As usual, tight end has seen its share of ups and downs this season (mostly downs), but against all odds, our Week 16 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues are as deep as they've been all season.
Several key banged-up TEs returned to action last week, and with no big new injuries to the position, there is no shortage of studs and sleepers available to fantasy owners in their must-win matchups.
With that in mind, let's break down our Week 16 TE rankings.
Who are the best fantasy TEs in Week 16?
T.J. Hockenson (vs. Lions in Week 16), Trey McBride (@ Bears), Travis Kelce (vs. Raiders), David Njoku (@ Texans), and Sam LaPorta (@ Vikings) make up our top five. All are matchup-proof, high-target options, but Hockenson, Njoku, and McBride have the bonus of facing defenses that entered last week in the top seven in fantasy points allowed to TEs.
WEEK 16 STANDARD RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers
Evan Engram (@ Buccaneers), Jake Ferguson (@ Dolphins), Dalton Kincaid (@ Chargers), Pat Freiermuth (vs. Bengals), and Taysom Hill (@ Rams), round out our top 10. All have favorable matchups, though Hill's is a little tougher than it looks because the Rams have a solid run defense. Still, his ceiling remains high in any matchup because of his usual goal-line opportunities, so don't shy away from him or Dalton Kincaid after their no-shows last week.
WEEK 16 PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy TE sleepers, pickups, & streamers in Week 16?
Freiermuth (vs. Bengals) gets the second-best matchup of the week, and last time he faced the Bengals, he roasted them for nine catches and 120 yards. Don't expect that many yards again, but Freiermuth has as much upside as anyone this week.
Darren Waller (@ Eagles) returned last week, and while the results were only so-so (four catches, 40 yards), he should ramp up even more this week. Philadelphia has been below average against TEs all season, so Waller has real upside. The same goes for the up-and-down Kyle Pitts (vs. Colts), who faces a Colts' defense that entered last week allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to TEs.
Going a little deeper, Hunter Henry (@ Broncos), Cade Otton (vs. Jaguars), Logan Thomas (vs. Jets), and Tyler Higbee (vs. Saints) all have favorable matchups, with Henry and Otton getting the best of the bunch against bottom-five TE defenses. Henry is dealing with a thigh/knee injury, though, so if he's out, you can pivot to Mike Gesicki or Pharaoh Brown. Jonnu Smith (vs. Colts), and Juwan Johnson (@ Rams) also have highly favorable matchups, but we'd have an even tougher time trusting those extreme boom-or-bust TEs with your season on the line.
WEEK 16 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit
Who are the biggest potential fantasy TE busts in Week 16?
It will be tough to sit George Kittle (vs. Ravens) in a week like this, but a brutal matchup against Baltimore's top-eight TE defense gives him a lower floor and ceiling than usual. The same goes for Dallas Goedert (vs. Giants), who has an even tougher matchup and hasn't been nearly as good as Kittle this year anyway. Dalton Schultz (vs. Browns) is also risky, though it's worth pointing out that Cleveland has given up three TE touchdowns over the past two games and four of the past four games.
Isaiah Likely (@ 49ers) seems destined to disappoint this week against San Francisco's top-five TE defense, though Trey McBride cracked the code for a big game against the Niners last week. We wouldn't go near Tyler Conklin (vs. Commanders), Gerald Everett (vs. Bills), or Cole Kmet (vs. Cardinals).
WEEK 16 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
What are the biggest TE injuries in Week 16?
Luke Musgrave (kidney) is eligible to come off the IR this week, but all signs point toward him staying on the sidelines and Tucker Kraft getting another start in a tough matchup against the Panthers.
Hunter Henry exited early because of a thigh/knee injury last week, and with a highly favorable matchup against Denver on tap, he'll be worth monitoring. If he can't go, look for Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown to split TE snaps.
Other than that, the TE position is mostly healthy, which seems impossible for this time of year. Enjoy it and hope for continued good health.
Check back for the latest updates to our standard TE rankings throughout the week.
Fantasy TE Rankings Week 16: Who to start, sit at tight end
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Lions
2 Trey McBride, Cardinals @ Bears
3 Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Raiders
4 David Njoku, Browns @ Texans
5 Sam LaPorta, Lions @ Vikings
6 Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Buccaneers
7 Jake Ferguson, Cowboys @ Dolphins
8 Dalton Kincaid, Bills @ Chargers
9 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs. Bengals
10 Taysom Hill, Saints @ Rams
11 Darren Waller, Giants @ Eagles
12 George Kittle, 49ers vs. Ravens
13 Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Colts
14 Isaiah Likely, Ravens @ 49ers
15 Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Giants
16 Cade Otton, Buccaneers vs. Jaguars
17 Mike Gesicki, Patriots @ Broncos
18 Pharaoh Brown, Patriots @ Broncos
19 Logan Thomas, Commanders @ Jets
20 Tyler Higbee, Rams vs. Saints
21 Dalton Schultz, Texans vs. Browns
22 Juwan Johnson, Saints @ Rams
23 Jonnu Smith, Falcons vs. Colts
24 Tucker Kraft, Packers @ Panthers
25 Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Commanders
26 Gerald Everett, Chargers vs. Bills
27 Cole Kmet, Bears vs. Cardinals
28 Tanner Hudson, Bengals @ Steelers
29 Dawson Knox, Bills @ Chargers
30 Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans vs. Seahawks
31 Austin Hooper, Raiders @ Chiefs
32 Noah Fant, Seahawks @ Titans
33 Tommy Tremble, Panthers vs. Packers
34 Adam Trautman, Broncos vs. Patriots
