Tight ends appropriately erupted on National Tight End Day. Fifteen tight ends scored 17 touchdowns, with Kyle Pitts and Cade Otton finding paydirt twice. While it was fun to watch, a Week 9 repeat is likely a tall order. However, looking ahead to the Week 9 tight end rankings, there are a handful of intriguing matchups and streamers worth considering. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the week’s best tight end options for Week 9.
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Tight Ends on Byes in Week 9:
Pat Freiermuth, George Kittle
Injury Notes for Week 9
- Dallas Goedert missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, and his Week 9 status is questionable. Grant Calcaterra will remain the team’s starting tight end in the interim.
Tight End Notes
Bye Weeks: PIT, SF
- Cade Otton is coming off an incredible week, catching 9-of-10 targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns. It’s Otton’s second consecutive 10-target game, and he found the end zone three times in as many weeks. Otton should continue to be a target hog in Week 9. He gets a dream matchup against a Chiefs defense giving up the most fantasy points to tight ends on the year. The unit has also allowed the second-most receptions and receiving yards to the position. Monday night’s game has shootout potential, and Otton should feast as Baker Mayfield‘s top option in the passing game. Otton is TE3 in my Week 9 tight end rankings.
- It’s taken a little while, but Sam LaPorta is starting to heat up. He had his best game of the season last week, catching all six of his targets for 48 yards and a touchdown — his second touchdown in three weeks. The good times should continue in Week 9. LaPorta faces a soft Packers defense that surrenders the fifth-most receiving yards and 10th-most fantasy points to tight ends through eight weeks. LaPorta has been difficult to trust this season. But he’s the second-most targeted receiver for Detroit in the last two weeks and should benefit with Jameson Williams still serving his PED-related suspension. LaPorta is a mid-tier TE1 in the Week 9 tight end rankings.
- T.J. Hockenson is set to return this week after tearing his ACL and MCL late last year. Fortunately, he gets a friendly matchup against the Colts for his season debut. Indianapolis allows the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. They’ve also ceded the ninth-most receiving yards to the position and allowed tight ends to score four touchdowns this year, tied for third-most. Hockenson may be limited in his debut but should quickly slot in as the Vikings’ second pass-catching weapon behind Justin Jefferson. Minnesota runs a pass-first offense, and Hockenson should benefit out of the gate. He rounds out the top 12 in my Week 9 tight end rankings.
- Adam Trautman is the dart throw of the week. He’s fresh off his best game of his career, reeling in all four of his targets for 85 yards and a touchdown. Denver likes to rotate their tight ends, so Trautman’s usage hasn’t been great this season. However, he saw seven targets in the last two weeks — a significant boost from his three targets through the season’s first six games. Despite the iffy usage, Trautman’s Week 9 matchup is too good to pass up. The Ravens allow the most receptions and receiving yards to the position, as well as the fifth-most fantasy points. There’s risk with Trautman, but he’s a sleeper worth taking a chance on in Week 9.
Check out all of our Week 9 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Week 9 Tight End Rankings
Note: Ranks based on half-PPR scoring
| Rnk | Player | Team | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travis Kelce | KC | TB |
| 2 | Brock Bowers | LVR | @CIN |
| 3 | Cade Otton | TB | @KC |
| 4 | Trey McBride | ARI | CHI |
| 5 | David Njoku | CLE | LAC |
| 6 | Kyle Pitts | ATL | DAL |
| 7 | Evan Engram | JAX | @PHI |
| 8 | Sam LaPorta | DET | @GB |
| 9 | Jake Ferguson | DAL | @ATL |
| 10 | Dalton Kincaid | BUF | MIA |
| 11 | Tucker Kraft | GB | DET |
| 12 | T.J. Hockenson | MIN | IND |
| 13 | Mark Andrews | BAL | DEN |
| 14 | Zach Ertz | WAS | @NYG |
| 15 | Cole Kmet | CHI | @ARI |
| 16 | Dalton Schultz | HOU | @NYJ |
| 17 | Hunter Henry | NE | @TEN |
| 18 | Will Dissly | LAC | @CLE |
| 19 | Jonnu Smith | MIA | @BUF |
| 20 | Taysom Hill | NO | @CAR |
| 21 | Noah Fant | SEA | LAR |
| 22 | Adam Trautman | DEN | @BAL |
| 23 | Grant Calcaterra | PHI | JAX |
| 24 | Ja'Tavion Sanders | CAR | NO |
| 25 | Isaiah Likely | BAL | DEN |
| 26 | Colby Parkinson | LAR | @SEA |
| 27 | Tyler Conklin | NYJ | HOU |
| 28 | Mike Gesicki | CIN | LVR |
| 29 | Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN | NE |
| 30 | Noah Gray | KC | TB |
Make sure to check out all of our Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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