TEs to start in Week 13
Lions’ T.J. Hockenson (vs. Bears): With the Lions being without Kenny Golladay for the majority of the season, T.J. Hockenson has received an expanded workload in the offense. The second-year TE has seen 5+ targets in eight of Detroit’s 11 games, scoring 10+ fantasy points in eight games as well. Hockenson should continue his success in Week 13 against the Bears, who have given up 18.77 fantasy points per week to TEs in the past month, which is the fourth-most in the NFL in that span.
Colts’ Trey Burton (vs. Texans): It’s evident that Philip Rivers is taking a liking to his TEs with the Indianapolis Colts this season. Through the first 11 weeks of the season, eight of Rivers’ 16 passing touchdowns have gone to a TE. While Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox see the field too, Trey Burton is the Colts TE to start in fantasy football. Burton has seen 5+ targets in five of his eight starts and has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games. Not to mention, he plays a weak Texans defense that has conceded 646 receiving yards to TEs thus far (fourth-most in the league).
Other TEs to consider in Week 13: Vikings’ Kyle Rudolph (if Irv Smith Jr. is inactive vs. Jaguars), Dolphins’ Mike Gesicki (vs. Bengals), Packers’ Robert Tonyan (vs. Eagles)
TEs to sit in Week 13
Bears’ Jimmy Graham (vs. Lions): The offense of the Bears is in complete disarray, besides the likes of Allen Robinson and David Montgomery. Jimmy Graham started the season strong, but has begun to lose his starting spot to rookie Cole Kmet, seeing fewer snaps than the first-year TE in Week 12. Graham’s decreased playing time coupled with his matchup with the Lions, who have allowed a league-best 344 receiving yards to TEs, makes Graham worthy of sitting in fantasy football for the foreseeable future.
Rams’ Tyler Higbee (vs. Cardinals): One of the most talked-about TEs during the offseason was Tyler Higbee. Higbee exploded onto the scene in 2019 and compiled a 28.4-point performance in Week 2 of the 2020 season. Despite his strong outing in Week 2, Higbee has fallen off the face of the Earth, totaling a mere 44.8 fantasy points in his past eight games for an average of 5.6 fantasy points per game. Week 13 likely won’t be the week he gets back on track as he goes up against Budda Baker and the Cardinals, who have held opposing TEs to 9.45 fantasy points per week (seventh-fewest in the NFL) and two touchdowns (tied for fourth-fewest in the NFL).
