MIAMI, Sept. 7 (UPI) — Logan Thomas of the Washington Commanders is among my four must-start tight ends for Week 1 of the fantasy football campaign.
Mark Andrews leads my Top 20 rankings, which are listed below. Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who sustained a knee injury this week at practice, is a game-time decision for the NFL season opener Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.
If he plays, he is a Top 3 option. His status should be monitored until kickoff.
The tight end position is very hard to predict, beyond production of elite options, who remain consistent. Most players hover around 50 yards, but can end up as Top 10 plays if they reach the end zone.
Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Kelce, Kyle Pitts and Dallas Goedert are my Top 5 options this week and should likely stay in your lineup regardless of matchup, unless they are inactive.
All of my must-start options sit inside the Top 14 of my rankings.
T.J. Hockenson
Justin Jefferson remains the top target for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, but Hockenson showed ability to produce alongside the wide receiver last season.
Hockenson was the second-most targeted (129) tight end in the NFL last season, trailing only Kelce. He also hauled in a career-high 86 catches, the 15th-most in the NFL.
The Vikings will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Minneapolis. The Buccaneers tied for allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends last season. Hockenson totaled at least seven targets in 10 games last season. Look for closer to 10 looks for the Vikings star in this game, which I expect to be high scoring. Some of those looks should come in the red zone.Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (C) is a Top 10 fantasy football option. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI
Tyler Higbee
Higbee is my No. 6 play for Week 1. The Los Angeles Rams will play without wide receiver Cooper Kupp in their season opener.
Higbee totaled a career-high 108 targets and 72 catches last season. He turned that usage into 620 yards and three scores. I expect Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to target Higbee a little more in this matchup because of Kupp’s absence. The Rams also will battle the Seattle Seahawks, who allowed the most points and second-most receiving yards to tight ends last season.
Higbee drew 13 targets in two meetings in 2022 against the Seahawks. He should see close to 10 looks in Week 1.Tight end Gerald Everett of the Los Angeles Chargers can be plugged into your lineup if you are in a league that requires starting the position. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Gerald Everett
Everett and the Los Angeles Chargers host the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. Look for the Chargers tight end, who logged a career-high 555 yards in 16 games last season, to catch one of several touchdown passes thrown by quarterback Justin Herbert on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.
The Dolphins allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends last season. They also surrendered the fourth-most touchdown catches (10) to the position. Everett drew eight targets, tied for his third-highest total of 2022, the last time he faced the Dolphins. He should be the third or fourth pass-catching option for Herbert.
Logan Thomas
Thomas is a bit of a dart-throw play, but I like his chances to score for the Washington Commanders in Week 1. The Commanders will battle the Arizona Cardinals, who allowed the most receptions (101) and touchdown catches (12), second-most fantasy points and third-most receiving yards to tight ends in 2022.
Thomas, my No. 14 option, totaled a career-high 670 yards and six scores in 2020, the last time he appeared in more than 13 games in a season. He failed to reach that yardage or touchdown total, with 519 yards and four touchdowns in 20 games over the last two seasons.
The addition of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy should boost quarterback Sam Howell and improve the Commanders’ efficiency. Look for Thomas to receive a fair amount of targets from Howell in Week 1 as the offense finds its rhythm. He should eclipse 50 yards. He’ll be a Top 10 play if he scores.Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews leads my Top 20 rankings. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI
Week 1 fantasy football tight end rankings
1. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. HOU
2. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. TB
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. DET
4. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons vs. CAR
5. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles at NE
6. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams at SEA
7. Darren Waller, New York Giants vs. DAL
8. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars at IND
9. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers at PIT
10. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs. CIN
11. Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers vs. MIA
12. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SF
13. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears vs. GB
14. Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders vs. ARI
15. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans at BAL
16. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs. TEN
17. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans at NO
18. Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos vs. LV
19. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions at KC
20. Irv Smith Jr., Cincinnati Bengals at CLE
