We’ve somehow made it to Week 14 of the NFL season. And now we are starting fantasy playoffs across the fantasy landscape with six teams on bye! Thankfully tight ends aren’t a huge problem this week, as Mark Andrews is the best of the bye group. Overall, we should be able to compensate for these losses, whereas quarterback and running back are going to be a lot tougher.
Week 13 was once again a showcase for rookie Brock Bowers, who caught 10-of-14 targets for 140 yards and a touchdown. That puts him at 84 receptions on 113 targets for 884 yards and four touchdowns on the year. Extrapolated out to 17 games, he’d have 119 receptions for 1,252 yards and 6 touchdowns. The yardage record for rookie tight ends was set by Mike Ditka back in 1960 when he hit 1,076 yards in 14 games. That’s still a remarkable stat, but one that could be beaten by Bowers. The record for receptions by a rookie tight end was set just last year by Sam LaPorta, who finished with 86. Barring an injury, that record will be smashed by Bowers. He’s also on pace to beat the receptions record by a tight end, which is 116 and held by Zach Ertz, but that one is going to be a bit tougher.
Week 14 tight end bye weeks
Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Dalton Schultz, Hunter Henry, Zach Ertz
Week 14 tight end injuries
Taysom Hill, Saints
The do everything Saints player’s season is over after tearing his ACL in Week 13. His status as a tight end in fantasy made for a high upside play each week, but injuries and inconsistency made for a boom or bust play each week.
Dallas Goedert, Eagles
Goedert suffered a knee injury against the Ravens on Sunday and was forced from the game. Reports don’t sound optimistic that he’ll be available this week, but we’ll need to confirm that with the practice reports. Grant Calcaterra would take over if Goedert were to miss time.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers
After a scary neck injury, Sanders missed Week 13, but does have a shot at returning in Week 14 if all goes well.
Jake Ferguson, Cowboys
Ferguson has missed two games with a concussion. He should have a shot at returning this week, but if not, Luke Schoonmaker would have some fantasy appeal once again.
Dalton Kincaid, Bills
Kincaid missed last week following a bye, so he’s now been sidelined two games and the bye week. He’ll try to get right for this week against the Rams.
Week 14 tight end sleepers
Will Dissly, Chargers vs. Chiefs
Dissly skunked us last week and has just not been as productive as we hoped, but this matchup is one of the strongest for tight ends in the league. The Chiefs run defense has been the best in the league and the Chargers are without J.K. Dobbins now. We just watched Brock Bowers decimate the Chiefs for 140 yards and a touchdown despite the whole world knowing where the ball was going. Dissly is risky, but the Chiefs rank 30th in fantasy points allowed and have given up the most yards to tight ends and it’s their only real consistent chink in the defensive armor.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers vs. Raiders
Otton hasn’t lived up to his big production with Mike Evans out since Evans returned, but I’m not willing to give up on him in a great matchup. The Raiders have allowed the third-most yards to tight ends along with the most yards per reception and yards per target. Plus, teams have targeted tight ends against them the seventh most. Otton should see more usage this week.
