Fantasy TE Rankings Week 17: Who to start, sit at tight end in fantasy football

Under normal circumstances, fantasy owners of Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, and Darren Waller wouldn’t have to pay attention to Week 17 fantasy TE rankings, but with COVID complications and the usual injury worries, that isn’t the case in 2021. It’s smart to have an understanding of the streamer-level/sleeper players for the fantasy championship because you never know when the reserve/COVID list will rip away your fantasy studs.

Obviously, you’re starting the guys mentioned above if they’re active, and none of the premier tight ends have worrisome matchups, so don’t overthink it.

WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | D/ST | Kicker

If the guy you plan to start does end up being surprise inactive, some of the top streaming options look to be Tyler Conklin (@ Packers), Ricky Seals-Jones (vs. Eagles), Gerald Everett (vs. Lions), Cole Kmet (vs. Giants), and C.J. Uzomah (vs. Chiefs). Seals-Jones has the best TE matchup possible, but he’s probably a better play in PPR leagues, while Uzomah has the most standard league upside. Conklin, Everett, and Kmet have been productive enough to be considered in neutral matchups. Ultimately, a tight end stream is never particularly “safe,” but all the guys in this group have something going for them heading into Week 17. You can add Foster Moreau (@ Colts) if Waller (knee) if Waller is out again.

WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

You could also try Jack Doyle (vs. Raiders) and Albert Okwuegbunam (@ Chargers), but they’re obviously a little tougher to trust since they’re both in “committee” tight end rooms. The matchups are very strong, and a touchdown from one of them is all you need to “get by” in standard leagues at this position.

James O’Shaughnessy (@ Patriots), Evan Engram (@ Bears), Jared Cook (vs. Broncos), and David Njoku and Austin Hooper (@ Steelers) are on the other side of things with tough matchups. We know none of these guys are constant producers, which means scary matchups largely eliminate them from starting consideration. O’Shaughnessy might be further hampered by the potential return of Dan Arnold (knee), which would make it impossible to figure out which one to trust. 

However, we should note there are ways a streamer-level TE with a tough matchup could become somewhat attractive. For instance, with Mike Williams out in Week 17 due to being on the reserve/COVID list, Cook could move up rankings if the Chargers lose another key receiver. At the end of the day, he’s tied to Justin Herbert and would be one of his most reliable targets. The same could happen for any of the other TEs in this range if their teams’ WRs are hit by the COVID list.

Ultimately, the NFL’s current COVID situation can shake things up in a multitude of ways, so be sure to check back often for our latest rankings updates. Since tight end rankings are one of the most fluid based on injuries, matchups, and other factors, these rankings could look very different by the end of the week.

Note: We’ll be updating these TE rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy TE Rankings Week 17: Who to start at tight end

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring