Fantasy Football Player Notes
Week 5 Rankings
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1.
Brock Bowers
LV (at NE)
Since returning, Bowers has come through on all of our promises this offseason. Across two games, he has 25 targets, 16 receptions, 202 yards, and two touchdowns. In his two games, he has yet to finish below the TE3 on the week. Pairing Bowers' elite talent with the TE-Friendly Kirk Cousins is perfect for fantasy. Even in a tough matchup against the Patriots this week, Bowers should continue to thrive. I could tell you that the Patriots are allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs, but we all know Bowers is a unicorn who can outplay any matchup.
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2.
Trey McBride
ARI (vs . DET)
Trey McBride has 11 more targets than the next best TE. His usage at the position is unmatched and has kept him afloat despite his relative inefficiency this year. Heading into Week 5, he is fourth in yards and tied for seventh in touchdowns. Either way, the Cardinals have a perfect matchup in Week 5. Facing the Lions, this is a true rendition of the Spider-Man meme. Both of these offenses want to air it out and can not rely on their defense. In a game that is tied for the highest projected total, McBride could be in line for a monster game this week.
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3.
Sam LaPorta
DET (at ARI)
LaPorta has been your classic mid-tier TE1. A well-rounded TE attached to a high-powered offense is all you can ask for in fantasy. This week, they get to look in the mirror and face another team that can air it out with zero defense. The Cardinals-Lions game should be a shootout, creating the perfect game script for a player like LaPorta. In addition, the Cardinals have been the worst at stopping the TE position, allowing the fourth most fantasy points per game to opposing TEs. Coming off 13 targets for 84 yards and a score, LaPorta should follow up his TE2 performance with another top-five outing.
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4.
George Kittle
SF (at SEA)
Believe it or not, the 33-year-old TE coming off a torn Achilles is currently the fantasy TE1. Even though he played less than 50% of snaps in the first two weeks, the superstar TE is back to his efficient ways. With Purdy playing at an MVP level, the 49ers are firing on all cylinders. This week, they face a tough Seattle defense on the road. With how this offense has looked, and Kittle scoring four touchdowns in his last three games, he remains a top-end TE1 even in a scary matchup. I have him as my TE4 behind only Bowers and McBride this week.
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5.
Tucker Kraft
GB (vs . CHI)
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6.
Dalton Kincaid
BUF (at LAR)
It's only been four weeks, yet it feels like a tale of two seasons for Dalton Kincaid managers. Opening the year, Kincaid had 14 targets, 12 receptions, 225 yards, and one score across two games. In his last two outings, he has totalled five targets, three receptions, and 45 yards. Even though he has been averaging more snaps than previous sessions, he is a very volatile TE1. Thankfully, the Bills-Rams game is projected to have the most points scored this week. We will likely see some Josh Allen heroics in what could become a cinematic duel between two elite QBs. That's a game script you want every piece of. It may be a tough pill to swallow, but I think you have to roll out Kincaid for at least one more week before giving up on him.
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7.
Isaiah Likely
NYG (at WAS)
Isaiah Likely has been crushing it as the TE6 in fantasy points per game. Likely has an 81.1% route share, a 30.4% target share, 1.84 YPRR, six red zone targets, two deep targets, and a 34.1% first-read share. He has been amazing. He should have another outstanding week against a defense that has allowed the third-most yards per target and the most fantasy points per opportunity to tight ends.
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8.
Tyler Warren
IND (at PIT)
The Colts' passing attack has been one of the weirdest in the league this season. With injuries and mediocre QB play, it's a miracle that Warren is the TE11 this season. Despite having the second most receptions at the position, Warren is 22nd in yards. Being saved by a few touchdowns and volume, it's hard to trust the second-year TE. This week, they face the Steelers, who are average at the TE position. Based solely on usage, I have him as my TE10 for this week.
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9.
Colston Loveland
CHI (at GB)
Well, this looked like what we thought we were getting in 2026 with Colston Loveland last week. While he didn't post a massive stat line, Loveland had a 66.7% route share and 91% snap share as he led the team with a 26.5% target share and 34.8% first-read share. Loveland had three red zone targets, 57 receiving yards, and 2.38 YPRR. This week, Loveland faces a Green Bay secondary that has the sixth-highest two-high rate in the NFL (62.1%). Over the last two weeks, against two high, Loveland has had an elite 35% target-per-route run rate and a strong 1.88 YPRR. Green Bay is 16th in fantasy points per opportunity allowed to tight ends. The last time Loveland faced the Packers, he secured eight of his 15 targets with 137 receiving yards. I'm not saying that he'll post that type of stat line, but he could easily lead the team in targets again this week with Bagent slinging it around the yard.
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10.
Harold Fannin Jr.
CLE (at NYJ)
Harold Fannin is the TE8 in fantasy points per game with at least 10.4 PPR points in each of his last three games. Fannin has a 78.4% route share with a 20% target share, 1.40 YPRR, three red zone targets, one deep target, and a 16.3% first-read share. Temper your expectations for Fannin this week. The Jets have limited tight ends to the 11th-fewest yards per target and the seventh-fewest fantasy points per opportunity.
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11.
Juwan Johnson
NO (vs . MIN)
Juwan Johnson has been a steady fantasy producer with at least 10.8 PPR points in each game as the TE4 in fantasy points per game. Johnson has a 14.4% target share with 1.69 YPRR, seven red zone targets (WOW!), one deep target, and an 18.7% first-read share. The Vikings have faced the eighth-fewest tight end targets this season, but they have surrendered the tenth-highest yards per target to the position. Johnson should flirt with strong TE1 production again this week.
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12.
Mike Gesicki
CIN (at MIA)
Mike Gesicki is the TE13 in fantasy points per game with at least 12.7 PPR points in three of four games. He could see an elevated role this week with the state of the Cincy depth chart and injuries. If we take out his dude in Week 2, Gesicki has scored a touchdown in every other game. Excluding the stinker in Week 2, Gesicki has had a 54.8% route share, an 11.9% target share, a 20% target-per-route run rate, 2.09 YPRR, and a 12.6% first-read share. He has three red zone targets and two deep targets. Gesicki should shred the Miami secondary this week. The Dolphins have allowed the most yards per target and the fifth-most fantasy points per opportunity to tight ends.
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13.
Mark Andrews
BAL (at ATL)
Mark Andrews is the TE18 in fantasy points per game, but he finally finished as a TE1 last week (TE8). His per-route data has been awesome, though. Yes, among 46 qualifying tight ends, he ranks 16th in route share (67.5%), but also in that same sample he is fourth in target share (22.9%), 12th in YPRR (1.80), and fifth in first-read share (26%). Andrews has three red zone targets and one deep target. Andrews could easily be a TE1 again this week. Atlanta is 14th in fantasy points per opportunity allowed to tight ends, while surrendering 15.6 PPR points to Pat Freiermuth, 18.3 PPR points to Darren Waller, and 11.9 PPR points to Juwan Johnson this season. Those three tight ends combined for three scores, and Johnson could have easily had a score at the end of the game last week, but the target went to Devaughn Vele.
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14.
T.J. Hockenson
MIN (at NO)
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Adidson are banged up. Neither player is a sure bet to play in Week 5. I'll update TJ Hockenson's outlook on Friday when we know more about Jefferson and Addison.
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15.
Hunter Henry
NE (vs . LV)
Hunter Henry is the TE29 in fantasy points per game. His best finish in weekly scoring was last week as the TE16 in fantasy. Since Week 2, Henry has had a 12.2% target share with 1.47 YPRR, one red zone target, one deep target, and a 17.3% first-read share. Henry is a viable streaming option this week. Vegas has been allowing a ton of production to tight ends, giving up the fifth-most receiving fantasy points per game and the second-most receiving touchdowns (tied) to the position.
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16.
Kenyon Sadiq
NYJ (vs . CLE)
Kenyon Sadiq's run as New York's clear starting tight end could be over this week. Mason Taylor returned to a full practice to open this week (thumb). I'll update Sadiq's outlook on Friday.
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17.
Tyler Higbee
LAR (vs . BUF)
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18.
Brenton Strange
JAC (vs . PHI)
Brenton Strange is the TE21 in fantasy points per game after finishing as the TE5 in weekly scoring last week. Strange has a 17.3% target share with 2.04 YPRR, two red zone targets, zero deep targets, and a 19% first-read share. I expect this to be a quieter week for Strange against a defense that has allowed the 12th-fewest yards per target and the sixth-fewest fantasy points per opportunity to tight ends.
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19.
Jake Ferguson
DAL (vs . TB)
Jake Ferguson is the TE22 in fantasy points per game with only one huge game this season. Ferguson has only one outing with more than ten PPR points this season. Ferguson has only a 10% target share with 0.76 YPRR, four red zone targets, zero deep targets, and a 9.6% first-read share. Outside of his touchdown equity in this Dallas passing attack, he has been a forgotten player. Maybe that changes this week, but I'm not holding my breath. The matchup is nice for Ferguson, so he's on the streaming radar. He's a touchdown-or-bust option, though. Tampa Bay has allowed the ninth-most yards per target and the tenth-most fantasy points per opportunity to tight ends.
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20.
Pat Freiermuth
PIT (vs . IND)
Pat Freiermuth is the TE18 in fantasy points per game with two outings this season with 10.7 PPR points or more. Freiermuth has a 63.2% route share, which has dipped below 60% in two of his four games. That's not great. Freiermuth has a 12.3% target share with 1.16 YPRR, three red zone targets, two deep targets, and a 12.2% first-read share. Freiermuth is only a low-end streaming option this week. Indy is 18th in fantasy points per opportunity allowed to tight ends. He's a touchdown-or-bust option.
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21.
Dalton Schultz
HOU (at TEN)
Dalton Schultz has seen his route share decline weekly. In Week 1, he was rocking a 73.8% route share, but last week he was down to 60%. Does it make any sense? Nope, but hey, it's the Texans, and none of their player usage makes any sense. Schultz has an 18.4% target share with 1.83 YPRR, two red zone targets, three deep targets, and a 19.4% first-read share. He has been the consistent WR2 for the offense despite his declining playing time. Schultz is a viable streaming tight end option. Tennessee's season-long stats are good against tight ends, but they haven't really been tested with injuries and bad quarterback play until last week. Mark Andrews and Matthew Hibner secured seven of their eight targets last week with 61 receiving yards and a score. Schultz could produce low-end TE1 numbers in Week 5.
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22.
Oronde Gadsden II
LAC (vs . DEN)
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23.
AJ Barner
SEA (vs . SF)
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24.
Kyle Pitts Sr.
ATL (vs . BAL)
Kyle Pitts is the TE51 in fantasy points per game, and that's after coming off his best game of the season, which isn't saying much. Pitts has seen below a 50% route share in two of four games this season (38.1% last week) while failing to eclipse a 15% target share or 17% first-read share in any game. With this type of minuscule usage, it's impossible to plug him into a fantasy lineup.
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25.
Cade Otton
TB (at DAL)
Last week, in Jalon Daniels first start, Cade Otton led the team with a 28.6% first-read share while also logging a 22.2% target share (second on the team). Otton was only the TE24 for the week despite the strong usage. He finished with 37 receiving yards, 1.42 YPRR, and zero red zone and deep targets. If Otton sees this type of market share in Week 5, he'll be a strong streaming option. Dallas has allowed the eighth-most yards per target and the third-most fantasy points per opportunity to tight ends. We have seen random big games from Otton in the past, and that could happen again this week.
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26.
Michael Mayer
LV (at NE)
With Brock Bowers back in the lineup over the last two games, Michael Mayer has been the TE13 and TE7 in weekly scoring. During that short span, Mayer has had a 14.1% target share, 1.70 YPRR, one red zone target, zero deep targets, and a 12.2% first-read share. Mayer isn't on my streaming radar this week against a defense that has held tight ends to the sixth-fewest yards per target and the second-fewest fantasy points per opportunity.
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27.
Greg Dulcich
MIA (vs . CIN)
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28.
Darnell Washington
PIT (vs . IND)
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29.
Chig Okonkwo
WAS (vs . NYG)
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30.
Evan Engram
DEN (at LAC)
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31.
Gunnar Helm
TEN (vs . HOU)
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32.
Noah Fant
NO (vs . MIN)
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33.
Zach Ertz
PHI (at JAC)
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34.
Theo Johnson
NYG (at WAS)
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35.
Dawson Knox
BUF (at LAR)
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36.
Matt Hibner
BAL (at ATL)
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37.
Eli Raridon
NE (vs . LV)
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38.
Foster Moreau
HOU (at TEN)
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39.
Cole Kmet
CHI (at GB)
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40.
Davis Allen
LAR (vs . BUF)
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41.
Jonnu Smith
GB (vs . CHI)
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42.
Austin Hooper
ATL (vs . BAL)
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43.
Tanner Hudson
CIN (at MIA)
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44.
Daniel Bellinger
TEN (vs . HOU)
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45.
Drew Sample
CIN (at MIA)
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46.
Johnny Mundt
PHI (at JAC)
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47.
Dallas Goedert
PHI (at JAC)
Dallas Goedert is back at practice. He opened this week (knee) with a limited practice. I'll update his outlook on Friday. It's possible that he could return this week.
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48.
Elijah Higgins
ARI (vs . DET)
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49.
Colby Parkinson
LAR (vs . BUF)
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50.
Elijah Arroyo
SEA (vs . SF)
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51.
Jeremy Ruckert
NYJ (vs . CLE)
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52.
Sam Roush
CHI (at GB)
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53.
Mason Taylor
NYJ (vs . CLE)
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54.
Brock Wright
DET (at ARI)
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55.
Blake Whiteheart
CLE (at NYJ)
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56.
Nate Boerkircher
JAC (vs . PHI)
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57.
Adam Trautman
DEN (at LAC)
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58.
Will Kacmarek
MIA (vs . CIN)
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59.
Brevyn Spann-Ford
DAL (vs . TB)
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60.
Nate Adkins
DEN (at LAC)
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61.
Erick All Jr.
CIN (at MIA)
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62.
John Bates
WAS (vs . NYG)
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63.
Luke Schoonmaker
DAL (vs . TB)
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64.
Ben Sinnott
WAS (vs . NYG)
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65.
Luke Farrell
SF (at SEA)
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66.
Colson Yankoff
WAS (vs . NYG)
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67.
Jackson Hawes
BUF (at LAR)
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68.
Gavin Bartholomew
MIN (at NO)
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69.
Cade Stover
HOU (at TEN)
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70.
Oscar Delp
NO (vs . MIN)
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71.
Ian Thomas
LV (at NE)
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72.
Jelani Woods
NYJ (vs . CLE)
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73.
Eric Saubert
SEA (vs . SF)
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74.
Mo Alie-Cox
IND (at PIT)
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75.
Mark Redman
GB (vs . CHI)
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76.
Max Klare
LAR (vs . BUF)
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77.
Charlie Kolar
LAC (vs . DEN)
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78.
Charlie Woerner
ATL (vs . BAL)
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79.
Drew Ogletree
IND (at PIT)
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80.
Josh Cuevas
BAL (at ATL)
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81.
E.J. Jenkins
PHI (at JAC)
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82.
Brevin Jordan
HOU (at TEN)
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83.
Robert Tonyan
PIT (vs . IND)
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84.
Josh Whyle
GB (vs . CHI)
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85.
Tanner Koziol
JAC (vs . PHI)
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86.
Quintin Morris
JAC (vs . PHI)
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87.
Hayden Rucci
LAC (vs . DEN)
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88.
Nick Muse
ATL (vs . BAL)
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89.
Cameron Latu
NE (vs . LV)
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90.
Patrick Herbert
LAC (vs . DEN)
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91.
Eli Stowers
PHI (at JAC)
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92.
Luke Musgrave
GB (vs . CHI)
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93.
Keleki Latu
BUF (at LAR)
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94.
Payne Durham
TB (at DAL)
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95.
Chris Manhertz
NYG (at WAS)
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96.
Marlin Klein
HOU (at TEN)
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97.
Tyler Conklin
DET (at ARI)
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98.
Seydou Traore
MIA (vs . CIN)
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99.
Treyton Welch
NO (vs . MIN)
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100.
Josiah Deguara
PHI (at JAC)
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101.
Carsen Ryan
CLE (at NYJ)
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102.
Ko Kieft
TB (at DAL)
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103.
Cam Grandy
MIN (at NO)
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104.
David Martin-Robinson
TEN (vs . HOU)
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105.
Teagan Quitoriano
ARI (vs . DET)
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106.
Jack Endries
CIN (at MIA)
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107.
Bauer Sharp
TB (at DAL)
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108.
Connor Heyward
LV (at NE)
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109.
Brayden Willis
SF (at SEA)
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110.
Nick Vannett
BAL (at ATL)
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111.
Tanner Arkin
NE (vs . LV)
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