Week 7 was a productive one for tight ends as a group. A whopping 16 tight ends, including Dallas’ Jason Witten, who we’ve highlighted below, eclipsed 50 receiving yards, the most in a single week since Week 12 of the 2015 season. We probably will not see a repeat of that number in Week 8, primarily because Week 8 features a season-high six teams on a bye. One of those teams is the New York Giants, which immediately takes two elite tight end options off the board – Giants rookie Evan Engram and whoever the Giants’ opponent would have been.
Last week, Jimmy Graham became the seventh tight end to record at least 40 yards receiving and also catch a touchdown pass against the Giants. Engram has accomplished the feat three times himself, tied for the most in the NFL. With so many teams on a bye, options are limited, despite the fact that very few elite tight ends are off this week. Engram and Delanie Walker are the only TE1 options on a bye week. Walker is still a TE1 on the season despite not yet having caught a touchdown pass. Let’s take a look at some of the upcoming matchups to see who might have an advantage in Week 8.
FAVORABLE MATCHUPS:
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns – Kyle Rudolph and the Minnesota Vikings travel to foggy London town to take on the winless Cleveland Browns. Rudolph has been a focal point of Minnesota’s offense as of late. Coinciding with the absence of wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Rudolph has had at least five receptions and 40 yards in three straight games. Cleveland has been susceptible to tight ends all season long. They have given up an NFL-high 51 receptions to tight ends and have also allowed the third-most receiving yards (487) to opposing tight ends this season. Cleveland has continued to play stout run defense, which has caused teams to attack them through the air. With Stefon Diggs’ health still a question mark, I expect quarterback Case Keenum to continue to target Rudolph heavily throughout this game. I look for Kyle Rudolph to have a season-high in receiving yards in Week 8, ultimately leading to a top-10 finish.
Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins – Jason Witten emerged from a difficult Week 7 matchup as the overall TE5, as Dallas destroyed the San Francisco 49ers. Witten became the first tight end to catch a touchdown against San Francisco so far in 2017. Witten and the Dallas Cowboys will face the Washington Redskins in Week 8. To illustrate how bad Washington has been against tight ends this season, consider this: Washington has allowed the most yards to opposing tight ends this season despite already having their bye week. Washington is playing on a short week following their loss on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, a game in which they allowed Zach Ertz’s overall TE3 finish. Washington has allowed five top-eight weeks to tight ends already this season, and I expect that trend to continue once again in Week 8. Jason Witten makes for an extremely safe play this week, and may once again be a top-five tight end in this matchup.
Tyler Kroft, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Kroft has filled in quite admirably for the oft-injured Tyler Eifert following the latter’s season-ending back surgery. Over his last three games, Kroft has averaged 10.3 fantasy points per game, ranking him fourth at the position during that span. He is tied for the team lead in touchdowns on the year with A.J. Green and currently ranks third on the Bengals in receptions, targets, and receiving yards. Kroft and the Cincinnati Bengals face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8. Indianapolis has given up touchdowns to tight ends in four of their last five games, making this a matchup to exploit. Indianapolis also lost promising rookie safety Malik Hooker for the season last week, further improving Kroft’s Week 8 outlook. I like Tyler Kroft’s chances of getting into the end zone in this game, making him a potential top-10 tight end this week.
UNFAVORABLE MATCHUPS:
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons – Austin Seferian-Jenkins has been a consistent part of the New York Jets’ passing game since serving his two-game suspension to begin the season. Seferian-Jenkins has been the overall TE9 over the past four weeks and has caught a touchdown in three consecutive games. This week Seferian-Jenkins and the Jets host the Atlanta Falcons. While much has been made of Atlanta’s offensive struggles lately, their defense against tight ends has been solid. They are one of four teams which have not allowed a tight end to score in 2017, and they limited Rob Gronkowski to just 51 yards Week 7. Seferian-Jenkins still makes for a decent play in PPR leagues, but I see his touchdown-scoring streak coming to an end, which leaves him as a mere TE2 in this matchup. I’d have a hard time starting Austin Seferian-Jenkins in standard leagues in Week 8.
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals – Jack Doyle had another decent game in Week 7, finishing with six catches for 44 yards in the Colts’ home loss to the Jaguars. He now has 13 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown grab over the last two weeks, placing him as the overall TE9 over that timeframe. However, I do not expect that to continue in Week 8 when Indianapolis faces the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati has allowed the fewest receiving yards (233) to enemy tight ends on the season. They’ve also permitted just one touchdown on the season to tight ends. Much like Seferian-Jenkins, Doyle makes for a serviceable option in PPR leagues due to the frequency with which he is being targeted, but the upside in a standard league is non-existent. I don’t see Jack Doyle as a top-12 tight end option in this matchup.
Zach Miller, Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints – On the bright side, Zach Miller been the Bears’ leading receiver since the quarterback switch from Mike Glennon to Mitchell Trubisky three weeks ago. The bad news is that, during Trubisky’s brief tenure, Miller has accumulated a mere 93 receiving yards. He has salvaged his production with two touchdowns, but I prefer to rely on targets and yardage numbers rather than previous touchdowns. Trubisky has attempted an almost-unfathomable 11.5 passes per game in his last two games. Besides, Miller’s two most recent touchdowns have come on a tipped Trubisky pass and a halfback option pass from running back Tarik Cohen. This week Miller and the Bears take on the New Orleans Saints. The matchup is tougher than perceived, as New Orleans has given up an NFL-low 18 catches to tight ends on the season. Given the difficulty of the matchup and lack of opportunities in the Bears’ passing game, I would not trust Zach Miller in any Week 8 lineup, regardless of format.
SLEEPERS OF THE WEEK:
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles – Even though we’re nearly halfway through the season, it’s funny how one game can still change the perception of a matchup. I initially began to write up George Kittle’s impending Week 8 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles as a difficult one, but then watched as Washington’s Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis combined for 131 yards and two touchdowns on Monday night. Philadelphia middle linebacker Jordan Hicks was injured early in the game, and Washington took full advantage with their tight ends. Unfortunately, Hicks will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles. George Kittle might find himself the beneficiary of Philadelphia’s suddenly thin linebacking corps. Kittle had a total of 17 targets spanning Weeks 5 and 6 but caught just one pass for 16 yards in Week 7. Philadelphia has an elite run defense and is a heavy favorite, factors which should play favorably into Kittle’s Week 8 prospects. I expect George Kittle to put up a top-10 fantasy week in Week 8.
Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets – I expected a big game out of Austin Hooper in Week 7, but that prediction did not come to fruition. The entire Atlanta offense was seemingly in a fog in their loss to the New England Patriots. The Falcons will try to lick their wounds and take out their frustrations on the New York Jets, and I like their chances of doing so. Hooper has a very good matchup in this game, and the Falcons would be wise to take advantage of it. The Jets have given up an average of six receptions, 79.3 yards and 1.3 touchdowns to opposing tight ends over their last three games. The Falcons still have a lot of offensive weapons despite their recent struggles. I expect Hooper to benefit from the Jets’ defense focusing on Atlanta’s other skill position players. I think Austin Hooper bounces back in this game and scores a touchdown, leading to a top-10 finish this week.
