The 2021-22 NFL season has only four weeks left. Bye weeks are over which means the fantasy playoffs have begun in most standard leagues. Now that playoffs are here it is important to have backup options on your fantasy roster because injuries are continuing to mount up. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football Week 16 tight end rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting TE1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a solid floor.
TD Dependent Starter- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not because of depth at the position. Their production is based on whether they can get in the end zone or not. It can be the difference between a top 10 performance or a top 25 performance
Deep League Starter- a player whose ceiling isn’t high but should put up enough production to be started in deep leagues. When a player like this is started it is because their production though it will likely be low, will be better than a few options.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
Must Start | Travis Kelce | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE1 |
Must Start | Mark Andrews | vs Atlanta Falcons | TE2 |
Starting TE1 | T.J. Hockenson | vs New York Giants | TE3 |
Starting TE1 | Pat Freiermuth | vs Las Vegas Raiders | TE4 |
Starting TE1 | George Kittle | vs Washington Commanders | TE5 |
Starting TE1 | Evan Engram | vs New York Jets | TE6 |
Starting TE1 | Dallas Goedert | vs Dallas Cowboys | TE7 |
Starting TE1 | Dalton Schultz | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE8 |
Starting TE1 | Gerald Everett | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE9 |
Starting TE1 | Noah Fant* | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE10 |
TD Dependent Starter | Darren Waller | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | TE11 |
TD Dependent Starter | Cole Kmet | vs Buffalo Bills | TE12 |
TD Dependent Starter | Dawson Knox | vs Chicago Bears | TE13 |
TD Dependent Starter | David Njoku | vs New Orleans Saints | TE14 |
TD Dependent Starter | Daniel Bellinger | vs Minnesota Vikings | TE15 |
TD Dependent Starter | Trey McBride | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE16 |
TD Dependent Starter | Juwan Johnson | vs Cleveland Browns | TE17 |
TD Dependent Starter | Chigoziem Okonkwo | vs Houston Texans | TE18 |
Deep League Starter | Hayden Hurst* | vs New England Patriots | TE19 |
Deep League Starter | Cade Otton | vs Arizona Cardinals | TE20 |
Deep League Starter | Greg Dulcich | vs Los Angeles Rams | TE21 |
Deep League Starter | Tyler Conklin | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | TE22 |
Deep League Starter | Tyler Higbee | vs Denver Broncos | TE23 |
Leave on the Bench | Will Dissly | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE24 |
Leave on the Bench | Noah Gray | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE25 |
Leave on the Bench | Taysom Hill | vs Cleveland Browns | TE26 |
Leave on the Bench | Jordan Akins | vs Tennessee Titans | TE27 |
Leave on the Bench | Austin Hooper | vs Houston Texans | TE28 |
Leave on the Bench | Robert Tonyan | vs Miami Dolphins | TE29 |
Leave on the Bench | Jonnu Smith | vs Buffalo Bills | TE30 |
Leave on the Bench | Logan Thomas | vs San Francisco 49ers | TE31 |
Leave on the Bench | Jelani Woods | vs Los Angeles Chargers | TE32 |
Leave on the Bench | Jonnu Smith | vs Cincinnati Bengals | TE33 |
Leave on the Bench | Mike Gesicki | vs Green Bay Packers | TE34 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
TE10 Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Noah Fant missed practice on Wednesday because of a knee injury. If Fant misses this week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs Will Dissly moves up to TE13 between Dawson Knox and David Njoku. Colby Parkinson then becomes TE25 between Noah Gray and Taysom Hill.
TE13 David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku was limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. He played through this knee injury for the past two weeks. If he misses this week’s game against the New Orleans Saints Harrison Bryant becomes the TE32 between Jelani Woods and Jonnu Smith.
TE19 Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
Hayden Hurst has missed the past two games with a calf injury. He was limited in practice on Wednesday. If Hurst misses this week’s game against the New England Patriots Mitchell Wilcox will become the TE32 between Jelani Woods and Jonnu Smith.
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