Fantasy TE PPR Rankings Week 5: Who to start, sit at tight end in fantasy football

We're a month into the regular season, and tight ends as a whole have been underwhelming. However, we are getting a few breakouts here and there, and maybe, just maybe, we can start to feel confident about the pecking order after the elites at the top. Our Week 5 fantasy TE PPR rankings are based on matchups and a month's worth of stats, but at this position, we know top-five weeks can come out of nowhere (see C.J. Uzomah and Mo Alie-Cox).

Rob Gronkowski (ribs) might be sidelined for several weeks and bye weeks begin in Week 6, and Logan Thomas suffered a hamstring injury that knocked him out of most of Week 4. This scarce position is about to get even thinner. Because of that, all of the top players will be in lineups, regardless of disappointing they've been or how tough their matchups are. George Kittle (@ Cardinals) and even Noah Fant (@ Steelers) should be in your lineups despite potentially having new QBs this week. (Update: Kittle is unlikely to play this week.)

WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

However, players on the start-or-sit bubble, such as Dallas Goedert (@ Panthers), warrant concern. Goedert looked like he might be a must-start each week heading into the season, but we've seen how pedestrian the Eagles' passing offense is, and the Panthers have been one of the top defenses in football. Still, they struggled mightily against Dallas' tight ends last week, so Goedert is still in play, as both him and Zach Ertz seem to be the top targets near the goal line.

WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | D/ST | Kicker

Mike Gesicki (@ Buccaneers), Dalton Schultz (vs. Giants), Dawson Knox (@ Chiefs), Tyler Conklin (vs. Lions), and Week 4 breakout, C.J. Uzomah (vs. Packers) look to have higher ceilings this week. Schultz benefits from playing a lackluster Giants defense; Gesicki gets a Bucs pass defense that has been torched will ease, and Uzomah plays the Packers in what should be a high-scoring affair. Uzomah only has one week of top-level play, but the Packers have given up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends heading into Week 4. We're not nearly as sold on him as Schultz and Knox, so start him at your own risk, but why play it safe and only start guys with "safe floors" when those floors are five-to-six points. We should point out that Schultz gets a bump in PPR leagues while Knox and Uzomah take slight hits.

WEEK 5 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo

Hunter Henry (@ Houston) and Jonnu Smith (@ Houston) had been the biggest disappointments until they each scored last week, but come on, it's the Texans. Henry looks like the nominal "lead guy," here, but you never know how things will play out in any given week.

MORE WEEK 5 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder

Injury fill-ins Cameron Brate (vs. Dolphins) and Ricky Seals-Jones (vs. Saints) have both produced in the past, so they're intriguing boom-or-bust plays. You could also try Evan Engram (vs. Cowboys) if the Giants' WRs continue to deal with injuries. Engram couldn't do anything the past two weeks, though, so you'd really be relying on garbage-time production if you start him.

WEEK 5 FANTASY: 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. For individual analysis of key TEs, click here.

Fantasy TE PPR Rankings Week 5: Who to start at tight end

Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring