The 2021-22 NFL season has already been extremely entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that tight ends like Dalton Schultz and Dawson Knox will be out this week. On top of that injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. 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 7 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 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 Tennessee Titans | TE1 |
Must Start | Darren Waller | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE2 |
Must Start | Mark Andrews | vs Cincinnati Bengals | TE3 |
Starting TE1 | Kyle Pitts | vs Miami Dolphins | TE4 |
Starting TE1 | Mike Gesicki | vs Atlanta Falcons | TE5 |
Starting TE1 | T.J. Hockenson* | vs Los Angeles Rams | TE6 |
Starting TE1 | Rob Gronkowski* | vs Chicago Bears | TE7 |
Starting TE1 | Dallas Goedert | vs Las Vegas Raiders | TE8 |
Starting TE1 | Noah Fant | vs Cleveland Browns | TE9 |
Starting TE1 | Ricky Seals-Jones* | vs Green Bay Packers | TE10 |
Starting TE1 | Tyler Higbee | vs Detriot Lions | TE11 |
TD Dependent Starter | Hunter Henry | vs New York Jets | TE12 |
TD Dependent Starter | Zach Ertz | vs Houston Texans | TE13 |
TD Dependent Starter | Mo Alie-Cox | vs San Francisco 49ers | TE14 |
TD Dependent Starter | C.J. Uzomah | vs Baltimore Ravens | TE15 |
Deep League Starter | David Njoku | vs Denver Broncos | TE16 |
Deep League Starter | Cole Kmet | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE17 |
Deep League Starter | Robert Tonyan | vs Washington Football Team | TE18 |
Deep League Starter | Austin Hooper | vs Denver Broncos | TE19 |
Deep League Starter | Jonnu Smith | vs New York Jets | TE20 |
Deep League Starter | Gerald Everett | vs New Orleans Saints | TE21 |
Leave on the Bench | Ross Dwelley | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE22 |
Leave on the Bench | Tommy Tremble | vs New York Giants | TE23 |
Leave on the Bench | Mycole Pruitt | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE24 |
Leave on the Bench | Anthony Firkser | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE25 |
Leave on the Bench | Ian Thomas | vs New York Giants | TE26 |
Leave on the Bench | Evan Engram | vs Carolina Panthers | TE27 |
Leave on the Bench | Jordan Akins | vs Arizona Cardinals | TE28 |
Leave on the Bench | Juwan Johnson | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE29 |
Leave on the Bench | Cameron Brate | vs Chicago Bears | TE30 |
Leave on the Bench | Hayden Hurst | vs Miami Dolphins | TE31 |
Leave on the Bench | Jack Doyle | vs San Francisco 49ers | TE32 |
Leave on the Bench | Will Dissly | vs New Orleans Saints | TE33 |
Leave on the Bench | Pharaoh Brown | vs Arizona Cardinals | TE34 |
Leave on the Bench | O.J. Howard* | vs Chicago Bears | TE35 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
TE1 Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce suffered a stinger when they played the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago. He played last week but the injury is still bothering him and limited him in practice Wednesday. If Kelce misses time the next man up in Kansas City will be a combination of Blake Bell and rookie Noah Gray.
TE6 T.J. Hockenson, Detriot Lions
T.J. Hockenson didn’t practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. This injury isn’t expected to hold him out this week but this is something to pay attention to. If Hockenson was to miss this week Darren Fells will slot in at TE27 between Evan Engram and Jordan Akins.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tight Ends: TE7 Rob Gronkowski & TE35 O.J. Howard
Two of Tampa Bay’s top tight ends are dealing with injuries this week. Rob Gronkowski has missed the past three weeks with a rib injury. Also O.J. Howard has dealt with an ankle injury. If both are inactive this weekend Cameron Brate moves up to TE20 between Jonnu Smith and Gerald Everett.
If Gronkowski is out and Howard is active Brate will move up to TE18 between Robert Tonyan and Austin Hooper. While Howard will move up to TE23 between Ross Dwelley and Tommy Tremble.
If Gronkowski is active and Howard is not Brate will rise up to TE29 between Jordan Akins and Juwan Johnson.
TE10 Ricky Seals-Jones, Washington Football Team
You can “Like” The Game Haus on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers like Chris Thomas!