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Week 9 Fantasy Football Tight End Preview

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 9

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these TEs in Week 9 ...

Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons

Kyle Pitts, Falcons

Pitts has drawn target shares of 19%, 26%, and 19% over the past three weeks. Going back four weeks, he’s hit 10 PPR points in each matchup. In the best stretch of his career, Pitts remains a clear TE1 against Dallas. Note that Atlanta’s implied for a strong 27.25 points.

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

Ferguson remains without a TD this season. But his role has remained solid with an average of 7 targets per game. The Falcons have allowed lines of 4-65 (Noah Fant) and 9-81-2 (Cade Otton) over the past two weeks.

Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens

Mark Andrews, Ravens

Andrews is back! He caught five passes for 36 yards and a TD last week with four TDs over the past three games. Being used in the red zone has been huge for Andrews and gives him TE1 upside again, especially against a Broncos defense that has been torched by talented TEs.

Isaiah Likely, Ravens 

Likely hasn’t been able to match his Week 1 performance and is starting to lose snaps on the offense as well. He still has upside for a big play if the Ravens get down in the game, but that is unlikely this week. He is locked in as a TE2. 

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

Dalton Kincaid, Bills

Kincaid found the end zone in Week 8. Still, he hasn't topped 52 yards in a game all season. He notched a 4-33 line in a blowout vs. Miami in Week 2, but a more competitive game should surface on Sunday.

Jonnu Smith, Dolphins

Smith's tallied target shares of 24%, 32%, and 17% of his past three. He draws a strong Bills pass D that’s allowed only one TE TD all season.

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

Taysom Hill, Saints

We all know how unpredictable Hill is, so let’s focus on some key reasons he *could* be useful this week:

• He’s completely off the injury report for the first time since Week 2.
• Kendre Miller’s out (again), thinning the backfield.
• Derek Carr’s coming off an oblique injury that cost him three games and still limited his practice time this week.
• No Rasheed Shaheed dramatically reduces the pass offense’s potential. Fill-in WR Bub Means is out as well, and Cedrick Wilson might be, too.
• They’re playing the Panthers. Everyone scores on the Panthers.

Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals

Brock Bowers, Raiders

Bowers caught five passes for 58 yards last week in a disappointing performance, but he is leading the NFL in receptions right now. Even without scoring many TDs, Bowers has a high floor and crazy ceiling, especially against the Bengals who are a bottom 10 team against fantasy TEs. Must start this week.

Mike Gesicki, Bengals

Without Tee Higgns, Gesicki was involved in the offense again. He caught seven of eight targets for 73 yards. He is unlikely to do that again if the Bengals lead early, so he is more of a mid-TE2 based on game script potential.

Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns

David Njoku, Browns

We'll keep an eye on the ankle and hand issues that sidelined Njoku on Thursday. Assuming those check out, he'll be a strong TE1 play vs. the Chargers. Njoku has racked up 28 targets over the last three weeks, ranking fourth among TEs in expected PPR points per game and fifth in actual points per game.

Will Dissly, Chargers

Dissly has posted 8-81-0 and 5-41-0 receiving lines on 18 total targets over the past two weeks. TE Hayden Hurst looks ready to return from his groin injury for Sunday's game vs. the Browns, though, which muddies Dissly's playing time and volume projection. Try not to use him in Week 9 fantasy lineups.

Washington Commanders at New York Giants

Zach Ertz, Commanders

Can’t score an exciting TE? Roll with a reliable receptions collector. Ertz has caught 4+ passes in three straight games, including the week that found Marcus Mariota taking most snaps. Ertz set season highs in targets (11), receptions (7), and yards (77) with Jayden Daniels back last week. He went for 4-62 receiving in the Week 2 meeting with the Giants.

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

Hunter Henry, Patriots

Henry has posted lines of 3-41-1 and 8-92 in two full games with Drake Maye. We'll see if the rookie is able to pass the concussion protocol after going down in Week 8. Note: Henry showcased a scary-low floor with Jacoby Brissett under center.

Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals

Trey McBride, Cardinals

McBride had 11 targets last week and has been a TE1 in four straight games. He is the first read on many of the Cardinals passing plays, so the volume should continue coming. He is locked in as one of the best TE plays week to week, especially with the Bears being stronger against WRs than TEs.

Cole Kmet, Bears

Kmet has flashed some spike weeks, but he only caught one pass last week for 14 yards. The Cardinals have only allowed one TE TD this year, so it is unlikely that Kmet finds a big week again. TE2 this week.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles

Evan Engram, Jaguars

his is the second straight season the Jags have lost WR Christian Kirk to a season-ending injury. Last year saw Engram lead all TEs in targets, catches, yards, and PPR points for the span that started with Kirk’s injury game. He could be an especially important short-range target this week against a Philly defense that tallied 14 sacks over the past three games and enters the weekend as a heavy home favorite.

Grant Calcaterra, Eagles

Dallas Goedert missed the past two games after leaving Week 6 in the first quarter. Calcaterra ranks sixth among TEs in route share over those three weeks. He sits just 19th in target share, though. Philly gets a good passing matchup, and the backup TE has caught all 8 targets since Goedert went down. But Calcaterra’s no more than a deep option.

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Kraft's target shares have gone 14%, 9%, and 12% over the past three games. But he's continued to deliver on efficiency with games of 12 and 17 PPR points over that stretch. Now, we'll see if Jordan Love can overcome a groin injury and suit up. In two games with Malik Willis, Kraft posted lines of 2-16 and 2-24.

Sam LaPorta, Lions

Last week, LaPorta set a season-high in targets -- six -- despite only 19 team pass attempts. The continued absence of Jameson Williams helps, but LaPorta’s inconsistent role puts him on the TE1 fringe.

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

Noah Fant, Seahawks

Fant has upside with the Rams as a bottom five defense against TEs this year. Even with Metcalf back, he could pop for a TD with the Rams focusing on a WR. Fant does have two TE1 scoring weeks. The bevy of receiving options keeps his floor low though, so he is a high end TE2 this week.

Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings

Hockenson has been a full participant in practice this week and is set to make his 2024 debut vs. the Colts on Sunday night. It's unclear how big a role he'll play in his first action since last December's multi-ligament knee injury, although the Vikings' coaching staff has hinted that Hockenson will be at least close to a full-go. Remember that Hockenson ranked second among TEs in both expected and actual PPR points per game in 14 healthy outings last year. The Colts rank 28th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce finally broke his scoreless streak in Sunday’s win over Vegas. He's now seen a target share of 30+ percent in three of his past four outings. Keep rolling him out in a fine scoring matchup vs. Tampa Bay.

Cade Otton, Buccaneers

The Chiefs have allowed a league-high 16.8 PPR points per game to enemy TEs. Volume should continue heading to Otton with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined.