Just when we thought things were settling down at the tight end position, last week saw two key starters (Kyle Pitts and Dawson Knox) sit out because of injuries and this week brings the first set of byes. As such, our Week 6 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues are a bit lacking, making sleepers and waiver-wire streamers tough to come by.
First, let’s start with the byes. Tight end doesn’t lose much with the Texans and Titans idle, but with the Lions (T.J. Hockenson) and Raiders (Darren Waller) out, two every-week starters are now on fantasy owners’ benches. Throw in injuries to Kyle Pitts (hamstring), Dawson Knox (foot, hamstring), Logan Thomas (calf), and Pat Freiermuth (concussion), and at least a few owners in 12-team leagues will have to dig deep.
The domino effect is two-fold: “Fringe” starters like Tyler Conklin (@ Packers) is a virtual must-start, while borderline guys like Will Dissly (vs. Cardinals) and Evan Engram (@ Colts) are much more likely to wind up in starting lineups.
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers
Unfortunately, Conklin isn’t the only notable TE with a tough matchup. Pitts (vs. 49ers), if active, Hayden Hurst (@ Saints), and Dalton Schultz (@ Eagles) also face opponents who ranked in the top 10 in TE defense entering Week 5. Travis Kelce (vs. Bills) and Dallas Goedert (vs. Cowboys) also fall into this category, but we’re not worried about them.
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
On the flip side, Dissly and Noah Fant (vs. Cardinals), Engram (@ Colts), Pat Freiermuth or Zach Gentry (vs. Buccaneers), David Njoku (vs. Patriots), Irv Smith Jr. (@ Dolphins), and, going a bit deeper, Mike Gesicki (vs. Vikings), all have favorable outlooks. It’s tough to trust most of the players outside of Njoku, but this is one of those weeks where you’re probably going to have to.
There’s also Taysom Hill (vs. Bengals), who, despite having one catch all season, has to be considered in all formats where he’s TE-eligible. Hill is ultimately a TD-or-bust player with his relatively limited rushing opportunities, but this looks like a TD-or-bust week for more TEs than usual.
Higher-target fringe guys like Smith Jr. or Conklin have slightly higher floors, but if you don’t have one of the top five or six tight ends this week, you’re really just hoping for a handful of catches, 40 yards, and a touchdown. That makes Njoku (six red-zone targets entering Week 5), Robert Tonyan (4), Smith Jr. (4), and Dissly (3) slightly better plays.
We’ll be updating these standard TE rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.
Week 6 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 Mark Andrews, Ravens @ Giants
2 Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Bills
3 Zach Ertz, Cardinals @ Seahawks
4 George Kittle, 49ers @ Falcons
5 Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Cowboys
6 Tyler Higbee, Rams vs. Panthers
7 Gerald Everett, Chargers vs. Broncos
8 Dawson Knox, Bills vs. Chiefs
9 David Njoku, Browns vs. Patriots
10 Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. 49ers
11 Taysom Hill, Saints vs. Bengals
12 Hayden Hurst, Bengals @ Saints
13 Tyler Conklin, Jets @ Packers
14 Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Colts
15 Irv Smith Jr., Vikings @ Dolphins
16 Will Dissly, Seahawks vs. Cardinals
17 Robert Tonyan, Packers vs. Jets
18 Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. Cardinals
19 Mike Gesicki, Dolphins vs. Vikings
20 Logan Thomas, Commanders @ Bears
21 Dalton Schultz, Cowboys @ Eagles
22 Zach Gentry, Steelers vs. Buccaneers
23 Hunter Henry, Patriots @ Browns
24 Daniel Bellinger, Giants vs. Ravens
25 Cole Kmet, Bears vs. Commanders
26 Cameron Brate, Buccaneers @ Steelers
27 Mo Alie-Cox, Colts vs. Jaguars
28 Adam Trautman, Saints vs. Bengals
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