Week 12 Tight End Preview: Will Travis Kelce Keep Rolling?

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 12

Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 12 TE Rankings.

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Trey McBride

ARI TE1 Sun 4:05 PM vs JAC

Bye8

3D PPR Proj265.1

3D Value54.7

McBride has posted PPR totals of 21.2, 29.4, 16.5, 27.7, and 27.5 alongside Jacoby Brissett. Keep expectations high vs. Jacksonville, especially with Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined.

2. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

Brock Bowers

LVR TE2 Sun 4:05 PM vs CLE

Bye8

3D PPR Proj231.4

3D Value50.4

Bowers received a team-high 12 targets last week against the Cowboys going 7-72-0. He was on the field for every pass and has been playing in the slot more. This is a tough match-up against the Browns, but Bowers talent is too much. Geno Smith knows he is the best chance to move the ball and should be highly targeted again.

3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

George Kittle

SF TE3 Mon 8:15 PM vs CAR

Bye14

3D PPR Proj197.9

3D Value28.9

Kittle is red hot, posting 9-84-1 and 6-67-2 lines over his last two. His 49ers are implied for a big 28.25 points on Monday night against the Panthers, who rank 22nd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs.

4. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce

KC TE4 Sun 1:00 PM vs IND

Bye10

3D PPR Proj193.6

3D Value23.1

Kelce is coming off his best game of the season, scoring 24.1 PPR points against an elite Denver defense. This week, he gets to face an Indianapolis defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to TEs. We can't count on another 13 targets, but Kelce will be plenty involved and has a great matchup. He comes in as a top-5 option this week.

5. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

After a pair of down games, Warren rebounded last week, catching 8-of-10 targets for 99 yards. Warren has now scored 11.9-plus PPR points in seven of his 10 games. This week, he'll square off with a Kansas City defense that only allows 10.4 PPR points per game to TEs, which is the seventh-lowest. Warren's consistent volume and potential rushing ability keep him as an elite fantasy option despite the matchup.

6. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Kyle Pitts

ATL TE6 Sun 4:25 PM @ NO

Bye5

3D PPR Proj179.2

3D Value17.2

Drake London (knee) won't play, so Pitts should see a boost in targets. The Saints have been solid defending the position, but Pitts ranks third among all TEs in snaps lined up outside as a receiver. New Orleans has had more trouble with wideouts, and Pitts has a considerable height advantage over the Saints' starting CBs. We're expecting a nice boost in opportunities for Pitts, who has a good shot at leading Atlanta in targets. He's a top-10 option this week.

7. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Jake Ferguson

DAL TE7 Sun 4:25 PM vs PHI

Bye10

3D PPR Proj194.9

3D Value21.8

Ferguson’s target volume has taken a hit with CeeDee Lamb’s return from injury. But the tight end has still supplied 4+ catches in three of his past four games. He also caught five balls against the Eagles back in Week 1, ranking second on the team in targets for that contest (with all the WRs healthy).

8. Theo Johnson, New York Giants

Theo Johnson

NYG TE8 Sun 1:00 PM @ DET

Bye14

3D PPR Proj159.4

3D Value5.8

Johnson has proved fairly steady amid a highly volatile range of TEs, catching 3+ passes in five consecutive games. He gets an upside boost in projected volume and matchup. The Giants head to Detroit as 10.5-point underdogs, with QB Jameis Winston less likely to turn dropbacks into scrambles than Jaxson Dart would have been. The Lions also rank just 17th in TE-coverage DVOA.

9. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

Dallas Goedert

PHI TE9 Sun 4:25 PM @ DAL

Bye9

3D PPR Proj170.4

3D Value17.6

Goedert’s 7 catches against the Cowboys back in Week 1 remains his second-largest reception total of the season. Dallas arrives to the rematch still rated among the league’s weakest pass defenses and a positive scoring matchup for TEs.

10. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

Dalton Schultz

HOU TE10 Thu 8:15 PM vs BUF

Bye6

3D PPR Proj170.2

3D Value13.9

Played Thursday night.

11. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cade Otton

TB TE11 Sun 8:20 PM @ LAR

Bye9

3D PPR Proj148.9

3D Value3.8

Otton's streak of five straight games with 4+ catches ended last week at Buffalo. Still, he remained in a full-time role with a 97% route rate. Even if Chris Godwin returns, Otton remains a viable streamer in a game that could turn up boosted pass volume for Baker Mayfield.

12. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Mark Andrews

BAL TE12 Sun 1:00 PM vs NYJ

Bye7

3D PPR Proj160.8

3D Value7.4

The Ravens are implied to score the second-most points this week against a depleted New York defense. The Jets are middle-of-the-pack against TEs, and Andrews' volume hasn't been great. However, he keeps scoring TDs, and the Jets have allowed the second-most TDs (7) to opposing TEs this season. Andrews has a great shot at extending his TD streak this week, making him a quality TE1.

13. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Hunter Henry

NE TE13 Sun 1:00 PM @ CIN

Bye14

3D PPR Proj164.3

3D Value-3.4

Since Week 3, Henry’s topped 50 yards only once (51, Week 9 vs. Atlanta). He’s seen a modest 16% target share, limiting his impact in Drake Maye’s breakout season. Henry gets a boost this week in an excellent scoring matchup vs. the Bengals, but his floor remains shaky.

14. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

Harold Fannin Jr.

CLE TE14 Sun 4:05 PM @ LVR

Bye9

3D PPR Proj160.1

3D Value6.5

Fannin and Njoku split routes down the middle last week, again killing the potential for either to make an impact. Fannin ultimately went 2-26-0. 25 of those yards came with Shedeur Sanders at QB (on one pass). Sanders checking down could give Fannin a solid fantasy day, especially if Njoku misses the game.

15. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

Juwan Johnson

NO TE15 Sun 4:25 PM vs ATL

Bye11

3D PPR Proj168.6

3D Value16.4

After a mid-season lull, Johnson is back in fantasy managers' good graces. He's reeled off four consecutive double-digit fantasy outings--all with Tyler Shough under center. In his last game, Johnson produced a season-high 92 receiving yards and found the end zone for the second consecutive week. In Week 12, he'll face a stiffer challenge against an Atlanta defense that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to TEs. But Johnson ranks second on the Saints with a 19% target share. He's a solid TE2 with top-10 upside.

16. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

Colston Loveland

CHI TE16 Sun 1:00 PM vs PIT

Bye5

3D PPR Proj140.4

3D Value4.7

Loveland continues to split with Cole Kmet, running only 21 routes to Kmet’s 23 last week. Loveland went 3-40-0. His talent is clear and could continue getting some work in the red zone against a Steelers’ defense that struggles vs. the TE. He is a high upside option, but could put up next to nothing.

17. Mason Taylor, New York Jets

Mason Taylor

NYJ TE17 Sun 1:00 PM @ BAL

Bye9

3D PPR Proj134.7

3D Value-6.1

Mason Taylor actually fared better with Justin Fields under center. In the two games that Tyrod Taylor attempted 20-plus passes, Mason Taylor averaged just 5.95 PPR points per game. Baltimore allows the ninth-fewest fantasy points to TEs, so it's not a great matchup for Taylor, but he could rack up decent volume if the Jets fall behind and play catch-up. View Taylor as a mid-range TE2.

18. Noah Fant, Bengals

Noah Fant

CIN TE18 Sun 1:00 PM vs NE

Bye10

3D PPR Proj117.3

3D Value-5.7

This one’s all about the potential return of Mike Gesicki. If he’s active for Sunday, Fant can be safely ignored in fantasy lineups. But if Gesicki misses another week, Fant can be used as a TE1 streamer, especially with Cincy missing Ja’Marr Chase (suspension). Joe Burrow looks on track to return, too.

19. A.J. Barner, Seattle Seahawks

AJ Barner

SEA TE19 Sun 1:00 PM @ TEN

Bye8

3D PPR Proj139.2

3D Value1.4

Barner went 10-70-0 on 11 targets last week, his best PPR output of the season. Being the checkdown option for Sam Darnold helped while the Seahawks tried to play catch-up. Unfortunately, the Titans have been solid against TEs, allowing only 6.9 yards per target, 11th in the NFL. Barner is a TE2 with volume upside if the game somehow stays close.

20. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

T.J. Hockenson

MIN TE20 Sun 1:00 PM @ GB

Bye6

3D PPR Proj156.8

3D Value-3.8

Hockenson has not finished better than TE16 in PPR points since Week 3. There's no reason to chase him this Sunday in a tough spot on the road against the Packers' 11th-ranked TE defense.

21. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Brenton Strange

JAC TE21 Sun 4:05 PM @ ARI

Bye8

3D PPR Proj136

3D Value2.5

Strange hasn’t played since Week 5, but a recent return to practice gives him a shot to return vs. Arizona. He’d be on the TE2 radar given the lack of pass-catching depth in Jacksonville. The Cards also supply a positive matchup for enemy TEs.

22. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens

Isaiah Likely

BAL TE22 Sun 1:00 PM vs NYJ

Bye7

3D PPR Proj125.1

3D Value0

Likely's route rate has climbed for three consecutive weeks, peaking at 61% last week. In Week 12, he should continue to run plenty of routes as the Ravens are short-handed at WR. We're still waiting for the breakout game, but Likely looks like a decent TE2 who can be started as a bye-week replacement against a Jets' defense that has surrendered 7 TDs to the position so far.

23. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

Chigoziem Okonkwo

TEN TE23 Sun 1:00 PM vs SEA

Bye10

3D PPR Proj137.7

3D Value-10.2

Okonkwo showed his big play ability, going 3-56-0 last week. His athleticism and downfield routes give him some upside if Cam Ward can hit him down the seam. Unfortunately, the Titans offense just isn’t good enough to ensure consistency or get a TD for Okonkwo.

24. Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders

Michael Mayer

LVR TE24 Sun 4:05 PM vs CLE

Bye8

3D PPR Proj109.4

3D Value-25.4

Mayer played 77% of snaps last week, his second lowest total since Week 6. With Bowers being moved around the formation, Mayer has played in-line more and went 3-13-0 on 4 targets. The Raiders’ offense isn’t good enough to start Mayer in a tough match-up this week.

25. Brock Wright, Detroit Lions

Brock Wright

DET TE25 Sun 1:00 PM vs NYG

Bye8

3D PPR Proj59.9

3D Value-42.1

Wright managed just two catches in his first game without Sam LaPorta. But his seven targets tied Jameson Williams for third on the team, and he dominated work among TEs. There’s mild upside if you’re digging deep for help at the position.

Next Up

Best Week 12 Moves From Our Experts: Jared Goff Can Earn You a Championship

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Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and in-season tools. He currently ranks ninth among 173 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.