Fantasy Football Redraft

Print

Week 7 Tight End Preview: Trust George Kittle?

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 7

Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 7 TE Rankings.

Los Angeles Rams at Jacksonville Jaguars

In London

Tyler Higbee, Rams

Higbee finally had a usable fantasy performance, catching all 4 of his targets for 40 yards and a TD last week. If WR Pacua Nacua misses this game in London, Higbee could see an increased role. But Higbee has only been utilized more as a blocker and has only been targeted on 13% of his routes this season. He's a low-end TE2 at best. 

New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears

Juwan Johnson, Saints

The return of Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau have killed Johnson’s breakout early this season. He has failed to reach even TE25 in any of the last three weeks. Combined with an ankle injury, Johnson just hasn’t gotten the targets. He could bounce back, but try to use another option if possible.

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns

Darren Waller, Dolphins

Waller saved his low-yardage Week 6 with a TD, but you have to come away impressed by his underlying usage. Waller set a season-high in route rate (78%), a trend we’d expect to sustain vs. Cleveland. However, as with all skill guys in this game, we’ll need to keep a close eye on the weather. A windy, rainy forecast could turn this into a run-heavy display.

Harold Fannin Jr., Browns

Fannin should benefit from extra looks against Miami, as David Njoku (knee) is expected to miss Sunday’s game. But we’ll need to keep a close eye on the forecast with rain and strong winds expected by kickoff. 

Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce sits fifth among TEs in total PPR points and has finished top-10 at the position in four of his six outings. But now he needs to contend with the return of WR Rashee Rice. In Rice's three healthy games to open last season, Kelce averaged just 4.0 targets, 2.7 catches, and 23 yards. Rice might not be a full-go in his 2025 debut this weekend. And the Chiefs offense is playing well enough to keep Kelce in fantasy lineups. But be prepared for his production to take a hit going forward.

Michael Mayer, Raiders

Mayer delivered a 5-50-1 line on awesome usage last week: An 80% route rate and 30% target share. He gets a tough Week 7 draw vs. the Chiefs' fourth-ranked TE defense. But the Raiders' passing volume should be up as 11.5-point underdogs. Mayer is a fine fantasy spot starter again this week.

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings

Dallas Goedert, Eagles

We can go ahead and bet against Goedert scoring a TD every week. But the guy has also logged 20 targets over the past two games, seen 7+ targets in three of five games, and made more red-zone receptions than any other TE in the league. It’s not time to quit using him now.

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings

Hockenson’s targets have picked up since Carson Wentz stepped in for J.J. McCarthy. But he still has yet to reach 50 yards in a game this season. There’s a decent PPR floor (4+ catches in three straight games) but limited ceiling.

Carolina Panthers at New York Jets

Mason Taylor, Jets

No New York pass-catcher was going to thrive last week when the Jets posted -10 passing yards in a miserable showing in London. Things look better in Week 7, facing a Carolina defense that has been shredded by TEs. The Panthers allow 17.6 PPR points per game to the position. That's the second-most in the NFL. Additionally, WR Garrett Wilson is out, which should send a few more targets Mason Taylor's way. Expect a rebound from last week's dismal outing, making Taylor a quality TE2 option in Week 7. 

Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers

Sanders has missed 3 games but has been a limited participant in practice ahead of this week's game against the Jets. Before he hurt his ankle, Sanders led Carolina's TEs with a 65% snap share and 13% target rate. If he's active, Sanders will be a low-end TE2 against a Jets' defense that has allowed the fifth-most PPR points to TEs so far this season. 

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

Hunter Henry, Patriots

Henry has less than 50 yards in four of the past five games, making him a TD dependent option every week. He does have a 35% target share in the red zone, but the PAtriots need to be in position to throw near the end zone for Henry to be worth starting. He is a high-end TE2 with a high ceiling if he can score.

Chig Okonkwo, Titans

Okonkwo went 6-46-0 last week for a solid day, but rookie Gunnar Helm is getting some more work. He seems to be a checkdown option for Cam Ward and that could mean volume if the Titans get behind. The Patriots have struggled against TEs giving up 9.3 yards per target, 29th in the league. Okonkwo is a solid TE2 this week.

New York Giants at Denver Broncos

Theo Johnson, Giants

Johnson’s seen a solid 19% target share in his games alongside Jaxson Dart. The downside this week is the matchup, as the Giants project for low scoring on the road against a top defense. Only the Texans have allowed fewer points per game than Denver’s 15.8.

Evan Engram, Broncos

Engram’s target share spiked to 20% last week, leading to season highs in catches (5) and yards (42). Just note: He still posted an underwhelming 52% route rate. Engram remains a volatile fantasy starter against his former team.

Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers

Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers

Gadsden’s 7-catch Week 6 was fun, and he should remain more involved in the Chargers offense going forward. But he undoubtedly benefited from Quentin Johnston’s injury absence. And it marked the first time this year the rookie has played more than 54% of the offensive snaps. He’ll need to string more together before he looks good as an option for redraft lineups.

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

Trey McBride, Cardinals

We'll see who's under center for the Cardinals this weekend, but it doesn't matter much for McBride, who caught eight balls for 72 yards and a score from Jacoby Brissett last week. McBride will be even busier than usual if WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is out with his concussion. He gets a Packers defense that ranks just 23rd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs.

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Kraft delivered with 43 yards and a score last week. But he saw just two targets. He's now averaging 4.4 targets per game on a 15% target share this season. That pushes his floor lower than the elite fantasy TEs. But Kraft and this Packers offense continue to look great, so we can reasonably bank on the strong efficiency going forward. Next up is a plus matchup vs. the Cardinals' 22nd-ranked TE defense.

Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

Ferguson’s scored in three straight, a trio of games without CeeDee Lamb. The TE has also averaged 8.25 targets without the star WR. Now, with Lamb returning, Ferguson’s ceiling figures to take a hit. Still, there’s ample upside this week in what projects as a potential shootout vs. Washington. Dallas is implied for a strong 26.25 points.

Zach Ertz, Commanders

We’ll track the injury statuses of Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel. But Ertz should benefit from the banged up WR corps, especially after a Week 6 with 6 catches, 43 yards, and 1 score. Meanwhile, Dallas slots 29th in PFF’s coverage grades.

Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers

George Kittle, 49ers

Kittle is set to return this week from a hamstring injury, but is still limited in practice. He started the year off hot, going 4-25-1 in one quarter before the injury, so he should be utilized often if a full go. Trust him as a TE1, but expect that he may see reduced snaps in his first game back.

Kyle Pitts, Falcons

Pitts went 3-18-0 last week, his first game outside the top-20 scoring TEs. Like most TEs, TDs have propped up Pitt’s biggest fantasy output games. With the 49ers missing Fred Warner, who typically covers TEs, Pitts could pop with a big game. He is a low-end TE1.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

Sam LaPorta, Lions

LaPorta has caught 5 balls and scored a TD in back-to-back games. He is in an ideal spot to keep his hot streak going against a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed the seventh-most adjusted fantasy points to opposing TEs. This game is shaping up to be a high-scoring shootout, so view LaPorta as a top-5 fantasy option in Week 7. 

Cade Otton, Buccaneers

After opening the season with 3 catches for 25 yards in Tampa's first three games combined, Otton has seen an expanded role due to injuries to the WR corps. Those injuries have only gotten worse, as Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin won't play in Detroit. That opens the door for Otton to continue to command 5-6 targets or more. Otton is a borderline TE1 in a game that has a total of 52.5 points. 

Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks

Dalton Schultz, Texans

Schultz has garnered six targets in three straight games and caught five of them. We’ll see if any of that changes coming out of the bye, but he sports an attractive floor for a TE2-level fantasy asset.

AJ Barner, Seahawks

Houston’s third-best pass defense by DVOA hurts everyone in the passing game. The Texans have also rated third-best in coverage DVOA vs. tight ends. Barner’s high efficiency on low volume has made him interesting but unpredictable. The bad matchup makes chasing that even more difficult in Week 7.

Next Up

Week 7 Quarterback Preview: Will Baker Continue An MVP Pace?

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.