Hello to all you fantasy footballers out there! We’re moving onto Week 6 of the season and it’s once again time to check out the underperforming tight ends of the league! Week 5 was a good one for Tucker Kraft’s ascension and Brock Bowers’ semi-consistency. But when you have two tight ends in the Top 7 fantasy scores from the Ravens and neither is Mark Andrews, well, things are still kind of weird in tight end land.
The good news is that Bowers, George Kittle, Jake Ferguson, and probably Travis Kelce with Rashee Rice out, look like they’re going to have a higher floor than most, while Kraft is at least in a spot to join them after back-to-back strong games.
It looks like we might have lost David Njoku again due to injury, but we should get T.J. Hockenson back in a couple weeks and Evan Engram back this week. That will be a nice shot in the arm to the fantasy tight end player pool.
Week 6 tight end byes
Travis Kelce, Colby Parkinson, Jonnu Smith
Week 6 tight end injuries
David Njoku, Browns
Njoku can’t catch a break. He returned from I.R. for Week 5, but suffered a knee injury in that game. He will receive an MRI to see the extent of the damage. Jordan Akins would return to the starting job if Njoku misses time.
Evan Engram, Jaguars
Engram has a “pretty good” chance to return this week from his hamstring injury, per Adam Schefter. This is good news for the Jaguars offense and for fantasy players with Engram at tight end. It won’t take much from him to likely be an upgrade on whoever you were playing instead of him.
Taysom Hill, Saints
Hill suffered fractured ribs in Week 5 and was out Week 6. The fact he hasn’t been put on I.R. is telling, but we can’t expect him to be 100% anytime soon.
T.J. Hockenson, Vikings
Hockenson has been designated to return, but it’s looking like Week 7 is the most-likely return date, per Ian Rapoport. If you are in a shallow league and he’s somehow available, grab him.
Week 6 tight end sleepers
Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. Lions
Ferguson’s yet to find the end zone, which has held down his fantasy production. The good news is that he 25 targets over the last three games, and he’s caught 19 for 214 yards. Those are elite numbers this season and he is a must start each week, especially in this game environment against a team with a better offense.
Cole Kmet, Bears vs. Jaguars
I am all in on targeting this Jaguars pass defense this week and Kmet could easily be a factor in this game. They’ve really only face Dalton Kincaid this year and he caught a touchdown against them and Mo Alie-Cox caught one last week. There will be a lot of mouths for Caleb Williams to feed, but Kmet will get his shot in a good matchup.
