We’ve reached the "Welcome Back" part of the fantasy season in regards to tight ends. Week 4 saw Jimmy Graham deliver his second consecutive 100-yard game, Jordan Reed finally had his breakout game of the season, and even Gary Barnidge found his way back into the top 10 at the position.
The "Welcome Back" theme continues into Week 5 with Zach Ertz returns from injury and Tom Brady makes his 2016 regular season debut. However, rumors have emerged that Rob Gronkowski’s hamstring is still a problem, so temper your expectations.
Here is a closer look at a few good plays and our Week 5 rankings:
Hunter Henry – As long as Antonio Gates is out, Henry will have value. He gets the Raiders this week, who have allowed just one touchdown to tight ends this season, but have given up significant yardage to the position. This game could be a shootout, and since the only top 10 tight end the Raiders have faced this season is Jacob Tamme, I like Henry’s odds of having a good day.
Cameron Brate – Brate took over the starting tight end gig and hasn’t looked back. Currently TE10 on the season, Brate gets a juicy matchup against the Panthers who’ve allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends thus far. Those looking to find substitutes for Julius Thomas, Jimmy Graham, or Coby Fleener should definitely give Brate a gander.
Richard Rodgers – Rodgers will have the lead role to himself with Jared Cook recovering from an ankle injury. Although the Giants have only given up the one touchdown to tight ends, I like him the same way I like Hunter Henry. This game has a high potential for fireworks, and the Giants' linebackers are still some of the slowest in the game. Rodgers makes a good cheap DFS play or a great option for deeper season long leagues.
Tight ends, Week 5
(ZS: Zach Senvisky, JM: Jason Marcum, AP: Adam Patrick, SK: Scott Kaliska, JG: Jeff Goldberg, KB: Kyle Bennett)
| Rk | Consensus | Tm | Opp. | ZS | JM | AP | SK | JG | KB |
| 1 | Jordan Reed | WAS | @ BAL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Greg Olsen | CAR | vs. TB | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Zach Miller | CHI | @ IND | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | vs. HOU | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | @ CLE | 7 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Delanie Walker | TEN | @ MIA | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 7 |
| 7 | Dennis Pitta | BAL | vs. WAS | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| 8 | Hunter Henry | SD | @ OAK | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Zach Ertz | PHI | @ DET | 15 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| 10 | Gary Barnidge | CLE | vs. NE | 11 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 11 |
| 11 | Jason Witten | DAL | vs. CIN | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| 12 | Martellus Bennett | NE | @ CLE | 8 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 12 |
| 13 | Eric Ebron | DET | vs. PHI | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | Cameron Brate | TB | @ CAR | 16 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| 15 | Jacob Tamme | ATL | @ DEN | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| 16 | Dwayne Allen | IND | vs. CHI | 23 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| 17 | Clive Walford | OAK | vs. SD | 18 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 18 | 17 |
| 18 | Jesse James | PIT | vs. NYJ | 17 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 |
| 19 | Jack Doyle | IND | vs. CHI | 14 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 20 |
| 20 | Charles Clay | BUF | @ LA | 20 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 19 |
| 21 | Tyler Eifert | CIN | @ DAL | 22 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 22 |
| 22 | Richard Rodgers | GB | vs. NYG | -- | 25 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
| 23 | Lance Kendricks | LA | vs. BUF | 19 | 20 | 24 | -- | 24 | 24 |
| 24 | Darren Fells | ARI | @ SF | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 25 |
| 25 | Garrett Celek | SF | vs. ARI | 24 | -- | 25 | 23 | -- | 23 |
| -- | Will Tye | NYG | @ GB | 25 | -- | -- | 24 | 25 | -- |
| -- | Brent Celek | PHI | @ DET | -- | 23 | -- | -- | -- | -- |