Fantasy TE Rankings Week 13: Who to start, sit at tight end in fantasy football

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy TE Rankings Week 13: Who to start, sit at tight end in fantasy football image

Tight end has lost a lot of key contributors over the past few weeks, with Darren Waller (hamstring), Dallas Goedert (shoulder), Zach Ertz (knee), and Kyle Pitts (knee) all taken out of commission. Nonetheless, our Week 13 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues are strong at the top and feature several high-upside sleepers and waiver-wire streamers.

It helps that having the Panthers and Cardinals on bye doesn't really affect us. Trey McBride has some sleeper potential while Ertz is out, but he's far from a safe starting option right now. Unfortunately, we lose Arizona's league-worst TE defense, but there are still plenty of matchups to exploit.

Most of the best matchups this week go to guys who aren't considered "must starts." Tyler Higbee (vs. Seahawks in Week 13) is in the best available situation, and Evan Engram (vs. Lions) isn't far behind. Considering the two combined for one catch last week, fantasy owners might be leery, but matchups usually rule the day at TE, so don't overlook these two. Greg Dulcich (@ Ravens), Hayden Hurst (vs. Chiefs), Dawson Knox (@ Patriots), Juwan Johnson (@ Buccaneers), Foster Moreau (vs. Chargers), and Gerald Everett (@ Raiders) also have top-12 matchups and see steady enough targets to merit starts in 10- or 12-team leagues.

WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Among that group, Engram, Johnson, and Moreau are owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, making them prime streamers. You could also try the inconsistent Tyler Conklin (@ Vikings), who also has a top-10 matchup. If you want (or need) to go really deep, Jack Stoll (vs. Titans) is in a great spot against a Titans' defense allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to TEs, but after little to no action the past two weeks, he's best left on waiver wires.

WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers

On the flip side, David Njoku (@ Texans), Cole Kmet (vs. Packers), Noah Fant (vs. Rams), and Robert Tonyan (@ Bears) all have below-average matchups. We still think Njoku has a fairly high floor after seven targets and a TD last week, but the rest are best suited for benches, especially in 10-team leagues.

WEEK 13 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

Overall, this is a great week for a notoriously tough position. Matchups don't really matter for Travis Kelce (@ Bengals) and Mark Andrews (vs. Broncos), so they're in play no matter what, and it's just a bonus that George Kittle (vs. Dolphins) has a great matchup. Guys like Higbee, Dulcich, and Hurst aren't sure things to produce, but given their matchups this week, you can feel good about starting them. 

WEEK 13 DFS: Best values | Best stacks

With the plethora of decent sleepers and streamers this week, there's no need to take any unnecessary chances at TE. It's always a TD-or-bust position, so if you want to stick with someone like Kmet, you certainly can, but you have slightly higher floors and ceilings with some of the other options mentioned above.

WEEK 13 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

We'll be updating these standard TE rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.

Week 13 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring

Rank    Player
1    Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ Bengals
2    Mark Andrews, Ravens vs. Broncos
3    George Kittle, 49ers vs. Dolphins
4    Pat Freiermuth, Steelers @ Falcons
5    T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Jets
6    Hayden Hurst, Bengals vs. Chiefs
7    Dawson Knox, Bills @ Patriots
8    Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Lions
9    Gerald Everett, Chargers @ Raiders
10    Foster Moreau, Raiders vs. Chargers
11    Tyler Higbee, Rams vs. Seahawks
12    Dalton Schultz, Cowboys vs. Colts
13    Greg Dulcich, Broncos @ Ravens
14    Tyler Conklin, Jets @ Vikings
15    Adam Trautman, Saints @ Buccaneers
16    Cole Kmet, Bears vs. Packers
17    Taysom Hill, Saints @ Buccaneers
18    Harrison Bryant, Browns @ Texans
19    Noah Fant, Seahawks @ Rams
20    Robert Tonyan, Packers @ Bears
21    Cameron Brate, Buccaneers vs. Saints
22    Jack Stoll, Eagles vs. Titans
23    Mike Gesicki, Dolphins @ 49ers
24    Hunter Henry, Patriots vs. Bills
25    MyCole Pruitt, Falcons vs. Steelers
26    Austin Hooper, Titans @ Eagles
27    Logan Thomas, Commanders @ Giants
28    Jonnu Smith, Patriots vs. Bills
29    Will Dissly, Seahawks @ Rams
30    Daniel Bellinger, Giants vs. Commanders

Week 13 TE fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

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Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.