Week 13 Fantasy Football Tight End Start/Sit: Mark Andrews, Hunter Henry, Cade Otton and More
Three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 13 of the NFL season.
Thanksgiving is often referenced as the final turning point of the season. After this week, we are in the home stretch of the regular season, meaning the fantasy season is approaching its end. There is still much to be determined, though.
With all teams in action this week, fantasy owners have a chance to get their optimal lineup on the field and/or find the strongest streamers with the best matchups. That’s what we’re doing here, is identifying guys who have positive and negative outlooks.
Let’s look at three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 13. I used stats from NFL.com and our FantasySP defensive fantasy rankings to help determine the best and worst matchups, and I will reference those numbers often. Everything is true before Thursday’s games.
Start
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts
Henry leads the Patriots in targets (74), receptions (51), and receiving yards (535). The Pats don’t have much high-level talent among their pass catchers, so a steady hand like Henry is a welcome presence for rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Indianapolis has allowed the seventh-most yards per pass attempt and the sixth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. It’s simply a case of an OK player with good usage and a positive matchup.
Henry has a good outlook as a Week 13 streamer.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Bucs @ Carolina Panthers
It will be a similar story for all our “Start” tight ends, as they are guys who are good fantasy players the right weeks but not against tougher matchups. Carolina offers one of the friendliest TE environments, allowing the eighth-most yards per pass attempt and the most fantasy points per game to the position.
Otton operated as something of a WR1 when Mike Evans was out (he was hurt in the same game that Chris Godwin was lost for the season, leaving a major void). In the three weeks Evans missed, Otton averaged close to seven catches, 65 yards, and one touchdown per game.
He had just one catch for 30 yards last week, as the Bucs blew out the Giants, but Otton is set up to be part of the pass attack most games. The matchup makes him a top-10 player at the position this week.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Schultz is on pace for his lowest number of receptions, yards, and touchdowns since 2019; he was playing behind Jason Witten in Dallas that year. He has struggled along with his quarterback, putting up just modest production. These teams played in Week 4, and Schultz had just three catches for 34 yards.
The Jaguars are about as vulnerable as any team to the passing game. They have allowed the most yards per pass attempt and seventh-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Jacksonville is a hot bed for fantasy points from opponents.
Schultz isn’t a fantasy starter often, but Week 13 is in his favor. He could be a top-10 player at his position this week.
Sit
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles might be the worst tight end matchup in the league right now. They are allowing the fewest yards per pass attempt and third-fewest fantasy points per game to TEs. This is a team whose resurgence on defense has put them back into the Super Bowl picture.
Andrews is a top-10 fantasy tight end because he catches touchdowns: six, to be exact, tied for second among the position (George Kittle has eight). He has only averaged about three catches and 35 yards per game, far from the numbers expected based on his name value.
Andrews has been a good fantasy player, but his performance is carried by touchdowns. If those fall off, he will become middling. With a tough matchup, Andrews is a guy to seriously consider benching in Week 13.
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Engram’s quarterback might miss this game. Trevor Lawrence has been out the past two weeks and is questionable for this one, so Engram could be without his preferred passer. He has caught 11 passes in the last two games with Mac Jones at QB but gained just 68 yards.
Houston is a brutal matchup, as they have allowed the sixth-least yards per pass attempt and fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. This Texans defense has led the way while the offense has stumbled, and opposing tight ends have felt the effects.
Skip Engram this week, even if Lawrence is in the lineup.
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. San Francisco 49ers
Kincaid missed the game last week and is questionable for this one. There’s always risk with a guy coming off an injury, so Kincaid loses some fantasy value. His backup, Dawson Knox, is also a bad play if Kincaid is out because the matchup is a rough one.
The 49ers have allowed the fifth-least yards per pass attempt and sixth-least fantasy points per game to tight ends. San Francisco has been disappointing, partly due to injuries to the offense, but the D is holding up their end of things.
Kincaid is a poor play this week if he makes it onto the field. Stay away from him and Knox with the tough matchup.
