MIAMI, Sept. 7 (UPI) — Logan Thomas of the Washington Commanders is one of the top four tight ends to start in Week 1 of the fantasy football season.
Mark Andrews leads my rankings for this week’s tight end options. Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who suffered a knee injury in practice, will be a game-time decision for the NFL season opener on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.
If Kelce plays, he should be considered a top three option. Watch his status until kickoff.
The tight end position is difficult to predict, except for elite options who consistently perform. Most players hover around 50 yards, but they can become top 10 plays if they score a touchdown.
Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Kelce, Kyle Pitts, and Dallas Goedert are the top five options this week and should be in your lineup regardless of the matchup, unless they are inactive.
All of my must-start options are ranked within the top 14.
T.J. Hockenson
Justin Jefferson may be the top target for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, but Hockenson also proved last season that he can produce alongside the wide receiver.
Hockenson was the second-most targeted tight end in the NFL last season, behind only Kelce. He also had a career-high 86 catches, which was the 15th-most in the league.
The Vikings will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Minneapolis. The Buccaneers allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends last season. Hockenson had at least seven targets in 10 games last season. I expect him to see closer to 10 targets in this high-scoring game, including some in the red zone.
Tyler Higbee
Higbee is my sixth-ranked tight end for Week 1. The Los Angeles Rams will be without wide receiver Cooper Kupp in their season opener.
Higbee had a career-high 108 targets and 72 catches last season. He turned that volume into 620 yards and three touchdowns. I expect Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to target Higbee even more in this matchup due to Kupp’s absence. The Rams will face the Seattle Seahawks, who allowed the most points and second-most receiving yards to tight ends last season.
Higbee received 13 targets in two meetings against the Seahawks in 2022. He should see close to 10 looks in Week 1.
Tight end Gerald Everett of the Los Angeles Chargers can be plugged into your lineup if you are in a league that requires starting the position. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Gerald Everett
Everett and the Los Angeles Chargers will host the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. Look for the Chargers’ tight end, who had a career-high 555 receiving yards last season, to catch one of several touchdown passes thrown by quarterback Justin Herbert on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.
The Dolphins allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends last season. They also gave up the fourth-most touchdown catches (10) to the position. Everett had eight targets, one of his highest totals in 2022, the last time he faced the Dolphins. He should be the third or fourth option in Herbert’s passing attack.
Logan Thomas
Thomas is a bit of a risky play, but I believe he has a good chance to score for the Washington Commanders in Week 1. The Commanders will face the Arizona Cardinals, who allowed the most receptions (101) and touchdown catches (12), the second-most fantasy points, and the third-most receiving yards to tight ends in 2022.
Thomas, my 14th-ranked option, had a career-high 670 yards and six touchdowns in 2020, the last time he played more than 13 games in a season. He hasn’t reached that yardage or touchdown total in the last two seasons, with 519 yards and four touchdowns in 20 games.
The addition of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy should boost quarterback Sam Howell and improve the Commanders’ offense. Look for Thomas to receive a fair amount of targets from Howell in Week 1 as they establish their rhythm. He should gain over 50 yards and could be a top 10 play if he scores.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews leads my Week 1 tight end rankings. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI
Week 1 fantasy football tight end rankings
1. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. HOU
2. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. TB
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. DET
4. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons vs. CAR
5. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles at NE
6. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams at SEA
7. Darren Waller, New York Giants vs. DAL
8. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars at IND
9. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers at PIT
10. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs. CIN
11. Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers vs. MIA
12. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SF
13. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears vs. GB
14. Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders vs. ARI
15. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans at BAL
16. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs. TEN
17. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans at NO
18. Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos vs. LV
19. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions at KC
20. Irv Smith Jr., Cincinnati Bengals at CLE
