The 2021-22 NFL season has only two weeks left. Bye weeks are over and most leagues are now at their championship game. At this point 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 17 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 Denver Broncos | TE1 |
| Must Start | Mark Andrews | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | TE2 |
| Starting TE1 | T.J. Hockenson | vs Green Bay Packers | TE3 |
| Starting TE1 | Evan Engram | vs Houston Texans | TE4 |
| Starting TE1 | George Kittle | vs Las Vegas Raiders | TE5 |
| Starting TE1 | Pat Freiermuth | vs Baltimore Ravens | TE6 |
| Starting TE1 | Dalton Schultz | vs Tennessee Titans | TE7 |
| Starting TE1 | Dawson Knox | vs Cincinnati Bengals | TE8 |
| Starting TE1 | Cole Kmet | vs Detroit Lions | TE9 |
| Starting TE1 | Dallas Goedert | vs New Orleans Saints | TE10 |
| Starting TE1 | David Njoku | vs Washington Commanders | TE11 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Greg Dulcich* | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE12 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Tyler Higbee | vs Los Angeles Chargers | TE13 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Noah Fant* | vs New York Jets | TE14 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Tyler Conklin | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE15 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Juwan Johnson | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE16 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Darren Waller | vs San Francisco 49ers | TE17 |
| TD Dependent Starter | Gerald Everett | vs Los Angeles Rams | TE18 |
| Deep League Starter | Hayden Hurst* | vs Buffalo Bills | TE19 |
| Deep League Starter | Taysom Hill | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE20 |
| Deep League Starter | Trey McBride | vs Atlanta Falcons | TE21 |
| Deep League Starter | Cade Otton* | vs Carolina Panthers | TE22 |
| Deep League Starter | Jordan Akins | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | TE23 |
| Leave on the Bench | Logan Thomas | vs Cleveland Browns | TE24 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jelani Woods | vs New York Giants | TE25 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chigoziem Okonkwo | vs Dallas Cowboys | TE26 |
| Leave on the Bench | Daniel Bellinger | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE27 |
| Leave on the Bench | Shane Zylstra | vs Chicago Bears | TE28 |
| Leave on the Bench | Hunter Henry | vs Miami Dolphins | TE29 |
| Leave on the Bench | Austin Hooper | vs Dallas Cowboys | TE30 |
| Leave on the Bench | Robert Tonyan | vs Minnesota Vikings | TE31 |
| Leave on the Bench | Mike Gesicki | vs New England Patriots | TE32 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jonnu Smith | vs Miami Dolphins | TE33 |
| Leave on the Bench | Colby Parkinson | vs New York Jets | TE34 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
TE12 Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
Greg Dulcich missed practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. If Dulcich misses this week against the Kansas City Chiefs Eric Saubert will likely start for the Broncos at tight end.
TE14 Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Noah Fant missed practice on Wednesday because of a knee injury. He played through this injury last week. If Fant misses this week’s game against the New York Jets Colby Parkinson becomes the TE23 between Cade Otton and Jordan Akins.
TE19 Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
Hayden Hurst has missed the past three games with a calf injury. He was limited in practice on Wednesday. If Hurst misses this week’s game against the Buffalo Bills Mitchell Wilcox will become the TE24 between Jordan Akins and Logan Thomas.
TE22 Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cade Otton was limited on Wednesday with a quad injury. If Otton misses this week’s game against the Carolina Panthers Cameron Brate becomes the TE25 between Jelani Woods and Chigoziem Okonkwo.
TE29 Hunter Henry, New England Patritots
Hunter Henry was limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. If Henry was to miss this week’s game against the Miami Dolphins Jonnu Smith would become the TE28 between Daniel Bellinger and Shane Zylstra.
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