If you weren't adequately prepared for the 2023 season, last Tuesday came along and smacked fantasy football owners in the face. That's when consensus top tight end Travis Kelce suffered a knee injury in practice and threw fantasy's thinnest position into further upheaval. Then, Mark Andrews decided to join him on the sidelines on Sunday. That's the backdrop for what's already one of the toughest weeks to predict, but our Week 2 fantasy TE PPR rankings can hopefully help you make the best start 'em, sit 'em decisions for your team.
Why is Week 2 so tough? We only have one week of data, which is often more dangerous than having none. Fantasy owners often weigh last week's results too heavily, opening the door for rash lineup decisions that leave you disappointed. We wouldn't overreact to a random good game in Week 9, so why do it in Week 2?
Rational as we might try to be, it's inevitable that last week's numbers will take on outsized importance in this week's rankings for all but the very best TEs. Our approach is to look more at the process than the results. Targets can fluctuate wildly from week to week, but we'll still be encouraged by a relatively mediocre performance if that player saw a decent number of looks. Snap share is also important this early in the season, as more time spent on the field means more potential opportunities.
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We'll try not to overrate/underrate defenses too much based on their opening-week numbers, but when a defense struggles with a TE like the Falcons did against Hayden Hurst last week, it's tough not to factor that in this week. It could be a fluke, but it could just as easily be the start of a year-long trend. We'll do our best to split the difference and provide you with the best advice.
WEEK 2 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy TEs Week 2?
With only one week under our belts, there's no reason for us to radically change the top of the rankings. Travis Kelce (@ Jaguars), Mark Andrews (@ Bengals), Darren Waller (@ Cardinals), T.J. Hockenson (@ Eagles), and Dallas Goedert (vs. Vikings) comprise our top five in PPR leagues despite none managing more than 36 yards last week.
George Kittle (@ Rams), Kyle Pitts (vs. Packers), and Evan Engram (vs. Chiefs) all remain "must-starts" this week, too, as they have higher floors and ceilings than the tight ends ranked below them.
WEEK 2 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy TE sleepers, waiver pickups Week 2?
We liked what we saw out of rookie Sam LaPorta (vs. Seahawks) in Week 1, as he caught all five targets and played the majority of Detroit's offensive snaps. The Seahawks struggled mightily against TEs in 2022 and allowed 334 passing yards to the Rams in Week 1, so LaPorta is a borderline starting PPR option this week.
Likewise, we're giving more respect to Hayden Hurst (vs. Saints), Zach Ertz (vs. Giants), Hunter Henry (vs. Dolphins), and Logan Thomas (@ Broncos) after they all saw at least six targets last week. Hurst and Henry both scored, but Ertz (10) and Thomas (8) actually saw more looks. All four should be heavily involved again, giving them decent floors in PPR leagues.
Who are the biggest potential fantasy TE busts Week 2?
As we saw last week, virtually no TE is "safe" in any given week. All of the sleepers we just mentioned are potential busts this week, but among players who were drafted to start, we're most worried about Pat Freiermuth (vs. Browns). He got banged up and only recorded one catch last week, and now he faces a Browns' defense that was dominant in Week 1. He still has upside with Diontae Johnson (hamstring) hurting, but he's not necessarily a "must-start" depending on your other options.
Tyler Higbee (vs. 49ers) could also have a tougher time this week. San Francisco allowed a TE touchdown last week, but it shut down the aforementioned Freiermuth otherwise.
What are the biggest TE injuries Week 2?
Injury worries don't get much bigger than Travis Kelce (knee), who sat out the Chiefs' opener. It was initially suggested that Kelce would miss one game at the most, but clearly, he'll need to be monitored all week. The same goes for Mark Andrews (quad), who missed Baltimore's first game. We're still ranking him to start the week, but he seems even more questionable than Kelce.
Greg Dulcich suffered a leg injury in Week 1, prompting us to rank his backup, Adam Trautman (vs. Commanders), in his place.
We'll be updating these TE PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy TE PPR Rankings Week 2: Who to start, sit at tight end
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ Jaguars
2 Mark Andrews, Ravens @ Bengals
3 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings @ Eagles
4 Darren Waller, Giants @ Cardinals
5 George Kittle, 49ers @ Rams
6 Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Vikings
7 Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
8 Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Packers
9 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs. Browns
10 Zach Ertz, Cardinals vs. Giants
11 Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. Jets
12 Hunter Henry, Patriots vs. Dolphins
13 Hayden Hurst, Panthers vs. Saints
14 Juwan Johnson, Saints @ Panthers
15 Sam LaPorta, Lions vs. Seahawks
16 Logan Thomas, Commanders @ Broncos
17 Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans vs. Chargers
18 Tyler Higbee, Rams vs. 49ers
19 Dalton Schultz, Texans vs. Colts
20 Dalton Kincaid, Bills vs. Raiders
21 Tyler Conklin, Jets @ Cowboys
22 Durham Smythe, Dolphins @ Patriots
23 David Njoku, Browns @ Steelers
24 Luke Musgrave, Packers @ Falcons
25 Cole Kmet, Bears @ Buccaneers
26 Adam Trautman, Broncos vs. Commanders
27 Gerald Everett, Chargers @ Titans
28 Dawson Knox, Bills vs. Raiders
29 Irv Smith Jr., Bengals vs. Ravens
30 Taysom Hill, Saints vs. Titans
31 Mike Gesicki, Patriots vs. Dolphins
32 Michael Mayer, Raiders @ Bills
33 Cade Otton, Buccaneers vs. Bears
