MIAMI, Oct. 26 (UPI) — Dallas Goedert and Cade Otton are among my four must-start tight ends for Week 8 of the fantasy football season.
If you need more options for your roster, check out my top add/drops article. My Week 8 rankings for running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks also are available and will be updated throughout the week.
T.J. Hockenson, Travis Kelce, Goedert, Mark Andrews and Darren Waller lead my Top 20 rankings, which are listed below. Evan Engram, Hunter Henry, Sam LaPorta, George Kittle and Logan Thomas round out my Top 10 plays.
No teams are on bye this week, but those with fantasy stock in David Njoku, Luke Musgrave, Kylen Granson and Gerald Everett should monitor their injury status this week before plugging them into their starting lineups.
Zach Ertz of the Arizona Cardinals and Pat Freiermuth of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were placed on injured reserve, can be dropped in redraft leagues. Buffalo Bills veteran Dawson Knox, who was ruled out for Week 8 and could soon land on injured reserve, also can be cut from your roster.Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) runs for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Photo by Laurence Kesterson/UPI
Dallas Goedert
Goedert scored his second touchdown in three weeks in the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in Philadelphia. The Eagles veteran also recorded at least five catches in five of his last six games.
This week, the Eagles will face the Washington Commanders. The Commanders tied for allowing the ninth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends through seven weeks. They also tied for allowing the second-most touchdowns to the position so far this season.
Each of the four touchdowns they’ve surrendered to the position came within their last three games. I expect Goedert to earn at least eight targets in this matchup. He also should get several chances to score against the Eagles’ inferior opponent.
He is my No. 3 play.
Hunter Henry
Henry is my No. 7 tight end. The New England Patriots veteran totaled just eight targets, three catches and 34 yards over his last three appearances, but deserves starting consideration in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends so far this season. They also surrendered at least five catches to a tight end four times so far this season.
Henry, who hauled in six catches for 52 yards and a score in Week 2 against the Dolphins, should accumulate similar statistics Sunday in Miami Gardens. He is a must-start in leagues that require starting tight ends.Tight end Taysom Hill (R) and the New Orleans Saints will face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Indianapolis. File Photo by AJ Sisco/UPI
Taysom Hill
Hill lands at No. 12 in my Week 8 rankings. The New Orleans Saints pass catcher totaled 68 yards from scrimmage and a score on nine touches in Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He also caught seven passes for 49 yards in Week 6. This week, the Saints will face the Indianapolis Colts, who surrendered the most targets (64), third-most catches (43) and sixth-most yards (417) to tight ends through seven weeks.
The Colts also allowed at least four catches to a tight end in each of their seven games this season. That stretch included five performances of at least five catches. Look for the Saints to continue increasing Hill’s usage as a runner and pass catcher. I expect at least eight touches for 80 yards from the Saints playmaker.Tight end Cade Otton (R) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Buffalo Bills on Thursday in Orchard Park, N.Y. File Photo by Steve Nesius/UPI
Cade Otton
Otton is a bit more of a risky play, but I like his matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end was targeted at least four times in three of his last five games. He caught five passes for 43 yards in Week 7.
This week, the Buccaneers will face a Bills defense that allowed at least 40 yards to tight ends in three of their last four games, including 51 yards Patriots tight end Pharaoh Brown in Week 7. The Bills also allowed a touchdown to Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki in that matchup.
Look for the Buccaneers and Bills to score with ease in this matchup, with quarterback Baker Mayfield targeting Otton often. I expect Otton to receive at least eight targets. He could finish the week as a Top 10 tight end if he reaches the end zone.Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (L) leads my Week 8 rankings. File Photo by Mark Black/UPI
Week 8 fantasy football tight end rankings
1. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings at GB
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs at DEN
3. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles at WAS
4. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens at ARI
5. Darren Waller, New York Giants vs. NYJ
6. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars at PIT
7. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots at MIA
8. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. LV
9. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. CIN
10. Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders vs. PHI
11. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans at CAR
12. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints at IND
13. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns at SEA
14. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at BUF
15. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons at TEN
16. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals vs. BAL
17. Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons at TEN
18. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears at LAC
19. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. LAR
20. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. TB
