothing matters when facing the Cincinnati Bengals, a defense that has a moral opposition to covering tight ends.
The Bengals are not just bad against tight ends, they are historically bad. Never in the history of football has the gap between the team allowing the most fantasy points per game to the position and the second most been this large.
Last week, I recommended Dalton Kincaid. That worked out because he scored, but it was actually Dawson Knox who smashed. Two weeks ago, Andrews was on this list against the Bengals the first time around. He was merely fine, as Isaiah Likely smashed. Here’s to hoping we don’t get burned by the TE2 outproducing the TE1 for a third straight week.
Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants (vs. WAS)
Prior to the New York Giants’ Week 14 bye, Theo Johnson had a middling game with three receptions for 29 yards. On the surface, it’s nothing to really care about. But Johnson saw eight targets in that contest. Jaxson Dart looked for him frequently against a Patriots defense that is middle of the pack against tight ends.
This week, the Giants get a Commanders team allowing the second most fantasy points per game to the position. It is worth noting that the second and seventh worst teams against tight ends are packed pretty tightly together. This is still a favorable matchup, though.
Wan’Dale Robinson remains the top option in the passing game. But there is no clear No. 2. In a game that could be a sneaky shootout between two teams playing out lost seasons, Johnson is a very viable streamer this week.
Sit ‘Em: Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots (vs. BUF)
For as great as the New England Patriots have been offensively all season, Hunter Henry really hasn’t been. He’s coming off back-to-back games of double digit fantasy points. But prior to Weeks 12 and 13, Henry hadn’t crested double digits since Week 4.
Drake Maye spreads the ball around. One week, it could be Henry as the main guy. The next it might be Stefon Diggs. We had a week with Mack Hollins as the top target. We’ve had weeks with Kayshon Boutte leading the way. It’s a difficult puzzle to solve. This week, we can confidently say it won’t be Henry, though.
The Buffalo Bills have been the No. 1 team against tight ends this season. No team allows fewer fantasy points per game to the position.
When these teams played in Week 5, Henry caught two of four targets for 46 yards. It was one of his five games with two receptions or fewer. There’s a pretty solid chance that this week becomes No. 6.
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (at KC)
The Kansas City Chiefs are not quite as good against tight ends as the Bills, but they aren’t far off. They’re allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. This does not bode well for Oronde Gadsden II.
In Week 1, Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns. That was a very long time ago. Now we must acknowledge the reality that this Kansas City Chiefs team isn’t excellent. We keep expecting them to figure it out, and they keep…not. But one thing that’s been consistent is their ability to stop tight ends.
As if that isn’t reason enough, Gadsden’s involvement in the offense has tapered off considerably. He had that epic four-week stretch from Weeks 6-9. Outside of that run, he doesn’t have a single game over double-digit fantasy points.
He’s scored no more than 6.1 fantasy points in five straight. Gadsden belongs on the benches in Week 15.