Week 5 fantasy football is here which means it’s time for tight end rankings!

Week 4 was a tough one for our top-flight fantasy football tight ends. Rob Gronkowski missed Tampa Bay’s trip to New England, fortunately we knew he’d be out well beforehand. Travis Kelce hit, perhaps, his low-water mark for the year catching 4-of-6 targets for only 23 yards. Darren Waller had a pedestrian-for-Darren-Waller day, 4 catches, 50 yards, and a TD. Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, and George Kittle also did little.

All of these down-days, outside the Gronkowski injury, are nothing to worry about. I don’t believe this is a new worrying trend for anyone outside of George Kittle who is trapped in the soap-opera of Kyle Shanahan’s making. And so going into Week 5, I’m still leaning on those known studs at the top of the ranks.

In a bit of a changeup, we’re highlighting a favorite streaming play and a favorite DFS play (price via DraftKings). Let me know what you think about the new format!

Stream of the Week: Anthony Firkser @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Anthony Firkser is rostered in about 9% of CBS fantasy leagues, and he hasn’t done much so far this year. But, with the Titans receiving room in shambles, and with the Jaguars next on the schedule, Firkser is a fine desperation TE play.

Firkser is just inside my top-20 tight ends (18th) mainly because of the disarray of the Jags defense. Jacksonville is giving up the 10th-most PPR points to opposing TEs, and they rank dead last in Paddi Cooper’s defensive NEFF rating.  The only TE of note they’ve faced is Noah Fant who had 4 catches, 33 yards, and a touchdown against them. Keep in mind this is a desperation streaming play, but Firkser is out there if you’re looking to replace Gronk for this week.

DFS Play of the Week: T.J. Hockenson ($5,500) @ Minnesota Vikings

Hockenson is expensive as far as tight ends go and for good reason. He is leading the Lions in targets (30), yards (215), and tied for most receiving TDs (2). The Lions are on the road at Minnesota in Week 5, and the Vikings have been generous to the opposing TE so far this year.

The Vikings are giving up the 8th-most TE PPR points, and 10th-worst in defensive efficiency per Paddi Cooper’s DNEFF rank. All this and they haven’t faced the likes of Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, or Mark Andres. Instead, when the Vikings faced the Cardinals, Maxx Williams had 7 catches for 94 yards. The Seahawks TEs posted 93 yards between Gerald Everett and Will Dissly. C.J. Uzomah (of the Bengals) and the Browns both had quiet days against Minnesota, but with a 50/50 split on ‘big TE days’ I’m betting on a big day for Hockenson and Lions as the Lions finally post one in the win column.

Week 5 Tight End Rankings