The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks have started to take place. However, there are none this week. So Fantasy Managers will have full utilization of their roster and plenty of options to choose from when selecting who to start the week. On top of that, Injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season as well. It’s 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 8 Tight End Rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve 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.
Rankings
Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
Must Start | Travis Kelce | vs Denver Broncos | TE1 |
Must Start | T.J. Hockenson* | vs Green Bay Packers | TE2 |
Starting TE1 | Mark Andrews | vs Arizona Cardinals | TE3 |
Starting TE1 | Darren Waller* | vs New York Jets | TE4 |
Starting TE1 | Dallas Goedert | vs Washington Commanders | TE5 |
Starting TE1 | George Kittle | vs Cincinnati Bengals | TE6 |
Starting TE1 | Sam LaPorta | vs Las Vegas Raiders | TE7 |
Starting TE1 | Evan Engram | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | TE8 |
Starting TE1 | Jake Ferguson | vs Los Angeles Rams | TE9 |
Starting TE1 | Luke Musgrave* | vs Minnesota Vikings | TE10 |
TD Dependent Starter | Dalton Kincaid | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TE11 |
TD Dependent Starter | Logan Thomas | vs Philadelphia Eagles | TE12 |
TD Dependent Starter | Dalton Schultz | vs Carolina Panthers | TE13 |
TD Dependent Starter | Kyle Pitts | vs Tennessee Titans | TE14 |
TD Dependent Starter | David Njoku* | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE15 |
TD Dependent Starter | Cole Kmet | vs Los Angeles Chargers | TE16 |
TD Dependent Starter | Gerald Everett* | vs Chicago Bears | TE17 |
Deep League Starter | Trey McBride | vs Baltimore Ravens | TE18 |
Deep League Starter | Jonnu Smith | vs Tennessee Titans | TE19 |
Deep League Starter | Chigoziem Okonkwo | vs Atlanta Falcons | TE20 |
Deep League Starter | Cade Otton | vs Buffalo Bills | TE21 |
Deep League Starter | Tyler Higbee | vs Dallas Cowboys | TE22 |
Leave on the Bench | Michael Mayer | vs Detroit Lions | TE23 |
Leave on the Bench | Tyler Conklin | vs New York Giants | TE24 |
Leave on the Bench | Hunter Henry* | vs Miami Dolphins | TE25 |
Leave on the Bench | Juwan Johnson* | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE26 |
Leave on the Bench | Hayden Hurst | vs Houston Texans | TE27 |
Leave on the Bench | Mike Gesicki | vs Miami Dolphins | TE28 |
Leave on the Bench | Colby Parkinson | vs Cleveland Browns | TE29 |
Leave on the Bench | Kylen Granson* | vs New Orleans Saints | TE30 |
Leave on the Bench | Connor Heyward | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | TE31 |
Leave on the Bench | Noah Fant* | vs Cleveland Browns | TE32 |
Leave on the Bench | Irv Smith Jr. | vs San Francisco 49ers | TE33 |
Leave on the Bench | Taysom Hill* | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE34 |
Leave on the Bench | Darnell Washington | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | TE35 |
Leave on the Bench | Donald Parham Jr. | vs Chicago Bears | TE36 |
Leave on the Bench | Foster Moreau | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE37 |
Leave on the Bench | Pharaoh Brown | vs Miami Dolphins | TE38 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
TE2 T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
T.J. Hockenson missed practice on Wednesday with a foot injury. If he misses Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers Josh Oliver becomes the TE30 between Kylen Granson and Connor Hayward.
TE4 Darren Waller, New York Giants
Darren Waller was limited in practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. If Waller misses Week 8 against the New York Jets Daniel Bellinger becomes the TE23 between Michael Mayer and Tyler Conklin.
TE10 Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers
Luke Musgrave missed practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. If he misses Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings Tucker Kraft becomes the TE28 between Mike Gesicki and Colby Parkinson.
TE15 David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku missed practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. If he misses Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks Harrison Bryant becomes the TE21 between Cade Otton and Tyler Higbee.
TE17 Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
Gerald Everett missed practice on Wednesday with a hip injury. He suffered a quad injury last week agains the Kansas City Chiefs but also sustained a hip injury in that game. If he misses Week 8 against the Chicago Bears Donald Parham Jr. becomes TE19 between Jonnu Smith and Chigoziem Okonkwo.
TE25 Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Hunter Henry was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. He was able to play last week against the Buffalo Bills despite the injury. However if Henry misses Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins Mike Gesicki moves up to TE26 between Juwan Johnson and Hayden Hurst. Pharaoh Brown moves up to TE37 between Donald Parham Jr. and Foster Moreau.
New Orleans Saints Tight Ends: TE26 Juwan Johnson & TE34 Taysom Hill
Juwan Johnson missed the past four games with a calf injury. Taysom Hill was limited in practice on Wednesday with a chest injury. Johnson was limited in practice on Wednesday. If Johnson is inactive and Hill plays in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts Hill becomes TE10 between Jake Ferguson and Luke Musgrave. Foster Moreau moves up to TE28 between Mike Gesicki and Colby Parkinson.
If Hill is inactive and Johnson plays in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts Foster Moreau moves up to TE32 between Connor Hayward and Noah Fant.
If both Johnson and Hill are inactive in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts Foster Moreau moves up to TE25 between Tyler Conklin and Hunter Henry.
TE30 Kylen Granson, Indianapolis Colts
Kylen Granson missed last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns with a concussion. He missed practice on Wednesday. If Granson misses Week 8 against the New Orleans Saints Drew Ogletree becomes the TE33 between Irv Smith Jr. and Taysom Hill.
TE32 Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Noan Fant was limited in practice on Wednesday with a toe injury. If he misses Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns Colby Parkinson moves up to TE27 between Juwan Johnson and Hayden Hurst. Will Dissly becomes the TE34 between Taysom Hill and Darnell Washington.
Players that are currently not expected to play
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a setback with a hamstring injury he has been dealing with for a majority of the season. In Freiermuth’s absence Connor Heyward and Darnell Washington should split time at tight end for the Steelers.
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals
Zach Ertz was placed on Injured Reserve afterr spraining his quadriceps last week against the Seattle Seahawks. While Ertz is out Trey McBride will have the opportunity to be the Arizona Cardinals starting tight end.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
Dawson Knox was ruled out of this week’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a wrist injury. In Knox’s absence Dalton Kincaid should see a lot more snaps. While Quinton Morris will be the Bills primary blocking tight end.
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