The tight end position is very thin. Even the best tight ends in the league right now struggled in Week 8, proving how fickle the position can be. Since tight ends are very streaky this season, best thing owners can do is catch the right TE at the right time. That also means letting go of the wrong TE at the right time. Here are the tight ends should owners pursue and drop in Week 9.
Buy Low
Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions
Prior to going down in Week 5 with ankle and knee problems, Ebron looked as though he would be one of the more consistent tight ends in the league. Sunday, he continued where he left off. He caught a career-high seven passes for 79 yards, leading the Lions in receiving yards against a tough Texans defense.
Detroit has a rough schedule the next few weeks, but things look smooth after Week 12 as they face pretty average defenses for the remainder of the season. Ebron is a good pick up especially if owners need to stash a tight end for the playoffs.
Current standard fantasy average: 7 points
Yahoo! fantasy ownership: 38 percent
Next four games: MIN, BYE, JAX, MIN
C.J. Fiedorowicz, Houston Texans
Fiedorowicz seems to be flying under the radar in most fantasy leagues. He has 26 catches on 35 targets for 272 yards and three touchdowns through eight weeks. That makes Fiedorowicz third in receiving yards, second in receptions and tied for first in receiving touchdowns with DeAndre Hopkins for the Texans.
Fiedorowicz is a steal off waivers at this point. He is available in most leagues and is looking at some soft defenses down the stretch. He is a great streaming option Weeks 11 and 12.
Current standard fantasy average: 5.7 points
Yahoo! fantasy ownership: 14 percent
Next four games: BYE, at JAX, at OAK, SD
Sell High
Martellus Bennett, New England Patriots
Bennett is on a downslide, but that was to be expected. Tom Brady is back and looking for his favorite TE Rob Gronkowski now. The past two weeks Bennett has only caught 5 passes for 40 yards after averaging 60 yards through the first six weeks of the season.
The Patriots will still use Bennett a lot down the stretch and they have an easy schedule in the coming weeks. However, owners have a short window to deal Bennett before New England faces some brutal defenses or Brady forgets about him.
Current standard fantasy average: 8.1 points
Yahoo! fantasy ownership: 86 percent
Next four games: BYE, SEA, at SF, NYJ
Jordan Reed, Washington
Reed returned from the NFL’s concussion protocol with a bang. After sitting out for two straight weeks, the standout TE caught 9 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown in Week 8.
So, why deal? Reed is looking at a very tough schedule the second half of the season. Washington faces some of the toughest defenses in the league coming out of their bye week. Kirk Cousins will look for Reed a lot now that he is back, but that means defenses will look to shut him down as well. He is also risky suffering six concussions and five years.
Best to shop Reed now while he is on top.
Current standard fantasy average: 8.1 points
Yahoo! fantasy ownership: 86 percent
Next four games: BYE, MIN, GB, at DAL