Eric Ebron

Week 2 at Tennessee Titans

Eric Ebron missed Andrew Luck considerably. Luck was always effective using the tight end position. With Jacoby Brissett behind center in Week 1, Ebron caught only one of the three balls thrown his way for eight yards. Fellow tight end Jack Doyle didn’t fare much better with only one catch and 20 yards and the offense looked significantly different without Luck. Ebron could potentially get back to his red zone prowess, particularly with Devin Funchess injured, but it’s hard to trust it until we see it. Ebron is a hold in deep leagues and a potential future streaming option in most formats.

Fantasy Upside

Eric Ebron had a fantastic season last year after coming over from the Lions. He was second on the team with 66 receptions on 110 targets, 750 yards and a staggering 13 touchdowns. Ebron was productive when he was the primary tight end, and was also productive when Jack Doyle was in the lineup, catching seven touchdowns in the five games where both he and Doyle were active. Quarterback Andrew Luck has always been good at using his tight ends and Ebron should continue to be productive in the Colts’ offense. Ebron is only 26 years old and has always flashed elite receiving ability.

Fantasy Downside

While Ebron was productive with Doyle in the lineup, if Doyle is healthy for 16 games, that multiple-tight end production may not be fully sustainable. Also, 13 touchdowns could be hard to repeat. Even Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham and Antonio Gates only reached or eclipsed that many touchdowns in a season once in their respective careers, and Ebron never scored more than five before last year. Some regression seems likely. The additions of Devin Funchess in free agency and Parris Campbell in the draft could also eat into his targets.

2019 Bottom Line

Ebron has some regression risk and some potential for lost targets, but he’s still likely to be a productive fantasy tight end. That being said, his sixth-round price tag is too rich, and fantasy owners should only add him if he slides more towards the eighth or ninth round territory in 12-team leagues. Guys like Trey Burton and Delanie Walker are available three-to-four rounds later and have just as much upside.

Week 17 at Tennessee Titans

The Colts offensive starters, if healthy, will play a full 60 minutes in Week 17 in what has turned into a play-in game against the Titans. Indianapolis is a 3-point road favorite with an implied team total of 23.25 points. Tennessee is third in aFPA to TEs, and Eric Ebron is in the concussion protocol. If he cannot play, Mo Alie-Cox would become a streaming option. Otherwise, Ebron remains a high-end TE1 for Week 17.