Fantasy Football Week 7 Tight End Start/Sit: George Kittle, Harold Fannin, and More

We are entering the time when bye weeks affect the season the most. Week 8, in particular, has six teams on bye, and the tight end position might be hit the hardest. Among the teams on bye are the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Las Vegas Raiders, meaning Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, and Brock Bowers will all be sitting out.

You have a week to plan ahead if you have one of those guys, knowing that more owners will be looking to pick up a streamer. If you have a fungible roster spot at the bottom of the bench, think of picking up your streaming tight end early, even if it's on Sunday morning after you make your decisions but before games start.

Guys who fit the bill as good streamers in Week 8 include Harold Fannin of the Browns, Mason Taylor of the Jets, Kyle Pitts Sr. of the Falcons, and Cade Otton of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who all have positive matchups. It's a good week for streamers, a lucky break with so many guys out for the week.

Let's look at three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 7 of the NFL season. There won't be any obvious names, like McBride; instead, we have six guys below who are good fantasy starters some weeks but are better left on the bench other weeks. Most stats are from NFL.com.

Use FantasySP's defensive rankings to identify the teams with the best and worst matchups each week.

Start

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have allowed more yards per pass attempt than any other team. They have been better against tight ends, ranking right in the middle in fantasy points allowed to the position, but passing games have been throwing all over Dallas.

Tight ends have been held to a very modest 6.3 receptions and 56.2 yards per game with just one touchdown. The Cowboys haven't faced many tough players at the position; Tucker Kraft and Dallas Goedert are the top of the group. They might be more vulnerable to tight ends than it seems given their issues against the pass.

Ertz has been inconsistent, twice catching six passes but in the other four games never topping three receptions. He has only reached 50 receiving yards once, though three touchdowns are a nice fantasy boost. Ertz has also done his best work with Jayden Daniels in the lineup, as the starting QB missed two of Ertz's worst weeks.

Ertz is more of a lower-mid-level streamer, but he has a positive outlook here. The Cowboys have allowed the second-most points per game, and a good offense in Washington should be able to get in position to score, setting Ertz up to maybe get back into the end zone.

Harold Fannin, Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins

Fannin starred in Week 6, catching seven passes for 81 yards. Both numbers led the team, and Fannin had 10 targets to David Njoku's six (Jerry Jeudy led the team with 13). While the two tight ends have been close statistically, Fannin stood out among the rest of the Browns last week. Njoku had just three receptions and 28 yards, and he is out this week injured, so Fannin gets the top spot to himself.

The matchup this week is about as good as it gets: Miami has allowed the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and sixth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. TEs have averaged close to 70 yards per game while scoring three touchdowns against Miami.

The Browns have also thrown more passes than any other team; there is a lot of volume here. Getting extra chances against a poor defense is a great way to build fantasy points and makes Fannin a worthy fantasy option.

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots

Okonkwo has been building through volume with rookie quarterback Cameron Ward. There hasn't been much explosion, as Okonkwo is averaging around four catches and 36 yards per game, but he is on pace for career highs in receptions and yards; that's something.

The matchup is what makes him a possible fantasy option this week, as the Patriots have allowed the second-most yards per pass attempt and the ninth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Teams are regularly throwing all over the Patriots, something that sets up nicely even for a low-level attack.

This is a case of a low-ceiling tight end with a positive matchup. Okonkwo is nothing more than a low-level streamer, but he can fill in if you are in a deep league or find yourself without an option late in the week. He is a better option in PPR leagues.

Sit

AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Texans

Barner has been a sneaky fantasy play, ranking in the top 11 tight ends in both standard and PPR scoring through six weeks. Barner had one reception for zero yards in Week 1 against the 49ers, but in the five games since then, he has averaged 3.2 receptions and 41 yards while scoring four touchdowns.

That last piece is his best fantasy asset, and if he stops getting into the end zone, then Barner's fantasy value will drop. He has been good enough so far to consider each week, though.

The Texans present a very tough matchup. They have allowed the fifth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends, regularly shutting down both passing games as a whole and tight ends individually. TEs are averaging 35 receiving yards per game against Houston with just one touchdown.

This is a player who has done well but is probably due some regression. He has a very tough matchup this week, so the fantasy outlook isn't very good. Leave Barner on your bench.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Hockenson is now far enough removed from a major knee injury suffered at the end of 2023 that we can expect him at his full form, whatever that is. He has been middling at best, averaging 3.8 receptions and 30.6 yards per game with just one touchdown.

Things have been better in the past three games with Carson Wentz under center, as during that time Hockenson has averaged five catches and 42 yards, but that's still far from an exciting fantasy player. J.J. McCarthy is eligible to return any time now, but Wentz is likely to be the man in Week 7.

The Eagles present a tough matchup even though they've been trending the wrong way in certain areas. They have given up the eighth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the third-fewest fantasy points per week to tight ends. The position is averaging just 28 yards per game against Philadelphia with one touchdown.

Hockenson hasn't gotten up to a must-start level in fantasy, so we have to go based off matchups. The matchup is against him in this one; Hockenson is best left on the bench in Week 7.

Jake Tonges and George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. Atlanta Falcons

Kittle's return is uncertain in this game, though reports say he wants to be in the lineup. If he does play, it will be his first game since Week 1 due to a hamstring injury. There's always a chance of reinjury with a returning player, or he might have to ease back into the lineup, bringing fantasy risk.

Tonges loses all fantasy value once Kittle hits the field. It has been a nice stretch for the career backup, who has averaged over four catches and 37 yards per game with three touchdowns, but the star tight end will always be the top man, leaving Tonges looking for scraps and off the fantasy radar.

This is also a tough matchup no matter who is on the field. Atlanta has allowed the second-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. This has been one of the most surprisingly dominant pass defenses early in the season, and it leaves opposing fantasy players on the wrong side of things.

Owners probably aren't benching Kittle if he is active, but it's worth at least considering if you have another good option. It's his first game back, and the matchup couldn't be much tougher.

Tonges should stay on the bench even if Kittle is out because his ceiling is much lower than Kittle's, so a stout opponent keeps him below the level of a fantasy player.