Week 12 Tight End Rankings for Fantasy Football (Sunday Update!)

The first of two six-team bye weeks is here, with the Week 12 tight end rankings taking a noticeable hit. Plus, Sam LaPorta could be sidelined for another week, limiting the tight end pool even further. Finding favorable matchups becomes more critical in a limited environment. Let’s get to the Week 12 tight end rankings to see which players can help you the most during the bye-pocalypse.

Tight Ends on Byes in Week 12

Kyle Pitts, Dalton Kincaid, Mike Gesicki, Evan Engram, Taysom Hill, Tyler Conklin

Injury Notes for Week 12

• George Kittle missed last week with a hamstring injury but was reportedly close to playing. He’s expected to practice on Wednesday, with his Week 12 status trending in the right direction. UPDATE: Kittle will suit up in Week 12.
• Sam LaPorta is questionable for Week 12 with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. He suffered the injury in Week 10 and didn’t suit up last week. Monitor his injury reports throughout the week. UPDATE: LaPorta is cleared to play this Sunday.
• Jake Ferguson suffered a concussion on Monday night and is questionable for Week 12. Luke Schoonmaker caught 6-of-10 targets for 56 yards once Ferguson was ruled out and is a solid replacement this week against Washington. UPDATE: Schoonmaker will get the start in Week 12.

Tight End Notes

Bye Weeks: ATL, BUF, CIN, JAX, NO, NYJ

• Will Dissly is coming off his best game of the season, catching 4-of-6 targets for 80 yards and a touchdown. He should continue to be productive in a Week 12 clash against the Ravens. Baltimore has allowed the most receptions and second-most receiving yards to the position this season, with tight ends averaging 11.1 half-PPR points per game against them (ninth-most). While the unit has been stingier on the touchdown front, they’ve allowed tight ends to find paydirt twice in the last four games. Dissly has commanded at least six targets in four of the last five weeks, amassing a team-leading 23% target share in that stretch. Justin Herbert should continue to lean on Dissly this week, and he ranks as TE8 in the Week 12 tight end rankings.
• Dallas Goedert gets a nice matchup this week against the Rams. Los Angeles has given up the sixth-most fantasy points and eighth-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends this year. In two games since returning from a hamstring injury, Goedert has an 18% target share and combined for 86 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. While he’s not the most exciting option, Goedert racks up the yardage — his 387 yards this season ranks 10th most at the position, despite missing four games. Goedert is a steady tight end who is a back-end TE1 in the Week 12 tight end rankings. UPDATE: Goedert could get extra looks this week with DeVonta Smith ruled out for Week 12.
• Zach Ertz moves up the Week 12 tight end rankings. He found his stride of late, garnering at least seven targets in three of his last four games. He also has a 22% target share in that span, up from 18% in his previous seven games. Ertz gets an exploitable matchup this week against the division-rival Cowboys. Dallas is a mediocre defense that ties for the third-most receiving touchdowns allowed to tight ends. Ertz leads the Commanders with 10 red-zone targets and should be able to take advantage. Ertz rounds out the top-12 in the Week 12 tight end rankings.
• If you’re in the market for a bye-week replacement, consider Theo Johnson. He has one of the better matchups of the week against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has ceded the third-most fantasy points and the fourth-most receiving yards to tight ends. Johnson isn’t flashy, but he has six targets in back-to-back weeks, combining for 97 yards and a touchdown. He’s also on the field a ton, with an 80.7% route participation rate in the last five weeks. Tommy DeVito debuts under center this week and could rely on Johnson as a security blanket. With targets, playing time, and a favorable matchup, Johnson is one of the better replacement options this week. He’s a mid-tier TE2 with upside in the Week 12 rankings.

Check out all of our Week 12 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex

Week 12 Tight End Rankings

Note: Ranks based on half-PPR scoring

Make sure to check out all of our Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!