Plus matchups and volume are what we look for each week when setting our lineups. That process continues as we head into the fantasy football playoffs. This article will highlight tight ends with plus matchups to help you churn out the Ws for the next three weeks. Good luck, everybody!
Tight Ends with Plus Fantasy Football Playoffs Matchups
David Njoku, Cincinnati Bengals: (CHI, @HOU, NYJ)
David Njoku is coming off his best game of the season, hauling in 6-of-8 targets for 91 yards and a couple of touchdowns. He has at least eight targets in all but two games since Week 7, and his 20.2% target share ranks fourth-best at the position. The targets should keep coming during the playoffs. Chicago and Houston are bottom-five in receptions allowed to tight ends. They’ve also given up the 10th and fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends, respectively. On the other hand, the Jets have been better than not against the position recently and haven’t allowed a tight end to score in four consecutive weeks. However, given his weekly volume, Njoku should still be able to put up solid numbers against Gang Green.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers: (@IND, CIN, @SEA)
Pat Freiermuth has been busy in his last three games. He commanded 23 targets in that span, with his 24.5% target share ranking as second-best at the position. Much of that damage came against the Bengals in Week 12, where Freiermuth hauled in nine of 11 targets and torched them for 120 yards. The good news is that Freiermuth gets a Week 16 re-match. Cincinnati bleeds fantasy points to tight ends. They’ve given up the most receptions and yards to the position, and tight ends are averaging a league-high 17 PPR points against them. Freiermuth’s matchups against Indianapolis and Seattle are also favorable. Both are bottom-eight in receptions and bottom-10 in receiving yards allowed to tight ends. Look for Freiermuth to be productive in the coming weeks.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (@GB, JAX, NO)
Cade Otton caught two of his five targets last week for 16 yards and a touchdown. The yardage wasn’t much, but Otton has seen at least four targets in all but two of his previous eight games. He also has three scores in that span. Otton should continue to put up solid numbers during the fantasy playoffs. Jacksonville and New Orleans are bottom-12 in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. Additionally, Jacksonville has allowed the seventh-most receiving yards to the position, while New Orleans has given up seven touchdowns to tight ends, tied for most this season. Otton’s matchup against Green Bay is also pretty decent, as the Packers are middle-of-the-road in receiving yards and fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans: (HOU, SEA, @HOU)
Chigoziem Okonkwo is coming on strong of late. Heading into Monday night, he posted back-to-back games with at least five targets and 45 receiving yards. He’s yet to score a touchdown this season, but he’s the second-most targeted player on the Titans. Coming up, Okonkwo has the luxury of facing the Texans twice during the fantasy football playoffs. Houston is tied for the most receptions allowed to tight ends and has given up the third-most receiving yards to the position. They’ve also allowed nearly 14 PPR points per game. Okonkwo should fare well against Seattle as well. The Seahawks are bottom-eight in receptions and yards allowed to tight ends.
Darren Waller, New York Giants: (@NO, @PHI, LAR)
Darren Waller had been heating up before he landed on IR with a hamstring injury, averaging just under nine targets and 75 yards per game in his previous three games. Assuming Waller is active in Week 15, he gets one of the softest playoff schedules. He faces New Orleans, Philadelphia, and the Los Angeles Rams — all bottom-10 defenses against tight ends. Daniel Bellinger would be the Giants’ lead tight end if Waller can’t suit up. He hasn’t topped three targets this season and offers less upside than Waller. But he could be a decent streaming option in deeper leagues, given the plus matchups.
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