Tight end can be one of the trickiest spots in fantasy football, with usage and matchups often mattering more than pure talent. Without clear volume, managers are forced to chase touchdowns and favorable red-zone roles. Small shifts in routes or game plan can turn a fringe starter into a difference-maker. This guide highlights those key factors to help sort out the weekly start-sit decisions.
Start ‘Em: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (at LV)
The Raiders are actually pretty good at defending the tight end. Of course, a lot of that is predicated on which ones they face. But they allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position.
With that said, this is Week 18. When we have two teams not playing for anything, stats like that hold less water than motivation and circumstance.
MORE: Free Fantasy Start/Sit Optimizer
Reading the tea leaves, it sure sounds like this will be Travis Kelce’s last NFL game. This will be just the second game of his career (the first being last week) where the Chiefs have nothing to play for.
Chris Oladokun will certainly struggle to move the ball, but the Raiders will also struggle to play defense as they continue their tank. You have to think the Chiefs will feature Kelce and try to have him retire on a high note, at least to the extent they can, given the fact that they won’t be in the playoffs.
Sit ‘Em: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts (at HOU)
What a precipitous falloff for Tyler Warren. I had Colston Loveland ahead of Warren in the rookie rankings and felt very foolish for half the season. Not anymore.
After posting 11+ fantasy points in six of his first seven career games, Warren has reached double digits just twice since then. Of course, Daniel Jones’ injury played a role, but Warren was already fading before he lost his quarterback.
The Colts are going to start Riley Leonard. It makes sense because they have nothing to play for, so they might as well see what the rookie can do. But it’s probably not going to go well.
The Texans still have a shot at the division if the Jaguars stumble. So, they will be trying. Although they aren’t elite against the tight end, Houston remains the best defense in the NFL. The Colts are going to have a hard time scoring points.
