Fansided

DraftKings NFL 2017: Week 13 Lineup

By Joe Romano

29th October 2017, Twickenham, London, England; NFL International Series, game 4, Minnesota Vikings versus Cleveland Browns; Adam Thielen of the Minnesota Vikings is congratulated by Stefon Diggs of the Minnesota Vikings after scoring the Vikings firsts touchdown (Photo by Simon West/Action Plus via Getty Images)
29th October 2017, Twickenham, London, England; NFL International Series, game 4, Minnesota Vikings versus Cleveland Browns; Adam Thielen of the Minnesota Vikings is congratulated by Stefon Diggs of the Minnesota Vikings after scoring the Vikings firsts touchdown (Photo by Simon West/Action Plus via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 11
Next

High Priced Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots ($7300) – A familiar name atop the tight end rankings is New England Patriots’ superstar Rob Gronkowski — again the top tight end on the season. The Patriots are rolling and play the Buffalo Bills on the road this week. The Bills rank 31st in points allowed to opposing tight ends over the last four weeks. That really does not matter with Gronkowski who over the same span is the third highest scoring player at the position. He is about as matchup proof as it gets but it is tough to justify spending so big on someone who only has one touchdown over the last four weeks. I like to use the tight end position on a more middle of the pack player than spend big on a guy like Gronkowski.

Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs ($7000) – Another familiar face towards the top of this list is Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. Almost like a Gronkowski clone, Kelce has been impressive all season. However the Chiefs have struggled of late and Kelce has not been immune to that. The Chiefs travel to New York to play the Jets on Sunday. The Jets are actually 30th in points allowed to opposing tight ends over the last four weeks. They have a pair of young dynamic safeties which may account for that success. Also like Gronkowski, Kelce’s tough matchup and price tag have me shying away. This, also like Gronkowski, could come back and haunt me as they are both proven to be matchup proof and elite options at the position that lacks many.

Evan Engram – New York Giants ($5700) – The New York Giants drafted tight end Evan Engram in the first round of this past year’s draft. They did not expect him to become their number one option this season. Injuries to receivers have thrust him into that role and he is responding with a great rookie campaign. The Giants have now moved on from Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith. Smith will start against the Oakland Raiders this week in Oakland. It’s a great matchup for Engram with Oakland giving up the seventh-most points to opposing tight ends over the last four weeks. Smith under center both scares me and excites me if I’m throwing Engram into a lineup. He’s had decent fantasy success and in a new offense could lock on to the most talented pass catcher. In New York that is Engram. This week seems like a boom or bust week for the rookie tight end.

Delanie Walker – Tennessee Titans ($5600) – A team that is happy to have their tight end back is Tennessee with Delanie Walker now regularly in the lineup. The do it all tight end can make a huge impact in every facet of the game and is a safety blanket for Marcus Mariota. Over the last four weeks Walker is the second-highest-scoring tight end. This week the Titans play the Houston Texans. The Texans rank 11th in points allowed to opposing tight ends over that same span. Walked will see a slight uptick in targets should Rishard Matthews miss this game. Mariota will look for him often and he has a positive matchup entering Week 13.

Jared Cook – Oakland Raiders ($5400) – The Oakland Raiders could be without their top two wide receivers on Sunday. Amari Cooper is injured and Michael Crabtree is serving a one-game suspension. That makes tight end Jared Cook the next highest target share in that offense. Cook has been an average tight end all season. The Raiders are at home this week to the New York Giants. The Giants were on a streak of allowing a touchdown to tight ends up until two weeks ago against the Kansas City Chiefs. They still rank eighth in points allowed to opposing tight ends over the last four weeks. Cook is a good middle of the pack option. He should have a high floor given the amount of targets he will likely see without the top two outside options.