Week 9 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Candidates: Tight Ends
Wondering whom to start and sit at tight end this week? Below are three top-notch starts and one sit option at the tight end position for Week 9 of the 2022 NFL season.
Week 8 Review – half-PPR scoring
Starts
- TE Greg Dulcich (Denver Broncos) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 10.7 fantasy points (TE8)
- TE Harrison Bryant (Cleveland Browns) vs. Cincinnati Bengals – 0.0 fantasy points (TE N/A)
Sits
- TE Dawson Knox (Buffalo Bills) vs. Green Bay Packers – 8.0 fantasy points (TE13)
- TE Dalton Schultz (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Chicago Bears – 10.4 fantasy points (TE9)
Tight Ends – Starts
Evan Engram (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram has been a target hog over the last four weeks, tieing San Francisco’s George Kittle and Arizona’s Zach Ertz for the position lead with 30 targets during that span, per 4for4's NFL Player Stats Explorer. Both Engram’s 67.5 air yards per game and 1.0 end zone targets per game are tied for the second-best rates.
Jacksonville vs. Las Vegas looks to be a high-scoring game as their 48.0-point over/under is tied for fourth highest on the week.
Las Vegas is allowing 11.4 half-PPR points per game to opposing tight ends, 11th most in the NFL, per 4for4's Schedule-Adjust Fantasy Points Allowed tool.
Zach Ertz (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Seattle Seahawks
The return of Arizona Cardinals No. 1 wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (suspension) in Week 7 has put a damper on tight end Zach Ertz’ target-earning ability but Week 9 brings get-right potential.
The Seattle Seahawks are allowing 18.4 half-PPR points per game to opposing tight ends, which leads the league by a margin of 3.7. Ertz has trounced them each time he has faced them as an Arizona Cardinal.
| Zach Ertz vs. Seattle Seahawks | Rec./Tgt. - Rec. Yards - TD | Half-PPR Points - Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Week 11, 2021 | 8/9 - 88 - 2 | 24.8 - TE1 |
| Week 18, 2021 | 7/10 - 84 - 0 | 11.9 - TE8 |
| Week 6, 2021 | 7/10 - 70 - 0 | 10.5 - TE11 |
Gerald Everett (Las Vegas Chargers) @ Atlanta Falcons
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett entered his Week 8 bye averaging eight targets per game in Weeks 6 and 7. Post-bye life opens with a smash spot against an Atlanta Falcons defense allowing 12.5 half-PPR points per game to opposing tight ends, fifth most in the NFL.
Against No. 1 tight ends, Atlanta’s defense facilitated performances featuring at least six catches and 40 or more yards in three of the last four games, with the streak snapping in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers whose tight end room leaves almost everything to be desired.
Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert will be looking for a player to step up as the jump-ball specialist with X-wide receiver Mike Williams (high-ankle sprain) out for the foreseeable future. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Everett fits the bill.
*Check out the full TE rankings here.
Tight End – Sits
Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Los Angeles Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie tight end Cade Otton has flashed significant potential in limited action but fantasy managers need to keep him benched until Week 10, where Otton gets to face the league’s most tight end-friendly defense, the Seattle Seahawks. Week 9 brings far less opportunity versus the Los Angeles Rams who have somehow held a horde of dominant tight ends in check.
Los Angeles has faced Dawson Knox, Kyle Pitts, Zach Ertz, George Kittle, Dalton Schultz, and George Kittle this year. Ertz is the only tight end to record more than three receptions, Ross Dwelley is the only tight end to record more than 45 receiving yards, and Kittle is the only tight end to have scored a touchdown.
Los Angeles is allowing just 6.3 half-PPR tight end points per game, sixth-fewest in the NFL. Otton cannot be started this week.
