Fantasy football advice, Conference championships: FanDuel tight ends, kickers, defenses

When you start a FanDuel roster, you have $60,000 to spend on nine positions. That's $6,667 per roster spot. Of course, kickers and defenses are never that expensive (and still aren't this week). You're always saving there.

Well, this week, you might be able to save at another roster slot, as well. Tight ends tend to be less expensive than the other glory positions, of course, but as the playoffs have gone on, that's become even more obvious. With four teams left, we're down to only one tight end priced at more than $5,500. That one guy is, of course, the uber-elite, uber-expensive Rob Gronkowski, priced at $8,200, but if you go away from Gronkowski, you're setting yourself up for some big savings to use elsewhere.

Frankly, yeah. Gronkowski has played 16 games this season. He's scored 13 touchdowns in that time, and had fewer than nine fantasy points only three times, fewer than six fantasy points only once, and that was way back in Week 2. He's been as productive as anyone most of the season, and while the Coby Fleener and Luke Willson types have certainly had their moments, I think it's too risky.

• I already talked about Gronk. It's risky, I know, but it's hard for me to care. He's so good.
• I'll steal this stat from ESPN's Matthew Berry on his podcast, but Allen has caught passes in 12 different games this year. In those 12 games, he has nine touchdowns. Basically, when Allen is really active and not just there for show, he's been great. Meanwhile, Fleener produces much better when Allen is not on the field, and Allen is on the field this week. If you're using a Colt, it's absolutely Allen.
• I don't really believe in Willson, even if he's averaging three catches, 80 yards and a touchdown across his last three. Still, there isn't much for tight ends this week, so he's ranked highly. I just don't buy it long-term.
• Okay, I give up on Wright. I've been advocating him as an if-you're-desperate dart-throw for a while, but he hasn't had a touchdown since November. I maintain there's potential for huge numbers there, but if it just remains potential, I don't know how that helps you.

• Ranking kickers gets tricky. I think the Patriots beat the Colts. Does that mean I should rank Gostkowski highly, because they'll score a lot, or not as high, because they'll score touchdowns and not field goals? Or the opposite for Crosby and the Packers -- is he a good choice, because they'll struggle to reach the end zone, or a bad choice, because they'll struggle to even reach scoring territory? It's a balancing act.
• I'm admittedly worried about Vinatieri, who has missed two kicks in his last three games after no misses all season through Week 16. But it's not a huge worry. He's still good.
• I didn't even mention Hauschka. He's really good. He's a good choice.

• There's a reason Seattle is the most expensive defense. Against a hobbled Aaron Rodgers, in a home game, is there any reason not to go in on them?
• The over/under on Green Bay-Seattle is 47; the over/under on Indianapolis-New England is 54. Basically, I'd rather use either NFC defense before I ventured to the AFC.