TEs to start in Week 9
Broncos’ Noah Fant (vs. Falcons): The Falcons are a team that has been unable to opposing offenses through the air, with the exception of Week 8 versus the Panthers. Atlanta’s inability to slow down passing attacks should bode well for Noah Fant this week. At this current point in the season, the Falcons have given up the most receptions (50) and the most receiving touchdowns (eight) to TEs.
Buccaneers’ Rob Gronkowski (vs. Saints): Despite a leisurely start to the season, Rob Gronkowski appears to be a viable starter in fantasy football. He appears to be getting on the same page as Tom Brady again, accumulating 50.1 fantasy points on 20 targets in the past three games. While some believe he will see fewer targets this week with Antonio Brown making his debut, Gronkowski is facing a Saints defense that allows 16.9 fantasy points per game and six receiving touchdowns to TEs (both are third-most in the NFL).
Other TEs to consider in Week 9: Giants’ Evan Engram (vs. Washington), Steelers’ Eric Ebron (vs. Cowboys), Lions’ T.J. Hockenson (vs. Vikings)
TEs to sit in Week 9
Cowboys’ Dalton Schultz (vs. Steelers): Earlier in the season, Dalton Schultz looked poised to be a valuable commodity in fantasy football due to filling in as the starting TE of the Cowboys due to Blake Jarwin’s season-ending injury. However, with Dallas on their fourth different quarterback this season, it’s hard to trust him this week. Especially when you consider he faces a Pittsburgh defense that limits TEs to a success rate of 35 percent (best in the NFL) and only 4.9 yards per attempt (second-best in the NFL).
Vikings’ Irv Smith Jr. (vs. Lions): There’s no doubt that the Vikings are making more of a concerted effort to get Irv Smith Jr. more involved in the offense. With that being said, starting him in fantasy football is going to be a week-to-week decision due to Minnesota’s run-oriented offense. This week, Smith will square off with the Lions, who allow only 5.6 yards per attempt (fourth-best in the NFL) and 228 receiving yards (second-fewest in the NFL) to TEs.
