Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: Tight ends

Welcome to Week 13 of the fantasy football season. In many leagues, this is the last week of the regular season with the playoffs starting in the next two weeks. Owners need to make smart plays in order to clinch a postseason appearance or first-round bye.

The biggest news of the position this week is the season-ending injury to Rob Gronkowski, robbing fantasy owners of an elite TE1 to use during the playoffs. Jordan Reed will also be out after suffering a shoulder injury on Thanksgiving. With talent thinning at the position, here are some recommended starting options this week, along with some players you should stay away from.

Martellus Bennett, New England Patriots (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

Yeah, Bennett had a dud last week filling in for Gronk, and he’s dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries of his own. Still, he’s Tom Brady’s best tight end left and is in a good bounce-back spot against the Rams. Skepticism is warranted, but Bennett has enough talent to be a TE1 the rest of the way.

Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions (@ New Orleans Saints)

Ebron’s goose egg last week came out of nowhere, and there’s little evidence that he’ll repeat it. He should get way more looks from Matthew Stafford when the Lions face the Saints’ defense in the Superdome. Ebron hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1, but he’s a weekly bet for 70-90 yards. Don’t give up on him yet.

Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers (@ Chicago Bears)

McDonald has been hard to trust this season, but with Colin Kaepernick playing better football he’s seen his fantasy production spike in recent weeks. With the Bears giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends, McDonald is set up to possibly have his best game of the year.

Vernon Davis, Washington (@ Arizona Cardinals)

Davis has had some productive moments when he filled in for Reed, and he’d be a decent TE2 against most teams. Unfortunately, he has a bad matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, who are giving up the second-fewest passing yards per game this season. Washington’s offense is good enough that Davis might be useful in deeper leagues, but his downside is just too low right now.

Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints (vs. Detroit Lions)

The Saints at home is usually a fantasy bonzana, but Fleener still isn’t playing a huge role in the offense. He hasn’t reached 70 receiving yards since Week 6 and is low on the totem pole behind Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks, and Willie Snead. Fleener is just too volatile to trust week-to-week, especially with the playoffs approaching.

Ladarius Green, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. New York Giants)

Five catches in three games. That’s all Green has done since making his season debut in Week 10. Although he could see a bigger role as he rounds into football shape after a long injury layoff, Ben Roethlisberger simply doesn’t target his tight ends that much. We want to wait and see if Green gets more consistent looks before investing in him as a TE2.