Few fantasy football owners want to rely on a streamer with their season on the line, and at most positions, you wouldn't even consider it. Tight end is a possible exception, as there aren't many "must-start" starts but there are always a host of possible sleepers and waiver-wire fill-ins with favorable matchups. Our Week 17 fantasy TE PPR rankings can help you sort through the contenders and pretenders.
Fortunately, fantasy owners aren't dealing with a new crop of TE injuries. The returns of Darren Waller and Dallas Goedert in recent weeks have helped the position get stronger, and Hayden Hurst (calf) seems likely to come back this week, too. That's a big plus as fantasy owners gear up for their money games.
Let's start with TEs you might not want to play this week because of bad matchups. Waller (vs. 49ers in Week 17), Juwan Johnson (@ Eagles), and Evan Engram (@ Texans) stand out as worries in shallow leagues, but we'd keep them in lineups in most formats. David Njoku (vs. Commanders), Noah Fant (vs. Jets), Chig Okonkwo (vs. Cowboys), and Tyler Higbee (@ Chargers) are bigger worries given their generally inconsistent performances. Engram showed that athletic TEs can put up points on the Jets last week, so Fant isn't the worst option, but we'd definitely stay away from Njoku against Washington's top-ranked TE defense. Higbee seems to be Baker Mayfield's favorite target, so he at least has a higher floor and ceiling in PPR leagues.
WEEK 17 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers
You might also be worried about inconsistent guys like Dalton Schultz (@ Titans), Pat Freiermuth (@ Ravens), Dawson Knox (@ Bengals), Greg Dulcich (@ Chiefs), and Gerald Everett (vs. Rams), but all have plus matchups and are worth considering depending on the size of your league. Schultz is a borderline "must-start" against a Titans' defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to TEs, and Freiermuth and Dulcich should see steady targets against below-average pass defenses. (Update: Dulcich has been placed on the IR.) Everett is the toughest call, but L.A. has allowed a TE touchdown in six of the past nine games, so consider Everett a boom-or-bust option in deeper leagues.
WEEK 17 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
If you want to go the streamer route, Tyler Conklin (@ Seahawks), Jordan Akins (vs. Jaguars), and Cole Kmet (@ Lions) are the top options. All three should see four-plus targets, and all have favorable matchups against defenses that entered Week 16 in the top eight in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. None are sure things, but Conklin is close to it against a Seahawks' defense that's been top-two in TE fantasy points allowed virtually all season
WEEK 17 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Deep-leaguers can consider Trey McBride (@ Falcons) and Anthony Firkser (vs. Cardinals), both of whom have stepped up late in the season in relief of Kyle Pitts (knee) and Zach Ertz (knee). Arizona allows the most fantasy points to TEs, so it would be foolish to ignore Firkser, who saw the majority of Atlanta's TE targets last week. He's not as good of a PPR play, but he's still a solid TD-or-bust option. McBride has a higher PPR floor, so if you want to play it "safe," he's the better option.
Week 17 DFS: Best values
Overall, there are plenty of solid TE options available no matter your situation. It's easy to overanalyze every start-or-sit decision and start to second-guess guys like Mark Andrews (vs. Steelers) and Dallas Goedert (@ Saints) in bad matchups, but if a TE gets a lot of targets and has a proven track of success, we wouldn't sub them out with championships on the line. The mid-tier guys are a different story, so it's at least worth considering your other options.
WEEK 17 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
We'll be updating these TE PPR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.
Week 17 fantasy TE PPR rankings
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Broncos
2 George Kittle, 49ers @ Raiders
3 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings @ Packers
4 Mark Andrews, Ravens vs. Steelers
5 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers @ Ravens
6 Dalton Schultz, Cowboys @ Titans
7 Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Texans
8 Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Saints
9 Dawson Knox, Bills @ Bengals
10 Juwan Johnson, Saints @ Eagles
11 Tyler Conklin, Jets @ Seahawks
12 Jordan Akins, Texans vs. Jaguars
13 Gerald Everett, Chargers vs. Rams
14 Cole Kmet, Bears @ Lions
15 Tyler Higbee, Rams @ Chargers
16 Darren Waller, Raiders vs. 49ers
17 Hayden Hurst, Bengals vs. Bills
18 Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. Jets
19 David Njoku, Browns @ Commanders
20 Trey McBride, Cardinals @ Falcons
21 Taysom Hill, Saints @ Eagles
22 Anthony Firkser, Falcons vs. Cardinals
23 Jeff Driskel, Texans vs. Jaguars
24 Chig Okonkwo, Titans vs. Cowboys
25 Robert Tonyan, Packers vs. Vikings
26 Shane Zylstra, Lions vs. Bears
27 Mike Gesicki, Dolphins @ Patriots
28 Hunter Henry, Patriots vs. Dolphins
29 Ian Thomas, Panthers @ Buccaneers
30 Austin Hooper, Titans vs. Cowboys
31 Cade Otton, Buccaneers vs. Panthers
32 Daniel Bellinger, Giants vs. Colts
33 Logan Thomas, Commanders vs. Browns
Week 17 TE PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
We're proud to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning projections and rankings every week. To see Draft Sharks' Week 17 3D floor-to-ceiling projections for tight ends -- plus get access to all of Draft Sharks' industry-leading tools -- become a Draft Sharks' member today at the link below!
TRY DRAFT SHARKS FREE: Dominate with exclusive tools, including Free-Agent Finder & Trade Navigator!
