Mark Andrews' owners got an early lump of coal last week as we approach the holiday season, but fret not -- even just a quick glance at our Week 12 fantasy TE PPR rankings lets you know there is still plenty to be thankful for.
Thanks to zero byes and some opportune matchups, this week's rankings might be our deepest edition of the season. The stars should shine bright, but there are plenty of potential sleepers and streamers who can replace Andrews, Dallas Goedert, or whoever you've been starting at TE most of the season.
Now that you know the backdrop for this hectic week, let's get to it and break down our TE rankings.
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Who are the TEs on bye in Week 12?
Thank you, NFL schedule-makers. There are no byes this week, so fantasy owners will have access to TEs from all 32 teams.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers
Even better, we'll have access to all 32 matchups. Our TEs missed out on favorable matchups against Indianapolis and Atlanta last week, so take advantage of having every team in action.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy TEs in Week 12?
As usual, Travis Kelce (@ Raiders in Week 12) tops our rankings, and he's followed by T.J. Hockenson (vs. Bears, Dalton Kincaid (@ Eagles), Dalton Schultz (vs. Jaguars), and Trey McBride (vs. Rams). All are consistent, high-target options, and Hockenson, Schultz, and McBride have the bonus of facing defenses that entered last week in the top six in fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to TEs.
David Njoku (@ Broncos), Evan Engram (@ Texans), and Sam LaPorta (vs. Packers) also fall into the "must-start" category in PPR leagues. Engram and Njoku get top-five TE matchups, and LaPorta remains a high-ceiling option despite a recent stretch of mediocre games.
WEEK 12 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit
Who are the best fantasy TE sleepers, pickups, & streamers in Week 12?
Pat Freiermuth (vs. Bengals), Isaiah Likely (@ Chargers), and Luke Musgrave (@ Lions) are all available in around 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, and all have top-10 matchups this week. Likely is probably the safest bet for targets as he steps into the Mark Andrews' role in Baltimore's offense, but Musgrave has a high PPR ceiling, too. Taysom Hill (@ Falcons) also has a top-10 TE matchup, but he gets knocked down a few pegs in PPR because of his non-traditional usage. (UPDATE: Musgrave reportedly went to the hospital on Tuesday because of an abdominal injury. At this point, fantasy owners shouldn't expect him to suit up against the Lions on Thursday. Tucker Kraft will likely start and has some DFS appeal, but he shouldn't be trusted in season-long leagues.)
In deeper leagues, guys like Tyler Conklin (vs. Dolphins), Cade Otton (@ Colts), Jonnu Smith (vs. Saints), and Juwan Johnson (@ Falcons) also have above-average matchups. All have had big games at times this year, but consistency has eluded them. Their floors and ceilings are a little higher in Week 12, though, so don't be afraid to use them if you can't get one of the TEs mentioned above.
WEEK 12 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Who are the biggest potential fantasy TE busts in Week 12?
We know at least a few of the TEs we've already mentioned will bust, but it's tough to pinpoint any given all the plus matchups. If you're looking for some lower-ceiling guys based on the numbers, look no further than George Kittle (@ Seahawks) and Cole Kmet (@ Vikings). It's tough to sit either of these TEs in 12-team leagues, but their matchups are slightly below average.
The same goes for Jake Ferguson (vs. Commanders) and Logan Thomas (@ Cowboys). Ferguson is always a threat to score, and Thomas usually sees steady targets in a pass-happy offense, so bench them at your own risk.
What are the biggest TE injuries in Week 12?
Darren Waller (hamstring) and Mark Andrews (ankle) are both on the IR, but Dallas Goedert (forearm) has managed to avoid that fate so far. Still, he's expected to miss Week 12, paving the way for Jack Stoll and Albert Okwuegbunam (vs. BUF) to split TE snaps for the Eagles.
We'll also be watching Gerald Everett (chest) this week. He couldn't suit up in Week 11, but even if he returns for Week 12, we wouldn't suggest starting him. The same goes for his backup, Donald Parham Jr., if he's forced to start against Baltimore.
We'll be updating these TE PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy TE PPR Rankings Week 12: Who to start, sit at tight end
Rankings based on full-point PPR formats
Rank Player
1 Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ Raiders
2 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Bears
3 Dalton Schultz, Texans vs. Jaguars
4 Dalton Kincaid, Bills @ Eagles
5 Trey McBride, Cardinals vs. Rams
6 David Njoku, Browns @ Broncos
7 Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Texans
8 Sam LaPorta, Lions vs. Packers
9 Cole Kmet, Bears @ Vikings
10 George Kittle, 49ers @ Seahawks
11 Isaiah Likely, Ravens @ Chargers
12 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers @ Bengals
13 Taysom Hill, Saints @ Falcons
14 Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Saints
15 Logan Thomas, Commanders @ Cowboys
16 Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. Commanders
17 Cade Otton, Buccaneers @ Colts
18 Jonnu Smith, Falcons vs. Saints
19 Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Dolphins
20 Tucker Kraft, Packers @ Lions
21 Juwan Johnson, Saints @ Falcons
22 Hunter Henry, Patriots @ Giants
23 Tyler Higbee, Rams @ Cardinals
24 Michael Mayer, Raiders vs. Chiefs
25 Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans vs. Panthers
26 Gerald Everett, Chargers vs. Ravens
27 Tanner Hudson, Bengals vs. Steelers
28 Julian Hill, Dolphins @ Jets
29 Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. 49ers
30 Daniel Bellinger, Giants vs. Patriots
31 Mike Gesicki, Patriots @ Giants
32 Adam Trautman, Broncos vs. Browns
33 Tommy Tremble, Panthers @ Titans
Week 12 TE PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week
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