Week 10 has already started. We need to begin game-planning for our lineups. I will be here weekly with my starts/sits of the week at tight end. Tight ends are tricky since you’ll likely want to start the best six to eight tight ends no matter what. I will give some players right after that elite tier that you can play and a few sleepers lower in the rankings. Tight end sits will be strictly based on matchups and may impact some elites.

Be sure to follow our other start/sit articles and authors; they contain great advice to help you each week.

Changing the Call (QB): Mike Hicks
The Cutback (RB): Jake Oliver
Slant Pattern (WR): Tristan Cook
12 Formation (TE): Steven Pintado
Flex on ‘Em (FLEX): Evan Brown
IDP Start/Sit (IDP): Jon Glosser

Recapping Last Week

Week eight was not kind to my tight end starts and sits. We went 1-6 last week. Dalton Schultz, David Njoku, and Cole Kmet all had stellar games in fantasy. The whole Chargers offense failed to do anything, including Everett. Mike Gesicki wasn’t used as I thought he would with the Patriots issues at receiver. Jonnu Smith exploded without Drake London on the field, a win in my books.

Start ‘Em

Daniel Bellinger, Giants – TE26

My first start of week nine is Bellinger. We know that trusting the Giants’ offense is a tricky thing to do. Tommy DeVito is the starting quarterback against the Cowboys, who destroyed the Giants in week one. Bellinger has an excellent opportunity to see targets in this game that will likely be behind from the start. When taking over for Daniel Jones, DeVito had thrown two of the three receptions that Bellinger caught.

The Cowboys, while great, have been a good matchup for tight ends this season. They have allowed five tight ends over 50 receiving yards. DeVito could be looking for a safety blanket in the middle of the field, where Bellinger will be. He has sleeper appeal for a young tight end who has flashed over his short career.

Jonnu Smith, Falcons – TE15

Smith was one of my Start’ Em last week. That panned with him having 100 yards and a touchdown. Drake London is returning, but Smith could still see a solid target share. He still plays over 50% of the offensive snaps and seems to be the inline tight end in the offense. Kyle Pitts is out wide more often, like a receiver.

In rankings, the Cardinals show an excellent tight-end defense, but they can be beaten. They have given up a touchdown in back-to-back games. Most every opposing tight end had decent games that could have gotten them to a borderline TE1 finish in any given week. Smith should see five-plus targets and be able to produce with a better quarterback situation.

Chig Okonkwo, Titans – TE21

We could see Okonkwo finally do something in week ten. It’s been tough since he has been under seven fantasy points in every game. I trust Will Levis is going to open up this passing game. Okonkwo is a difference-maker at tight end due to his speed and size.

The Bucs have allowed back-to-back tight ends over 60 yards and a touchdown. For the most part, this season, they have given at least 30 yards in every opposing tight end they have faced. Under Levis, the Titans pass offense has seen the fourth and most pass attempts in a game this season. Levis will continue to improve this passing game as the season goes on. Chig has 50 yards over the last two games, and this Titans vs. Bucs game could be a high-scoring game. Okonwko is a nice sleeper in week ten.

Sit ‘Em

Kyle Pitts, Falcons – TE12

I’m bringing Pitts back into the Sit’Em column in week ten. He failed to see double-digit fantasy points without Drake London on the field. Jonnu Smith outshined him in week nine. Pitts has been unable to get over ten fantasy points in the last three weeks. Tight ends can beat the Cardinals, as I mentioned. Pitts is not a full-time tight end. He is a hybrid player who has lineuped outside often as a receiver.

This matchup doesn’t call for high scoring since the Falcons’ backfield has an opportunity to dominate. Pitts is back to being a risky start since he is not producing to the expected talent level. We could see another six-point outing for Pitts in week ten.

Evan Engram, Jaguars – TE7

This one is more of a proceed with caution in week ten. It will be tough to sit Engram this week since he has been such an excellent tight end. The 49ers are an elite defense that has done well stopping opposing tight ends in fantasy. They have only been allowed two tight ends over 30 yards this year. They haven’t allowed a touchdown since week one, and that was a lucky three-yard touchdown to Pat Freiermuth.

Engram sees plus targets per game, so it is impossible to sit him. We’ve seen Engram have a down game with four receptions for 28 yards. In this game, the receivers can make a lot of noise on the offense. You may start Engram, but I expect a lower game from him.

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys – TE9

This one hurts since I love Ferguson, but we could see a down day from him. The Giants have sure up their defense against tight end late in the season. Over the last four weeks, the Giants have allowed one tight end over 20 yards. They have only given up two touchdowns to the position this year.

I’m concerned that Ferguson won’t be needed much in this game. The defense will do what they did last time and find ways to score. The Cowboys need to get their run game working, which could be a Tony Pollard day. The Cowboys passing game could be minimal, and Ferguson could be affected by that. Ferguson has been great since the bye, but the Cowboys shouldn’t have to keep their starters in for the whole game.

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