There aren't any tight ends on bye this week, yet the Week 12 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues still seem thin. How's that possible? Between big injuries and some mediocre matchups for bubble players, sleepers and worthwhile waiver-wire streamers are tough to come by.
Unlike running back and even occasionally wide receivers, injuries to tight ends don't always result in the emergence of a new sleeper. It can happen (see Foster Moreau and Isaiah Likely), but when must-starts like Dallas Goedert (shoulder) and Zach Ertz (knee) go down, it takes a while before fantasy owners can trust their replacements. The same is true if Gerald Everett (groin) and Kyle Pitts (knee) are out this week. (Update: Pitts has reportedly suffered a torn MCL and is expected to miss extended time.)
That's part of the reason our TE rankings seem a bit lacking this week. Oh, all the names are there, but middling, inconsistent performers mixed with mediocre matchups don't inspire much confidence. Does anyone really want to start Greg Dulcich (@ Panthers in Week 12), Dalton Schultz (vs. Giants), Cole Kmet (@ Jets), Robert Tonyan (@ Eagles), Juwan Johnson (@ 49ers), or Tyler Conklin (vs. Bears)? We'd take our chances with Schultz and Dulcich, but the rest are pretty risky given their matchups.
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers
Even "must-start" George Kittle (vs. Saints) is in a tough spot this week against the best TE defense. Given his uneven play this year, it's not crazy for his owners in shallow leagues to check for alternatives.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
If you need a fill-in, there aren't a ton of high-upside, widely available sleepers. Moreau (@ Seahawks), Evan Engram (vs. Ravens), Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith (@ Vikings), and Noah Fant and Will Dissly (vs. Raiders) are really your only options. Moreau has by far the best combination of matchup and target floor, but Engram should be decent, too. Smith and Henry and Fant and Dissly are all risky because they split their respective teams' snaps. Fant and Smith have a little more upside in PPR formats while Henry and Dissly have a little more TD potential.
You could also go to the well with Everett (@ Cardinals), if active, Dawson Knox (@ Lions), Tyler Higbee (@ Chiefs), and Hayden Hurst (@ Titans) this week. All are owned in more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, but they've also been very inconsistent this season. If you have one hanging around your bench, this could be the week to get them in your lineup, as each faces a defense that entered Week 11 in the top 10 in fantasy points per game allowed to TEs.
Overall, there are enough decent TEs to go around this week. Some of the "bad matchup" guys will inevitably come through, while a few of the above sleepers will hit. Still, it's tough to project which ones will pay off, making this an unusually tough week considering there's a full slate of games. Stream if you have to and hope for a TD.
We'll be updating these standard TE rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.
Week 12 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Rams
2 Mark Andrews, Ravens @ Jaguars
3 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Patriots
4 David Njoku, Browns vs. Buccaneers
5 Foster Moreau, Raiders @ Seahawks
6 Gerald Everett, Chargers @ Cardinals
7 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers @ Colts
8 Dawson Knox, Bills @ Lions
9 George Kittle, 49ers vs. Saints
10 Tyler Higbee, Rams @ Chiefs
11 Hayden Hurst, Bengals @ Titans
12 Dalton Schultz, Cowboys vs. Giants
13 Greg Dulcich, Broncos @ Panthers
14 Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Ravens
15 Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. Raiders
16 Hunter Henry, Patriots @ Vikings
17 Cole Kmet, Bears @ Jets
18 Will Dissly, Seahawks vs. Raiders
19 Juwan Johnson, Saints @ 49ers
20 Jonnu Smith, Patriots @ Vikings
21 Taysom Hill, Saints @ 49ers
22 Austin Hooper, Titans vs. Bengals
23 Logan Thomas, Commanders vs. Falcons
24 Robert Tonyan, Packers @ Eagles
25 Mike Gesicki, Dolphins vs. Texans
26 Cade Otton, Buccaneers @ Browns
27 Trey McBride, Cardinals vs. Chargers
28 Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Bears
29 Kylen Granson, Colts vs. Steelers
30 Jack Stoll, Eagles vs. Packers
Week 12 TE fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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