After byes thinned out the top tier of our fantasy TE rankings the past couple of weeks, this week brings a pleasant change. Mark Andrews is returning to our Week 8 fantasy TE rankings along with Mike Gesicki, Trey Burton, and Irv Smith Jr., and Jonnu Smith and Noah Fant both figure to be healthier after finishing their respective games last week. That will provide a boost to the top of the rankings, and fantasy owners will (hopefully) find themselves relying on fewer sleepers and waiver wire streamers than usual this week.
The byes are kind to tight ends this week. Logan Thomas and Darren Fells headline the group (along with Dan Arnold and Tyler Eifert, who was out last week), and both are somewhat TD-dependent streaming options. The absences of Fells and Thomas will thin out the streamers a bit, but that shouldn't matter for most fantasy owners.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
This week's top streamers are, unsurprisingly, playing against NFC East opponents. Dalton Schultz (@ Eagles) figures to be a potential top-12 play and could continue to play well against an Eagles defense that has struggled against tight ends. Meanwhile, in that same game, Richard Rodgers (vs. Cowboys) could be a solid streamer after he posted six catches for 85 yards against the Giants. His status will depend on the potential return of Dallas Goedert (ankle), but Rodgers can be trusted if Goedert can't play. (Update: Goedert is playing.) Jimmy Graham (vs. Saints) is also a top streamer this week considering the Saints are allowing the most fantasy points per game to TEs.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | D/ST | Kicker
Speaking of injuries to watch, Austin Hooper (appendicitis) may be out of the Browns lineup against the Raiders this week. If he is, Harrison Bryant will likely take over as the team's lead TE and would make for an excellent play against a porous Vegas defense. If healthy, Hooper is a top-10 TE. If he's not, Bryant will be a worthwhile starter.
WEEK 8 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Because of the returning starters and worthwhile streamers, it's okay to fade players who have been viewed as viable starters for most of the season. Notably, Evan Engram (vs. Buccaneers), Eric Ebron (@ Ravens), and T.J. Hockenson (vs. Colts) are all facing tough defenses that have been successful against TEs. You can still choose to start these players, but just know that their ceilings are a bit lower than usual (which isn't saying much for Engram and Ebron).
WEEK 8 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Check back for updates to these TE rankings throughout the week.
MORE WEEK 8 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Week 8 Fantasy TE Rankings (Standard)
These rankings are for non-PPR leagues
WEEK 8 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Travis Kelce, KC vs. NYJ |
| 2 | George Kittle, SF @ SEA |
| 3 | Darren Waller, LV @ CLE |
| 4 | Mark Andrews, BAL vs. PIT |
| 5 | Noah Fant, DEN vs. LAC |
| 6 | Jonnu Smith, TEN @ CIN |
| 7 | Dallas Goedert, PHI vs. DAL. It doesn't matter who the Eagles' starting tight end is. Case and point: Richard Rodgers. In his first start with the Eagles, Rodgers posted six catches for 85 yards and was one of Carson Wentz's favorite targets. This week, Goedert (ankle) returns and gets to take on a weak Dallas defense that just allowed Logan Thomas to rack up 60 yards and a TD. He should be in for solid return to the lineup. |
| 8 | Mike Gesicki, MIA vs. LAR |
| 9 | Hunter Henry, LAC @ DEN |
| 10 | Jimmy Graham, CHI vs. NO. Before his Monday night clash with the Rams, Graham ranked tied for third in the NFL in red-zone targets with nine. The Saints have given up six TDs to TEs so far this season, which is tied for third most in the NFL. So long as Nick Foles keeps looking his way near the end zone, Graham will be a solid streamer, especially in matchups like these. |
| 11 | Dalton Schultz, DAL @ PHI. Only two players had more than one reception for the Cowboys in Week 7. Incredibly, Schultz was one of them. He caught two passes for 22 yards, and while he couldn't take advantage of a favorable matchup, he still profiles as a solid streamer. The Eagles have allowed 423 yards to TEs, good for fifth most in the NFL. Schultz may be held back by Ben DiNucci starting, but if there are garbage-time yards and catches available, he could pay off. |
| 12 | Rob Gronkowski, TB @ NYG. Gronk. Is. Back. After struggling at the outset of his first season with the Buccaneers, Gronkowski has averaged 7.3 targets per game in his past three outings. Over that span, he has 13 catches, 192 yards, and two TDs. Gronk should continue to be a big-time red-zone threat for the Buccaneers, and while the Giants have only allowed one TD to the position this year, he still will be a scoring threat as long as he's on the field. |
| 13 | Harrison Bryant, CLE vs. LV. With Austin Hooper (appendix) sidelined, it was the rookie Bryant who stepped up for the Browns. In a favorable matchup against the Bengals, Bryant logged four catches for 56 yards and two TDs on five targets. The John Mackey Award winner was always known for his receiving skills, so if Hooper is out again, he can be a top-tier streaming target against the Raiders. The Raiders have been solid against TEs this year, but they have given up TDs to the position in back-to-back weeks. |
| 14 | Hayden Hurst, ATL @ CAR. Hurst has had at least 51 receiving yards in four of his past six games. That includes a six-catch, 68-yard outing last week against a Lions defense that had previously been very tough on tight ends. While Hurst is trending in the right direction, he has to take on the Panthers in Week 8. Carolina allows just 36 yards per game to TEs this year and held Hurst to eight yards when they squared off a couple of weeks ago. Hurst can still be considered, but trusting him does come with risk. |
| 15 | T.J. Hockenson, DET vs. IND. Hockenson paid off in his excellent matchup against the Falcons, catching five passes for 59 yards and a TD during the contest. He extended his TD streak to three games in that one, as well. That said, Hockenson's streak may come to an end against the Colts, as Indy has allowed the fewest yards to TEs this season (134) and is one of two teams that has yet to allow a TD to the position (the 49ers are the other). Still, he has as much touchdown upside as any TE outside of the top five. |
| 16 | Eric Ebron, PIT @ BAL. The good news with Ebron is that he's coming off a season-high in targets (8) and catches (6). The bad news is that he's facing a Ravens team that has done a good job of limiting TEs since allowing 87 yards to Travis Kelce in Week 3. Ebron could still see targets, but there are other players facing weaker defenses to trust this week. |
| 17 | Evan Engram, NYG vs. TB. Even with the Giants doing everything they can to get the ball to Engram in recent weeks, Engram hasn't eclipsed 46 receiving yards since Week 2. Also, he has only one TD on the year (a rushing score against Dallas). Engram will continue to see targets (6.3 per game this season), but he simply doesn't have the scoring upside to trust in standard leagues against a Bucs team that allows just 7.1 FPPG to TEs. |
| 18 | Trey Burton, IND @ DET. Burton has a high-floor at the TE position, especially in PPR formats, since he is averaging 5.3 targets per game this season. That said, the Lions have allowed a league-low 16 catches to TEs this season, so Burton might not have as many opportunities to rack up yards this week. |
| 19 | Jared Cook, NO @ CHI. Cook has scored a TD in three of the past four games he has played for the Saints, but he is averaging just 3.8 targets per game during that span. Even with Michael Thomas (hamstring) and Emmanuel Sanders (COVID) out last week, he saw just five targets. He's becoming more of a TD-dependent streamer than anything else, so trusting him against a solid Bears defense isn't that appealing. |
| 20 | Robert Tonyan, GB vs. MIN. After posting five TDs in a three-game span, Tonyan has put up 57 yards combined in his past two games on just six targets. The Vikings have allowed 363 yards to TEs this year, 10th most in the NFL, but they've only given up two scores. It may be hard for Tonyan to do much in a matchup that favors the Packers' receivers. |
| 21 | Tyler Higbee, LAR @ MIA |
| 22 | Irv Smith Jr., MIN @ GB. Before his bye week, Smith put up a four-catch game with 55 receiving yards. The previous week, it was a four-catch game with 64 receiving yards. He's becoming a bigger part of the Minnesota offense, but the Packer simply don't give up many points to TEs (5.5 FPPG). |
| 23 | David Njoku, CLE vs. LV. While Bryant saw more targets than Njoku, the former first-round pick still managed to grab a TD. He's behind Bryant in the pecking order, but if you're really desperate at TE or are looking for a bottom-dollar DFS sleeper, Njoku could pan out. |
| 24 | Drew Sample, CIN vs. TEN. In two games against the Browns this year, Sample has 12 catches for 97 yards. Against all other competition (five games), he has seven catches for 77 yards. The Titans give up 10 FPPG to TEs, but it's hard to trust Sample given how inconsistent he has been outside of the Cleveland games. |
| 25 | Greg Olsen, SEA vs. SF |
| 26 | Ian Thomas, CAR vs. ATL. The Falcons have been awful against TEs this year, but you can't playing Thomas would be a massive leap of faith. He has seen three targets his last three games and failed to catch a pass against the Falcons earlier in the year. Stay away from him in season-long formats, but maybe consider him as a dirt-cheap option in DFS Showdown lineups for Thursday Night Football. |
| 27 | Gerald Everett, LAR @ MIA |
| 28 | Taysom Hill, NO @ CHI |
| 29 | Anthony Firkser, TEN @ CIN |
| 30 | Kyle Rudolph, MIN @ GB |
| 31 | Jack Doyle, IND @ DET |
| 32 | Tyler Kroft, BUF vs. NE |
| 33 | Cameron Brate, TB @ NYG |
