Fantasy Football Redraft

Print

Week 6 Tight End Preview: Is Darren Waller A Must Start?

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 6

Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 6 TE Rankings.

Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets

In London

Mason Taylor, Jets

Say what you want about the Jets relying on garbage time production, but Mason Taylor is heating up. In the last three weeks, Taylor ranks third among all TEs with 25 targets. In his last two games, Taylor has averaged 9.5 targets, 7 grabs, and 66 receiving yards. He's becoming a reliable fantasy option. This week's opponent, Denver, allows the eighth-fewest adjusted fantasy points to TEs, but Taylor's growing involvement and production keep him as a strong TE2 this week. 

Evan Engram, Broncos

Engram has recorded 4 receptions in back-to-back games and scored his first TD of the season last week. However, he has yet to hit 35 receiving yards or play even half of Denver's snaps in any game this season. This week's matchup versus a Jets' defense ceding the ninth-most adjusted fantasy points to TEs looks solid, but Engram's lack of usage makes him a middling TE2 with limited upside. 

Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

Ferguson appeared to get hurt late in Week 5, but he’s off Dallas’ injury report ahead of a favorable scoring matchup with Carolina. The Cowboys should also remain without CeeDee Lamb. Ferguson’s last two games without the go-to WR: 7 catches, 40 yards, and 1 TD, and 7 catches, 49 yards, and 2 TDs.

Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts

Trey McBride, Cardinals

McBride's start has felt underwhelming. He ranks 7th among TEs in PPR points per game and has yet to finish a week better than TE5. But he's failed to crack the top-12 just once and ranks second at the position in expected PPR points per game. McBride remains one of the safest weekly bets at the position -- and he will have some spike weeks! We could get one this Sunday against the Colts' 29th-ranked TE defense.

Tyler Warren, Colts

Warren has been a steady producer, finishing as a top-12 PPR TE in four of five games. He ranks third at the position in total PPR points and expected PPR points. Week 6 brings a matchup vs. the Cardinals' 16th-ranked TE defense. Arizona has allowed a TE to top 12 PPR points in three of five games.

Seattle Seahawks at Jacksonville Jaguars

AJ Barner, Seahawks

If you’re looking for a fringe play with upside, Barner presents a low floor but ceiling potential. He has seen three targets or fewer in four of five games. But six of his 16 targets for the season have come in the red zone -- according to Pro Football Focus -- including two in the end zone. And he has played 80% of the snaps or more in four of five games. So scoring on 28.6% of his receptions probably won’t sustain, but it also hasn’t been a total fluke.

Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

Darren Waller, Dolphins

Waller’s usage increased last week with a 68% route rate vs. Carolina. He continues to look spry, and there’s no doubt he’s needed in this Tyreek Hill-less offense. Waller’s squarely in the TE1 mix for a matchup with the Chargers.  

New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints

Hunter Henry, Patriots

New England's pass-happy offense has resulted in excellent fantasy production for Hunter Henry, who ranks inside the top-10 among TEs in targets (28), receiving yards (250), and TD grabs (3). Those solid numbers keep Hunter as a high-end TE1, and he should keep the good times rolling in Week 6 as the Patriots play a New Orleans defense that surrenders the sixth-most adjusted fantasy points to TEs.

Juwan Johnson, Saints

Johnson's snaps, route rate, and production have all dropped off after a fast start. He's still playing enough snaps (85% last week) to remain a fantasy-relevant player, but his ceiling has taken a hit. Additionally, Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau were activated last week and combined to play 32 snaps last week. The Patriots have allowed the fifth-most adjusted PPR points to tight ends, so view Johnson as borderline TE1/2 in Week 6. 

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

David Njoku, Browns

Njoku turned into one of Dillon Gabriel’s favorite targets last week. He went 6-67-1 with 9 targets in the game. If Gabriel continues to lock onto Njoku, he will continue putting up TE1 weeks. The Steelers have struggled against the TE position as well giving up 8.6 yards per target, which ranks 27th. This could a good spot to trot out Njoku, but temper expectations. If the targets do go down, he likely ends up as a high-end TE2.

Harold Fannin Jr., Browns

Fannin caught all his targets last week going 4-13-1. The TD helped keep his day solid, but he took a step behind David Njoku. The only hope is that Dillon Gabriel’s love of targeting TEs transfers to Fannin at some point. He is a TE2 at best in hopes for a TD. 

Tennessee Titans at Las Vegas Raiders

Michael Mayer, Raiders

Mayer is set to return from his concussion for Sunday's game vs. the Titans. Assuming TE Brock Bowers remains out with his knee injury, Mayer will be an intriguing fantasy spot starter. Even with Bowers and Mayer out last week, Raiders TEs combined for nine targets on a 25% share. TEs have accounted for 26.4% of the team's targets on the season. Tennessee ranks 14th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs.

Chig Okonkwo, Titans

Okonkwo has been steadily losing playing time to rookie TE Gunnar Helm. He's now gone three straight games without topping a 61% route rate. That makes Okonkwo a very shaky fantasy play in a struggling Titans offense.

Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Only the Jets have provided a (slightly) better scoring matchup for TEs so far than Kraft’s Week 6 opponent. The Bengals are adding 65.5% to enemy TE fantasy scores so far, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Kraft’s not a safe bet for good target volume, but that’s true of most guys at his position.

San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jake Tonges, 49ers

George Kittle (hamstring) remains out, setting up Tonges for another start. He's been excellent filling in, averaging 10.7 PPR points per game. Last week, he commanded a career-high 11 targets from Mac Jones and has scored a TD in back-to-back games. Tampa allows the 12th-most adjusted PPR points to TEs, so view Tonges as a solid streaming option in what could be his final start in relief of Kittle. 

Cade Otton, Buccaneers

After a horrendous first month of the season, Otton finally showed some life last week. He set season-high totals in targets (5), catches (4), and yards in Tampa's 38-35 win. We don't expect a similar shootout this week, but the matchup with San Francisco has a fantasy-friendly total of 47.5 points. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Bucky Irving aren't expected to play for the Buccaneers, so Otton could be in line for a handful of targets. He's a low-end TE2 against a Niners' squad that has been league-average (16th in fantasy PPG allowed) defending TEs. 

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce went 7-61-1 on 8 targets last week with his best game of the season. The ascension of the Chiefs’ offense should help Kelce be a more consistent producer moving forward. Start him until further notice, but he may need a TD to pay off.  The Lions are only allowing 6.3 yards per target to TEs, 12th least in the league, so it could be a tough day for Kelce. 

Sam LaPorta, Lions

LaPorta went 5-92-1 last week and continues being involved in the offense. He will be the best TE the Chiefs have faced this season, but they haven’t allowed a TE TD yet. Despite that, it is a good spot for LaPorta to rack up yardage with the Chiefs, allowing an 85.7% catch rate, 30th in the league. Start LaPorta with confidence. 

Buffalo Bills at Atlanta Falcons

Dalton Kincaid, Bills

Kincaid’s 60% route rate remains far from ideal; it ranks just 28th among TEs. However, his value has been boosted by a strong 22% target per route run figure. While the floor remains shaky, Kincaid remains a viable TE1 option. Just keep an eye on oblique injury he’s listed with on the injury report.

Kyle Pitts, Falcons

Pitts looked much-improved prior to a Week 5 bye, posting 4+ catches in four straight. He’ll carry increased target appeal if Darnell Mooney (hamstring) misses Monday’s matchup.

Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders

Zach Ertz, Commanders

Ertz’s playing time dipped to barely above 50% in two of the past three games. That became more worrisome last week, when he ran a route on a season-low 66% of Washington’s dropbacks. Second-year TE Ben Sinnott has also played more snaps the past three games. Perhaps we’ll see a bounce back from that rate this week, but that adds a little risk to a guy whose production has lagged this year. Ertz still looks like the best bet to rank second among Commanders in targets this week, though. Only Deebo Samuel got more than two looks last week, and Terry McLaurin appears likely to sit again.

Next Up

Week 6 Matchups That Matter: Breakout Spot For Tetairoa McMillan?

Next Article  

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.