For two consecutive weeks, only one tight end has continued to produce despite being thrust into unfavorable matchups. I know what you're thinking, but no, Rob Gronkowski has actually been a disappointment (for his standards, anyways) throughout that time. Gronkowski, for instance, has scored 10, 6, and 11 fantasy points in his last three games, good to finish as the 6th, 11th, and 6th ranked tight end during those particular weeks. Even Greg Olsen and Tyler Eifert, though consistently ranked in the Top 5 each and every week, have failed to score as many points as one particular standout waiver fodder.
Fantasy football rankings, Week 7: Tight ends
When we said draft Rob Gronkowski, we actually meant Gary Barnidge. Our Week 7 tight end rankings discuss that and more.
Scroll through the last four weeks of scoring and the only standard is, you guessed it, Gary Barnidge. Having scored five touchdowns over the last four weeks, Barnidge has finished as either the second or third ranked tight end since Week 3. Ben Watson has finished in the Top 5 for the last two weeks and Antonio Gates the Top 8, but only Barnidge has remained dependable. I could write another sentence describing how tough his matchup at St. Louis should be this week, but he'll only yet again prove me wrong. For now, Barnidge remains a weekly starter and (gulp) matchup proof.
Fortunately, Eifert and Martellus Bennett are the only No. 1 options on bye this week. Everyone else remains in play, including Charles Clay and Delanie Walker who could each easily be plucked off your local wire. And keep an eye out on Julius Thomas, who in first healthy week of play recorded 78 yards and a touchdown reception.
Tight Ends, Week 7
(DK: Daniel Kelley; DC: Dan Ciarrocchi; AM: Andrew Miller; SK: Scott Kaliska. Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay are on bye)
| Rk | Consensus | Tm | Opp. | DK | DC | AM | SK |
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | NYJ | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Antonio Gates | SD | OAK | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Greg Olsen | CAR | PHI | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Travis Kelce | KC | PIT | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Jimmy Graham | SEA | @SF | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Gary Barnidge | CLE | @STL | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Julius Thomas | JAC | BUF (London) | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| 8 | Charles Clay | BUF | JAC (London) | 5 | 11 | 7 | 9 |
| 9 | Delanie Walker | TEN | ATL | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| 10 | Jason Witten | DAL | @NYG | 11 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
| 11 | Jordan Cameron | MIA | HOU | 9 | 14 | 9 | 11 |
| 12 | Benjamin Watson | NO | @IND | 17 | 12 | 12 | 15 |
| 13 | Jacob Tamme | ATL | @TEN | 15 | 10 | 20 | 13 |
| 14 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | @DET | 23 | 15 | 13 | 12 |
| 15 | Zach Ertz | PHI | @CAR | 19 | 13 | 15 | 18 |
| 16 | Larry Donnell | NYG | DAL | 12 | 18 | 16 | 20 |
| 17 | Ladarius Green | SD | OAK | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
| 18 | Crockett Gillmore | BAL | @ARI | -- | 16 | 14 | 14 |
| 19 | Coby Fleener | IND | NO | 21 | 20 | 17 | 19 |
| 20 | Derek Carrier | WAS | TB | 18 | 17 | -- | 17 |
| 21 | Dwayne Allen | IND | NO | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| 22 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins | TB | @WAS | 13 | -- | -- | 23 |
| 22 | Heath Miller | PIT | @KC | 22 | 22 | 19 | 25 |
| 24 | Eric Ebron | DET | MIN | 14 | -- | -- | 24 |
| 25 | Vernon Davis | SF | SEA | -- | 24 | -- | 22 |
| -- | Jared Cook | STL | CLE | -- | 23 | 24 | -- |
| -- | Tim Wright | DET | MIN | -- | -- | 22 | -- |
| -- | Garrett Celek | SF | SEA | -- | -- | 23 | -- |
| -- | Darren Fells | ARI | BAL | 24 | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Scott Chandler | NE | NYJ | 25 | 25 | -- | -- |
| -- | Brent Celek | PHI | @CAR | -- | -- | 25 | -- |
* * *
SB Nation presents: NFL Week 7 start/sit fantasy advice
