Injuries shook up the top-tier tight ends this week, with Rob Gronkowski out, Travis Kelce currently in concussion protocol, and Charles Clay out for multiple weeks. The middle-of-the-pack guys in our Week 6 TE rankings are still a roller coaster of up-and-down performances, 'causing fantasy owners to constantly worry about which week to start players like Hunter Henry, Delanie Walker, and Evan Engram.
Owners of Jimmy Graham, Tyler Kroft and Jason Witten will have to turn elsewhere for TEs due to the bye week, and Clay owners will most definitely have to turn elsewhere due to his knee injury (out multiple weeks), even with his team on bye. Some possible streamer options for these owners -- and everyone else, too -- include David Njoku, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Ed Dickson and George Kittle.
Many tight ends still live that touchdown-or-die life in fantasy, but based on matchups and recent success, we've pieced together the Week 6 TE rankings.
WEEK 6 RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | D/ST | Kicker
Reminder: We'll update our rankings throughout the week and add player analysis, so please check back often. And here's how you might lose in fantasy in Week 6.
WEEK 6 DFS:
Yahoo GPP lineup | DK cash | DK GPP | FD GPP | Values | Stacks | DFS lineup builder
Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings: TE
These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski, Patriots @ Jets. |
| 2 | Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Steelers Kelce is expected to play against the Steelers, according to head coach Andy Reid. He's a must-start. |
| 3 | Zach Ertz, Eagles @ Panthers. Until Darren Fells last week, Panthers have shut down tight ends (fourth-fewest fantasy points per game FPPG), but Ertz has the most targets among TEs this year, which should help him get his usual points. |
| 4 | Jordan Reed, Redskins vs. 49ers. Coming off a bye week, Reed should be healthy and ready to go. |
| 5 | Delanie Walker, Titans vs. Colts. |
| 6 | Coby Fleener, Saints vs. Lions. |
| 7 | Evan Engram, Giants @ Broncos. Odell Beckham Jr, Brandon Marshall are out for the year, Sterling Shepard (ankle) is day-to-day, so Roger Lewis is now the No. 1 WR. Look for Eli to target Engram a lot this week. |
| 8 | Martellus Bennett, Packers @ Vikings. |
| 9 | Hunter Henry, Chargers @ Raiders. |
| 10 | David Njoku, Browns @ Texans. Three touchdowns in the past four games for Njoku, and the Texans have given up 19 receptions and 238 yards in three games to TEs. Njoku could add some addition receptions and yards to his high chances of another touchdown. |
| 11 | A.J. Derby, Broncos vs. Giants. Every TE has scored at least 10 points against the Giants this year, except Zach Ertz who scored 9.5 points only because of a fumble. Derby isn't a sure thing by any standard, but it's helpful that he is coming off a four-catch, 75-yard and one touchdown performance. |
| 12 | Kyle Rudolph, Vikings vs. Packers. Rudolph hasn't been the same since Bradford's injury. Since Case Keenum started, his receptions and targets have dropped. His outburst in Week 5 was a good sign, but it wasn't until after Stefon Diggs' injury. If Diggs comes back, Rudolph's value falls. It also doesn't help the Packers allow the second-fewest FPPG to tight ends. |
| 13 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jets vs. Patriots. Should you start a Jets player against the Patriots? Well, the Pats have given up either a TD or more than 40 yards to TEs each week this season, and Seferian-Jenkins is coming off a 46-yard game in Week 4 and a TD in Week 5. The ball is in your court now. |
| 14 | Ed Dickson, Panthers vs. Eagles. |
| 15 | Ryan Griffin, Texans vs. Browns. In three games the Griffin-Watson combo has existed, Watson has thrown to him 15 times. The Browns were one of the worst defenses against TEs last year and it's much of the same this year. The numbers look good, but he's still a deep streamer. |
| 16 | George Kittle, 49ers @ Redskins. The Redskins have given up the third-most points to opposing TEs, and Kittle is coming off a strong performance with seven catches on nine targets for 83 yards and a touchdown. It's not the first time Kittle had more than five targets, making Kittle a possible streaming option this week. |
| 17 | Eric Ebron, Lions @ Saints. He dropped a TD pass that hit him in the chest, and then blocking TE Darren Fells caught two TDs. The Saints are a favorable matchup, but it doesn't mean Ebron is a main target for Matthew Stafford. |
| 18 | Jack Doyle, Colts @ Titans |
| 19 | Jesse James, Steelers @ Chiefs |
| 20 | Austin Hooper, Falcons vs. Dolphins |
| 21 | Antonio Gates, Chargers @ Raiders |
| 22 | Julius Thomas, Dolphins @ Falcons |
| 23 | Zach Miller, Bears @ Ravens |
| 24 | Jared Cook, Raiders vs. Chargers |
| 25 | Ben Watson, Ravens vs. Bears |
| 26 | Gerald Everett, Rams @ Jaguars |
| 27 | Cameron Brate, Bucs @ Cardinals |
| 28 | Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars vs. Rams |
| 29 | O.J. Howard, Bucs @ Cardinals |