As an example, Cameron Brate is listed below as a "start" for Week 5. And I'd feel comfortable going into Week 5 with him as my starting tight end.
That said, he may be a sit for your team.
In other words, if you owned both Travis Kelce and Brate, you should start Kelce -- and in turn, bench Brate.
So, while you won't find absolute start-sit recommendations below (use my Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings for that instead), the goal here is to highlight some players that I like (and would feel comfortable starting) as well as some players that I dislike for this week (and would prefer to keep on my bench).
Week 5 Fantasy Football TE Start'em
TE - Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills (at CIN)
With one-fourth of the season complete, Clay has scored the fourth-most fantasy points at the position behind only Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz. Even if the Bills are a run-dominant team, the tight end has a position-high 25.51-percent team target share. Given the injury to Jordan Matthews, the team's most productive wide receiver, Clay's target share has only become more secure.
The matchup against the Bengals isn't great and only the Jaguars are projected to score fewer points this week based on implied totals from Vegas odds. Given his volume, role and production within the passing offense, however, Clay is a top-five play this week once again.
Related: Our Favorite Week 5 DraftKings Plays
TE - Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers (at NYG)
Most (including me) expected Henry to take a step forward in his second season. In terms of fantasy production, at least, it's been a disappointment for his fantasy owners. In fact, Henry has gone untargeted in two of the team's four games even though he caught a touchdown in Week 4.
Based on the strength of New York's pass defense, it makes sense for opponents to funnel pass attempts to tight ends over the middle of the field. Let's hope that Henry is utilized in a way that allows him to exploit the matchup. The Giants have allowed the most fantasy points to the position this season. In addition, the Giants have allowed four top-five weekly TE performances and another TE9 performance in just four games.
TE - Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. NE)
Even if O.J. Howard has out-snapped Brate by a margin of 122 to 99 this season, Brate has run a pass route on 25 more snaps than Howard over the team's three games. Scoring a touchdown in each of his past two games, Brate has a total of 10 catches on 13 targets for 137 yards. In another plus matchup -- the Patriots have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the position, Brate has the potential to provide fantasy owners with another useful outing.
Week 5 Fantasy Football TE Sit'em
TE - Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts (vs. SF)
Through four games, the 49ers have allowed just 10 catches for 77 yards and the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends -- less than two fantasy points per game. Doyle has five-plus targets in each of the past three games, but he has a total of only 43 yards in the past two weeks. Given some of the positive matchups of others at the position, Doyle is outside my top-12 fantasy tight ends for the week.
TE - Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions (vs. CAR)
Outside of his matchup againt the Giants in Week 2 (5/42/1), Ebron has had very disappointing outings -- two catches in each of the three other games with nine yards, nine yards and 27 yards, respectively. The matchup this week against the Panthers is not favorable. Only three teams have allowed fewer fantasy points to the position this season.
TE - Tyler Kroft, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. BUF)
With six catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns on a 23.3-percent target share last week, Kroft was fantasy's top-scoring tight end in Week 4. Even if his volume of targets was encouraging, Kroft won't be ranked inside my top-12 fantasy tight ends even if Tyler Eifert misses another game. The Bills have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
- More Fantasy Football Start'em, Sit'em for Week 5
Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings:
- Week 5 Fantasy Football QB Rankings
- Week 5 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
- Week 5 Fantasy Football WR Rankings
- Week 5 Fantasy Football TE Rankings
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