I have never lacerated my kidney, but it doesn’t sound like how I’d like to spend a Saturday night. Unfortunately, Hunter Henry not only lost a possible touchdown to Antonio Gates last Saturday, but he may miss the remainder of the regular season with a lacerated kidney. Henry was starting to heat up when it mattered most, but we can’t have nice things. Gates, now 75 years old, will again be a streamable tight end in the fantasy playoffs and this could be the last two games we see from the future Hall of Famer.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Elsewhere in tight end land - Greg Olsen came back in a big way, Rob Gronkowski did Gronk things to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Eric Ebron did just enough to warrant a start for those that trusted him. It was a good week to have one of the big names, but streamers like Garrett Celek, Ben Watson and Charles Clay also performed well.
Heading into the week 16 there are about 5 players you start no matter what. Travis Kelce, Gronk, Zach Ertz, Evan Engram and Jimmy Graham are all good to go. Graham had a slow week 15, but he should return to form against the Dallas Cowboys. I would temper expectations for Greg Olsen. His big Week 15 could lead many to thinking he is a sure shot, but Tampa Bay has only allowed double-digit fantasy points to one tight end this season.
If you need a streamer for the finals, consider Benjamin Watson. He isn’t as ancient as Antonio Gates, but the veteran is getting long in the tooth. He should still have enough juice left to hurt the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Vernon Davis is in a good spot when the Denver Broncos come to Landover, Maryland. The Broncos defense did look like a serious threat over the last two weeks, but they have struggled against tight ends this season. Finally, you can hope Eric Ebron stays hot. Detroit faces the Cincinnati Bengals and they have the look of a team that has given up on their season and their coach is updating his LinkedIn profile.
Did I miss a tight end you are interested in? Have lineup questions for Week 16? Take a look at our Week 16 rankings and leave a comment! Good luck in the playoffs!
Tight end rankings, Week 16
(SK: Scott Kaliska; JG: Jeff Goldberg; DG: Derek Gordon; KB: Kyle Bennett; ZS: Zach Senvisky; JM: Jason Marcum)
TE rankings, Week 16
Rk | Consensus | Tm | Opp | SK | JG | DG | KB | ZS | JM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | vs. BUF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Travis Kelce | KC | vs. MIA | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 3 | Zach Ertz | PHI | vs. OAK | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Evan Engram | NYG | @ ARI | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Delanie Walker | TEN | vs. LAR | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Jimmy Graham | SEA | @ DAL | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| 7 | Greg Olsen | CAR | vs. TB | 4 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 8 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | @ GB | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 8 |
| 9 | Jack Doyle | IND | @ BAL | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
| 10 | Charles Clay | BUF | @ NE | 14 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 11 |
| 11 | Jason Witten | DAL | vs. SEA | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 13 |
| 12 | Antonio Gates | LAC | @ NYJ | 18 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
| 13 | Vernon Davis | WAS | vs. DEN | 13 | 16 | 7 | 16 | 19 | 12 |
| 14 | Jared Cook | OAK | @ PHI | 12 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 15 |
| 15 | Julius Thomas | MIA | @ KC | -- | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 16 |
| 16 | Jesse James | PIT | @ HOU | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
| 17 | Benjamin Watson | BAL | vs. IND | 16 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 6 | 23 |
| 18 | Eric Ebron | DET | @ CIN | 10 | 21 | 21 | 17 | -- | 17 |
| 19 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | vs. LAC | 24 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 18 |
| 20 | Garrett Celek | SF | vs. JAC | 21 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 |
| 21 | Cameron Brate | TB | @ CAR | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | Tyler Kroft | CIN | vs. DET | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 20 |
| 23 | O.J. Howard | TB | @ CAR | -- | 20 | 20 | 25 | 18 | 22 |
| 24 | Ricky Seals-Jones | ARI | vs. NYG | 15 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 |
| 25 | David Njoku | CLE | @ CHI | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| -- | Hunter Henry | LAC | @ NYJ | -- | -- | -- | -- | 14 | -- |
| -- | Austin Hooper | ATL | @ NO | 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| -- | Jermaine Greshman | ARI | vs. NYG | 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
