Manage the matchups and look for touchdowns. If only things were that easy when navigating the tight end position. The good news is that there are options available to us each week. Now, we just need to make the correct choice. With the bye weeks beginning, we’re going to be without both Travis Kelce and Darren Waller. Heading into Week 5 of the NFL season, let’s take a look at how our options at tight end rank.
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Tight End Notes
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Even if McBride struggles this week, I’m not going to go full referee mode on the Arizona tight end and curse him out. However, I also don’t think that’s going to be a problem in Week 5. McBride is facing the Detroit Lions, and they happen to allow the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
The good news here, is that it’s not like McBride is just your typical streaming tight end who is now set to benefit from a good matchup. Even if McBride didn’t have the best matchup of the week, he’d still be a top-5 option.
McBride has double-digit targets each week this season, but he’s yet to truly take off. Arizona’s best weapon does have 33 catches and two touchdowns, but he’s only gained 242 yards. It’s been a tale of two McBrides as he’s averaged 85 yards in two games and 35 yards in the other two. We should get the former this week.
TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
For anyone who streamed Hockenson in Week 4, the Minnesota tight end more than came through. With Justin Jefferson sidelined, we knew there would be opportunities for Hockenson, but that proved to be an understatement. After being targeted a combined 13 times in the first three weeks of the season, he was targeted 13 times in Week 4.
Hockenson was efficient as he caught all 13 of his targets and finished with 119 yards. While he didn’t reach the end zone, it was only because of the correct football play as the Vikings then went into victory formation. It’s unclear if Jefferson will return this week, but even if he does, Hockenson should be in another favorable situation. This week’s opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, allow the fifth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
Isaiah Likely, New York Giants
Jameis Winston is always going to be an interesting quarterback. He can both give it and take it, but while doing so, he generally creates enough fantasy value for his receivers. That was evident last week as he targeted Likely 12 times. The tight end turned that into seven catches for 66 yards. He’s still looking for his first touchdown since Week 1, but 22 catches for 190 yards through four weeks is solid.
If you take out Week 2 (Jaxson Dart getting injured) and Week 3 (weather), Likely is averaging 7.5 catches for 72 yards this season. That production plays. The Giants are also facing a Washington Commanders defense that’s allowing the eighth most points to fantasy tight ends this season. As Winston gets more comfortable and Malik Nabers works back to full strength, Likely is once again one of the better streaming tight ends this week.
Check out all of our Week 5 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings | MOP Rankings
Week 5 Tight End Rankings
| Rnk | Name | Team | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trey McBride | ARI | vs. DET |
| 2 | Sam LaPorta | DET | at ARI |
| 3 | Brock Bowers | LV | at NE |
| 4 | George Kittle | SF | at SEA |
| 5 | Isaiah Likely | NYG | at WAS |
| 6 | Tyler Warren | IND | at PIT |
| 7 | Harold Fannin Jr. | CLE | at NYJ |
| 8 | T.J. Hockenson | MIN | at NO |
| 9 | Juwan Johnson | NO | vs. MIN |
| 10 | Colston Loveland | CHI | at GB |
| 11 | Dalton Kincaid | BUF | at LAR |
| 12 | Mark Andrews | BAL | at ATL |
| 13 | Jake Ferguson | DAL | vs. TB |
| 14 | Tucker Kraft | GB | vs. CHI |
| 15 | Mike Gesicki | CIN | at MIA |
| 16 | Dalton Schultz | HOU | at TEN |
| 17 | Kenyon Sadiq | NYJ | vs. CLE |
| 18 | Brenton Strange | JAC | vs. PHI |
| 19 | Hunter Henry | NE | vs. LV |
| 20 | Pat Freiermuth | PIT | vs. IND |
| 21 | Cade Otton | TB | at DAL |
| 22 | Tyler Higbee | LAR | vs. BUF |
| 23 | Oronde Gadsden II | LAC | vs. DEN |
| 24 | AJ Barner | SEA | vs. SF |
| 25 | Kyle Pitts Sr. | ATL | vs. BAL |
Make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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