Welcome to Week 9 or as we like to call it around here, The Week Following Tight Ends Day! And what a glorious Tight Ends Day it was. In whole, tight ends scored 17 touchdowns. It took them four weeks from the start of the season to hit that number! Of course, back then there were healthy wide receivers quarterbacks could target. Those days are done unfortunately. If you are a wide receiver, may God have mercy on your soul.
Week 8 gave us Travis Kelce’s best game of the season, Kyle Pitts and Cade Otton both scoring two touchdowns a piece, George Kittle, the TE Day Czar, put up 128 yards and scored his sixth touchdown of the season, and Mark Andrews caught his fourth touchdown in three games after the slowest start known to man.
There is now a possibility that you could be correct in flexing out a tight end if you have two strong ones, especially with all the receiver injuries. Running backs remain the best flex plays in a vacuum at this point, but I think we can flex our tight end muscles when needed.
Week 9 tight end bye weeks
Pat Freiermuth, George Kittle
Week 9 tight end injuries
Dallas Goedert, Eagles
Goedert missed another game due to his hamstring injury last week. He didn’t practice, so he seems unlikely to be ready to go this week unless he hits the practice field hard. Grant Calcaterra will continue to replace him and has some 2TE league appeal as long as Goedert remains out.
Hayden Hurst, Chargers
Hurst appeared close to returning last week, so this might be the week for him. He’s not on fantasy radars, but his absence seems to have helped Will Dissly get a nice spike in production. Disney may just have taken a step up and will continue his good play, but Hurst’s return could hamper him somewhat in fantasy.
TJ Hockenson, Vikings
Hockenson is set to return this week from I.R. He’ll get a primetime matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Colts. If you’re hurting at the position, then I’d play him.
Week 9 tight end sleepers
Dalton Schultz, Texans vs. Jets
Both of these teams will be on short rest on Thursday night and the Texans will be without both Stefan Diggs, who is done for the season with an ACL injury and Nico Collins, who will return soon, but not this week. Schultz isn’t a high upside fantasy play, but we know he can corral PPR points when given a chance. This week should be his chance.
Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Eagles
The Eagles have been tough on tight ends, not allowing one touchdown to them this season. But, they are coming off a game where they allowed nine receptions for 105 yards to the Bengals tight ends. The Bengals went toward their tight ends in that game because they were without Tee Higgins. The Jaguars could be in a similar situation this week, as they will be without Christian Kirk and they have two receivers who are dealing with injuries in Brian Thomas and Gabe Davis. Engram could be in line for a huge workload if the Eagles put up the points they should, forcing Trevor Lawrence and company to air it ou.
