The first round of the playoffs was the revenge of the waiver wire tight ends. Jared Cook popped up again to the tune of 75 yards receiving and a touchdown. However, it was Zach Ertz’s fill-in, Trey Burton, who led the way with a two-touchdown game against a stout Los Angeles Rams defense.
Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images
Eric Ebron was my sleeper pick at tight end to begin the season. He pretty much slept all year long until no one could stomach starting him in the playoffs. Of course, he went for 10 receptions and 94 yards receiving. My dream is to live long enough to where Ebron and Jared Cook have retired from professional football and I’m no longer seduced by their talent. On the brighter side, Hunter Henry has gone for 80 yards receiving or scored a touchdown in his last three games as the Los Angeles Chargers stayed hot.
Hopefully, we’ll have Rob Gronkowski and Zach Ertz back for the second round of the playoffs. Gronk will have a difficult matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it should be shootout and the Steelers’ defense is hurting. Travis Kelce was held to one catch the last time he faced the Chargers. It is a bad matchup, but the guy is talented and should be started if you lack another top-10 option.
If you need a streamer with upside, consider Benjamin Watson. He faces the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Watson was held without a catch in week 14, but he did grab eight balls for 91 yards receiving against the Browns in week 2. Ricky Seals-Jones is also tempting, but he is harder to trust since he only has three catches over the last two weeks. Jack Doyle is most likely owned in your league, but if he is available he would make an excellent spot start against the Denver Broncos. Finally, it may be time to give up hope for Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Josh McCown is out for the remainder of the season and you don’t want to hitch your wagon to a Bryce Petty led offense.
Did I miss a tight end you are interested in? Have lineup questions for Week 14? Take a look at our Week 14 rankings and leave a comment! Good luck in the playoffs!
Tight end rankings, Week 15
(SK: Scott Kaliska; JG: Jeff Goldberg; DG: Derek Gordon; KB: Kyle Bennett; ZS: Zach Senvisky; JM: Jason Marcum)
TE rankings, Week 15
Rk | Consensus | Tm | Opp | SK | JG | DG | KB | ZS | JM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | @ PIT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Travis Kelce | KC | vs. LAC | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Zach Ertz | PHI | @ NYG | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Delanie Walker | TEN | @ SF | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | Jack Doyle | IND | vs. DEN | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 6 | Jimmy Graham | SEA | vs. LAR | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| 7 | Evan Engram | NYG | vs. PHI | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| 8 | Hunter Henry | LAC | @ KC | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 7 |
| 9 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | vs. CIN | 6 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 10 |
| 10 | Charles Clay | BUF | vs. MIA | 16 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 9 |
| 11 | Jason Witten | DAL | @ OAK | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 11 |
| 12 | Jared Cook | OAK | vs. DAL | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 |
| 13 | Vernon Davis | WAS | vs. ARI | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 13 |
| 14 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | @ NO | -- | 13 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 14 |
| 15 | Eric Ebron | DET | vs. CHI | 13 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
| 16 | Greg Olsen | CAR | vs. GB | 12 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 |
| 17 | Julius Thomas | MIA | @ BUF | 25 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 15 |
| 18 | Ricky Seals-Jones | ARI | @ WAS | 19 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 23 | 19 |
| 19 | Stephen Anderson | HOU | @ JAC | 17 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 22 |
| 20 | O.J. Howard | TB | vs. ATL | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 18 |
| 21 | Adam Shaheen | CHI | @ DET | 22 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 20 |
| 22 | Cameron Brate | TB | vs. ATL | 15 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
| 23 | David Njoku | CLE | vs. BAL | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 23 |
| 24 | Gerald Everett | LAR | @ SEA | -- | 24 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 25 |
| 25 | Tyler Kroft | CIN | @ MIN | -- | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 |
| -- | Austin Hooper | ATL | @ TB | 18 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Trey Burton | PHI | @ NYG | 21 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Jesse James | PIT | vs. NE | 23 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
