It’s time for my tight end rankings and top streamers for Week 8 fantasy football.
We’re in the thick of it now, with our drafts merely a fading memory and playoff pictures just beginning to take shape. Approaching the mid-way point in the fantasy season and mired in bye-week shenanigans, we’ve had more than a few things come up on the tight end market.
Kyle Pitts, once left for fantasy dead, has put together two excellent games, vindicating those who suffered through his first few games. Zach Ertz broke free from the ailing Eagles and got loose for a long touchdown against the Texans. Mike Gesicki is one of Tua Tagovailoa’s most trusted targets, and Hunter Henry is heating up with a four-game-TD streak for the Patriots.
Who will produce consistently and who will be yesterday’s tease is yet to be determined, but that’s why we’re here, yes?
I’ve highlighted my top two streaming tight ends for Week 8 for those who find themselves in need of a starting TE this week (% rostered via Sleeper leagues).
Robert Tonyan vs Arizona Cardinals (55% rostered)
Tonyan is the TE23 overall and TE33 in points per game in PPR scoring. After being a major piece in the Aaron Rodgers revenge tour in 2020, Tonyan has disappointed his fantasy managers in 2021. Heading in to a Thursday night matchup against the undefeated Cardinals, the same Cardinals who are giving up the fewest fantasy points to TEs, it is now or never for Tonyan’s fantasy hopes.
With Davante Adams and Allen Lazard are likely to miss Thursday’s game, an already thin Packers receiving corps is now firmly hopping up and down on its last leg. Tonyan, Aaron Jones, and yes A.J. Dillon are going to have to post huge numbers for the Pack to stay competitive in this one, and I think they all will.
Tonyan is my TE waiver target No. 1, and I’m calling my shot on the Tonyan breakout game on Thursday Night Football.
Evan Engram vs Kansas City Chiefs (41% rostered)
Speaking of now or never, Engram has had a season to forget so far for the G-Men. The Giants receivers are dropping like flies, though, and as of now it appears the Giants will feature Darius Slayton and Evan Engram as their marquee pass catchers on Monday Night Football.
This may be the ultimate get-right game for the Chiefs who’ve faced more adversity in the first half of this season than they have at any point with Patrick Mahomes under center. However, the Giants are not rolling over despite the racking up injuries to key contributors every week.
The hope for the Giants and for Evans is that the Chiefs secondary will continue to be vulnerable to the TE (they give up the fifth-most points to opposing TEs), and Patrick Mahomes will continue his struggles with turnovers. It is a long shot, but with Engram only rostered in about a third of CBS leagues, you can set your team up for a spicy Monday Night Football finish.
Week 8 Tight End Rankings
Rank | Name | Team | Opp |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Travis Kelce | KC | vs NYG |
2 | Mike Gesicki | MIA | @ BUF |
3 | Dalton Schultz | DAL | @ MIN |
4 | Noah Fant | DEN | vs WAS |
5 | Kyle Pitts | ATL | vs CAR |
6 | Hunter Henry | NE | @ LAC |
7 | T.J. Hockenson | DET | vs PHI |
8 | Robert Tonyan | GB | @ ARI |
9 | Tyler Higbee | LAR | @ HOU |
10 | Dallas Goedert | PHI | @ DET |
11 | Evan Engram | NYG | @ KC |
12 | Zach Ertz | ARI | vs GB |
13 | Ricky Seals-Jones | WAS | @ DEN |
14 | Rob Gronkowski | TB | @ NO |
15 | C.J. Uzomah | CIN | @ NYJ |
16 | Ross Dwelley | SF | @ CHI |
17 | Jared Cook | LAC | vs NE |
18 | Dan Arnold | JAC | @ SEA |
19 | Mo Alie-Cox | IND | vs TEN |
20 | Blake Jarwin | DAL | @ MIN |
21 | Cole Kmet | CHI | vs SF |
22 | Tyler Conklin | MIN | vs DAL |
23 | David Njoku | CLE | vs PIT |
24 | Jonnu Smith | NE | @ LAC |