Fantasy football managers are either sitting pretty with an elite tight end or scrambling franticly on a weekly basis to piece the position together — there really is no in-between. How do I see things playing out in Week 5? Here is a look at my current fantasy TE rankings!
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Which TE Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
MORE rankings from Soppe: QB | RB | WR | K | DST
1) Travis Kelce | KC (at MIN)
2) T.J. Hockenson | MIN (vs. KC)
3) Mark Andrews | BAL (at PIT)
4) Sam LaPorta | DET (vs. CAR)
5) Evan Engram | JAX (at BUF)
6) George Kittle | SF (vs. DAL)
7) Dallas Goedert | PHI (at LAR)
8) Darren Waller | NYG (at MIA)
9) Jake Ferguson | DAL (at SF)
10) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (vs. JAX)
11) Tyler Higbee | LAR (vs. PHI)
12) Cole Kmet | CHI (at WAS)
13) Taysom Hill | NO (at NE)
14) Zach Ertz | ARI (vs. CIN)
15) Jonnu Smith | ATL (vs. HOU)
16) Kyle Pitts | ATL (vs. HOU)
17) Logan Thomas | WAS (vs. CHI)
18) Dalton Schultz | HOU (at ATL)
19) Luke Musgrave | GB (at LV)
20) Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN (at IND)
21) Hunter Henry | NE (vs. NO)
22) Dawson Knox | BUF (vs. JAX)
23) Durham Smythe | MIA (vs. NYG)
24) Hayden Hurst | CAR (at DET)
25) Juwan Johnson | NO (at NE)
26) Kylen Granson | IND (vs. TEN)
27) Tyler Conklin | NYJ (at DEN)
28) Adam Trautman | DEN (vs. NYJ)
29) Mike Gesicki | NE (vs. NO)
30) Trey McBride | ARI (vs. CIN)
The Top TEs To Start in Week 5
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
The rookie tight end has cleared 55 receiving yards in three straight games, and his 81.5% catch rate suggests a nice connection with Jared Goff. I’ll be interested to see if his target earning declines with Jameson Williams in the mix, but I believe the efficiency is here to stay, and that locks him in as a top-10 tight end until otherwise noted.
MORE: Fantasy Football TE Week 5 Trade Targets
Sam LaPorta is currently on pace to gain 2.5 more receiving yards as a rookie than Kyle Pitts did during his introduction to the NFL in 2021.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
This preseason, we figured one of the receivers would step into a consistent role alongside CeeDee Lamb, but it’s been Jake Ferguson earning targets at a high rate (seven targets or a touchdown in all four games this season). I’ve looked at all the metrics trying to poke holes in having him locked in as a top-12 tight end this week and the rest of the way — no luck.
Highest red zone target totals through a month:
10 — Davante Adams, Jake Ferguson
7 — Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, Chris Godwin, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed
6 — Tyler Lockett, Courtland Sutton, Jakobi Meyers, Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Rashee Rice, Kyren Williams
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23)
The way in which he is being used passes the smell test at a position where any level of consistent opportunity makes you of interest. If you were streaming tight ends this season and landed on Ferguson, I think you’ve found your answer. This isn’t a great matchup, though we did see 10 targets thrown the way of Zach Ertz in this matchup last season.