Fantasy Football Week 5 Tight End Start/Sit: Darren Waller, Zach Ertz, and More

Fantasy football revolves around opportunities, and at no offensive position are opportunities harder to come by than tight end. The top guys stand out as true stars, but it quickly falls off to players who have inconsistent performances or are just streamers at best.

That's why tight end start/sit might be the most important each week: you can find a running back or receiver who will get chances to touch the ball, but tight ends are different, sometimes coming down to a guy just getting lucky enough to fall into the end zone.

Let's look at three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 5 of the NFL season. There won't be any obvious names, like Brock Bowers. Instead, we have six guys below who are worthy of fantasy consideration some weeks but are better left on the bench other weeks.

Use FantasySP's start/sit tool to compare players and help make your toughest lineup decisions each week.

Start

Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Washington Commanders

This is a bit of a leap of faith, as the rookie Gadsden didn't play the first two weeks but has since played the most snaps among the team's tight ends the past two games. He also has been most productive, catching seven passes for 62 yards.

In a low-ceiling tight end group, Gadsden could continue getting chances in LA. The one monkey wrench might be Will Dissly, who has missed the past two games with injury. If he were to return, that might spread the snaps too thin. Gadsden played by far the most tight end snaps last week for the Chargers, so if Dissly is out again, there's intrigue for the rookie.

The Commanders have allowed the third-most yards per pass attempt and fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Tucker Kraft had a huge Week 2 against Washington, catching six passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, and Kyle Pitts Sr. got the best of the Commanders last week, turning five receptions into 70 yards and another score.

The good matchup is what makes Godsden a low-level streamer. He also has a low floor, and the possible presence of Dissly could make playing time a little uncertain. Godsden is a name to keep in mind if you're without an option or in a deep league.

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots

Kincaid had just one catch last week, but it was a big one: a 28-yard touchdown. He has been involved in the offense, averaging 3.5 receptions and 44.8 yards per game. That's modest production, but his fantasy value has benefitted from three touchdowns, making him TE2 in standard and TE6 in PPR.

He's still not a weekly starter despite the high rankings, but Kincaid might be showing more consistency than he did last year. He is also in an offense that is going to score a lot of points, so there are more chances for touchdowns. Kincaid has the upside to become a weekly fantasy starter.

The Patriots have allowed the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends. New England is vulnerable to all pass catchers, and TEs have been able to find regular success. Even while the Pats dominated the Panthers 42-13 last week, Carolina's backup duo of Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans combined for eight receptions, 65 yards, and two touchdowns.

Kincaid is involved in the offense, ranking third in targets and only four behind the top guy in Buffalo (Keon Coleman). With a good matchup here, look for Kincaid to have another strong outing.

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins @ Carolina Panthers

Waller made his season debut on Monday night after missing the first three games with a hip injury. It was a strong welcome back, as Waller caught three passes for 27 yards and two touchdowns.

That's not great volume, but he might get more looks as he gets more integrated into the lineup. Tyreek Hill was also lost for the season, so Waller might have an expedited introduction, seeing more work quickly.

Carolina offers the right matchup. Though they are in the middle in yards per pass attempt allowed, the Panthers have been most susceptible to tight ends, giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to the position. I also think that they will look worse against the pass over a longer timeframe, so I see this is a strong matchup for Waller.

With a good matchup and a path toward more work, Waller looks like a good fantasy streamer this week. He could become more of a weekly player if you're without a regular option.

Sit

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans

Andrews started the season with just two catches for seven yards in the first two weeks combined. Week 3 was strong (six receptions, 91 yards, and two touchdowns), but Week 4 was a bit of a mixed bag, as Andrews showed volume but inefficiency with seven catches for just 30 yards.

Isaiah Likely missed the first three games but is back and played 25 snaps versus 30 for Andrews last week. That's the fewest Andrews has played all season, though the Ravens were also losing by multiple scores most of the second half. Likely will probably cut into Andrews snaps and production at least a little bit.

Houston is one of the best defensive teams from the past few seasons. They are allowing the sixth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the seventh-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. I'm treating the Texans as a team to avoid with most players, only putting the very best in my lineup against Houston.

With Andrews struggling at times, now splitting time with Likely again, and with a tough matchup in this one, there's a negative fantasy outlook. Owners don't like the idea of benching Andrews, but it's probably for the best.

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders @ Los Angeles Chargers

Another defenses that I'm avoiding, the Chargers lost a surprising game to the Giants last week because they threw two interceptions that handed New York 10 points; they otherwise made everything tough in their 21-18 loss. Los Angeles has given up the third-fewest yards per pass attempt and 11th-fewest fantasy points to tight ends.

Ertz has had a decent start, averaging 3.5 receptions and 37.3 yards per game while scoring two touchdowns. His best games were with Jayden Daniels in the lineup, but the starter has missed the past two contests; he is returning for Week 5.

Ertz still has a negative outlook this week. He has a bit of a lower floor and not much of a ceiling. Daniels is dynamic, but he will throw to his receivers and run the ball more than rely on his tight end. Ertz is a fine player in the offense.

With a tough matchup, I'm not looking for Ertz to have a good game. He could get a little volume, but he's not likely to have a lot of room to operate against the Chargers.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills

Henry has often been on the “Start” side of things this season, with previous good matchups against the Raiders, Dolphins, Steelers, and Panthers. This is his first negative matchup of the season, as the Bills have allowed the fewest yards per pass attempt and third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Buffalo is about as tough a matchup as there is for TEs.

Henry has mostly been good, averaging around four catches and 50 yards per game while scoring three touchdowns. That's a nice floor for a lower-level fantasy tight end; Henry is a good streaming player.

This is all about the matchup, though. New England's passing game will probably struggle in this one against the Bills, and that will extend to the tight end. Henry is likely to have a slow game in Week 5.