Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta returned in a big way on Sunday against the Vikings, catching six passes on 11 targets for 48 yards and a touchdown. Naturally, he’s a must-start this week, right? Not so fast.
The Ravens take on the Lions this week, a defense that has allowed double-digit standard league fantasy points to an opposing tight end just once and more than 67 receiving yards to a tight end just twice all season. The Lions kept Brent Celek (29 yards), Andrew Quarless (seven yards), Tim Wright (75 yards), Heath Miller (67 yards), Martellus Bennett (29 yards), Jason Witten (15 yards), Jordan Cameron (64 yards), Jermichael Finley (32 yards), and Jordan Reed (50 yards) to minimal efforts and Pitta will certainly be touchdown dependent against Detroit this week.
On the other hand, trot out Jimmy Graham always, it doesn’t matter what his matchup is.
Most of the tight ends seeing unfavorable matchups this week are ones you likely wouldn’t start anyway: Mychal Rivera, Tim Wright, John Carlson, Garrett Graham, Kellen Winslow, Jared Cook, and Marcedes Lewis.
On the flip side, Greg Olsen, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Coby Fleener, Martellus Bennett, Jordan Cameron, Jordan Reed (if healthy), Jason Witten, Vernon Davis, and Julius Thomas all look strong this week. Delanie Walker has not been very reliable but he has by far the most favorable matchup against a Cardinals defense that has allowed at least one touchdown to an opposing tight end in four of their last five games. Arizona has given up double-digit days to Zach Ertz, Coby Fleener, Danny Noble, Zach Miller, Vernon Davis, Jimmy Graham, and Jared Cook this season but Walker will still be touchdown dependent.
Let’s take a look at all of this week’s fantasy football tight end matchups.
Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE
Highly Unfavorable, Unfavorable, Neutral, Slightly Favorable, Favorable
|
Rank |
AVG |
Defense |
Week 15 Opponents |
|
1 |
4.9 | Chiefs | Mychal Rivera |
|
2 |
5.38 | 49ers | Tim Wright |
|
3 |
6.07 | Eagles | John Carlson |
|
4 |
6.19 | Lions | Dennis Pitta |
|
5 |
6.38 | Rams | Jimmy Graham |
|
6 |
6.49 | Steelers | Jermaine Gresham, Tyler Eifert |
|
7 |
6.54 | Colts | Garrett Graham |
|
8 |
6.75 | Panthers | Kellen Winslow, Jeff Cumberland |
|
9 |
6.78 | Saints | Jared Cook |
|
10 |
6.78 | Bills | Marcedes Lewis |
|
11 |
6.98 | Bengals | Heath Miller |
|
12 |
7.05 | Seahawks | Brandon Myers |
|
13 |
7.24 | Patriots | Charles Clay |
|
14 |
7.58 | Raiders | Anthony Fasano |
|
15 |
7.88 | Chargers | Julius Thomas, Jacob Tamme |
|
16 |
8.13 | Ravens | Brandon Pettigrew |
|
17 |
8.4 | Buccaneers | Vernon Davis |
|
18 |
8.43 | Titans | Rob Housler |
|
19 |
8.58 | Packers | Jason Witten |
|
20 |
8.63 | Falcons | Jordan Reed (Q), Logan Paulsen |
|
21 |
8.84 | Bears | Jordan Cameron |
|
22 |
8.87 | Browns | Martellus Bennett |
|
23 |
8.91 | Texans | Coby Fleener |
|
24 |
9.31 | Jets | Greg Olsen |
|
25 |
9.33 | Giants | Zach Miller |
|
26 |
9.57 | Vikings | Zach Ertz, Brent Celek |
|
27 |
9.63 | Cowboys | Andrew Quarless |
|
28 |
10.01 | Dolphins | Michael Hoomanawanui |
|
29 |
10.08 | Redskins | Tony Gonzalez |
|
30 |
10.43 | Broncos | Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green |
|
31 |
10.58 | Jaguars | Scott Chandler |
|
32 |
15.52 | Cardinals | Delanie Walker |
*Values based on Yahoo standard scoring.
Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE
