The year was 2011, Harry Potter was dominating the box office, Adele was becoming a superstar and the New England Patriots boasted an offense that supported two fantasy relevant tight ends. Five years later and it appears history may be repeating itself. Rob Gronkowski finally produced a Gronkesque game and Martellus Bennett is now playing the part of Aaron Hernandez -- the backup TE who is nearly as talented as the starter. It was only one week, but the Patriots are a pass-happy team that rarely plays it passive.
Elsewhere around the league, Antonio Gates made his return and found the end zone along with fellow tight end Hunter Henry. Not exactly the same principle as the Patriots, but it was good to see Henry still has a role even when the veteran is healthy enough to play. Delanie Walker continues to be the only receiving threat in Tennessee who isn’t also the leading rusher, and in Carolina, Greg Olsen did Greg Olsen things even with Derek Anderson under center.
Week 6 brings some very interesting matchups like Travis Kelce versus the leaky Raiders defense and Zach Ertz looking to get right against Washington. The only big-name TE on bye week is Kyle Rudolph, so there are plenty of options out there for tight end-needy teams. Here are a few who could have big games and our Week 6 rankings:
Jesse James (vs. Miami) – He is very touchdown dependent (like most other tight ends), but he gets a peach of a matchup going against the Dolphins, who have allowed the 10th-most points to the position thus far this season. You just have to hope that Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, and Sammie "GOATS" Coates leave enough work for James.
Charles Clay (vs. San Francisco) – He hasn’t done much this season, but has at least five receptions in each of the last two games. The NaVorro Bowman-less 49ers come to Buffalo giving up tremendous production to tight ends this season. The Bills should be able to run all day against the Niners, but Clay, LeSean McCoy and Robert Woods are the only passing threats with Sammy Watkins out.
Delanie Walker (vs. Browns) – He’s probably owned in your league, but you always like the offense going against the Browns. Maybe Marcus Mariota turned a corner last week and that offense will take a step forward. Even if they aren’t significantly improved, Walker remains the only fantasy relevant receiver on the Titans.
Tight Ends, Week 6
(ZS: Zach Senvisky, JM: Jason Marcum, SK: Scott Kaliska, JG: Jeff Goldberg, KB: Kyle Bennett, DG: Derek Gordon)
| Rk | Consensus | Tm | Opp. | ZS | JM | SK | JG | KB | DG |
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | vs. CIN | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Greg Olsen | CAR | @ NO | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Delanie Walker | TEN | vs. CLE | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Jordan Reed | WAS | vs. PHI | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Travis Kelce | KC | @ OAK | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Zach Ertz | PHI | @ WAS | 12 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Martellus Bennett | NE | vs. CIN | 5 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 |
| 8 | Julius Thomas | JAC | @ CHI | 8 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 13 |
| 9 | Coby Fleener | NO | vs. CAR | 11 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 10 | Jimmy Graham | SEA | vs. ATL | 6 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 9 |
| 11 | Dennis Pitta | BAL | @ NYG | 9 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 7 |
| 12 | Jason Witten | DAL | @ GB | 10 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 13 | Gary Barnidge | CLE | @ TEN | 18 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 |
| 14 | Antonio Gates | SD | vs. DEN | 21 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
| 15 | Eric Ebron | DET | vs. LA | 17 | 13 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
| 16 | Jacob Tamme | ATL | @ SEA | 15 | 16 | 23 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | Dwayne Allen | IND | @ HOU | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| 18 | Jesse James | PIT | @ MIA | 14 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 20 |
| 19 | Hunter Henry | SD | vs. DEN | 13 | 19 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 19 |
| 20 | Charles Clay | BUF | vs. SF | 16 | -- | 19 | 18 | 19 | 24 |
| 21 | Zach Miller | CHI | vs. JAC | -- | 20 | 11 | 25 | 22 | 18 |
| 22 | Clive Walford | OAK | vs. KC | 20 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | Lance Kendricks | LA | @ DET | 19 | 21 | -- | 22 | 25 | 21 |
| 24 | Richard Rodgers | GB | vs. DAL | -- | 25 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| 25 | Virgil Green | DEN | @ SD | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
| -- | Will Tye | NYG | vs. BAL | -- | -- | 21 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Austin Hooper | ATL | @ SEA | -- | 24 | -- | -- | -- | -- |