Fantasy Football Week 8 Tight End Start/Sit: George Kittle, Kyle Pitts, and More

Bye weeks are not all created equally. While just two teams were on bye each of the past two weeks, we have six teams out in Week 8, making things tougher in fantasy land. Tight end might be hit harder than any other position, as Trey McBride, Sam LaPorta, and Brock Bowers are among the players sitting out.

Bowers has already missed time with injury, but the point remains that fantasy owners will be looking for lower-level tight ends this week, and that's where the start/sit functions well, as we're looking for guys who aren't in lineups every week.

Let's look at three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 8 of the NFL season. There won't be any obvious names below, like Trey McBride (who is on bye this week). Instead, there are six players listed below who are good fantasy starters some weeks but better left on the bench other times. Most stats are from NFL.com.

Use FantasySP's weekly projections to identify the players expected to have the best games and help make all your toughest lineup decisions!

Start

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Kraft's numbers have fluctuated a bit, as he has three games with at least five catches and 50 yards and two games in which he topped out at three receptions and 30 yards. He has scored four touchdowns, something that helps him sit among the top 10 in both standard and PPR scoring.

Despite that lofty ranking, he isn't a weekly starter, as the slower games will always pop up; it was the same trend last season. There's nothing wrong with that, as Kraft is still a productive tight end, but the matchup needs to be considered each week.

This is a great matchup: the Steelers have allowed the 11th-most yards per pass attempt and the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. The position is averaging six receptions and 67.2 yards per game against Pittsburgh while scoring four touchdowns in six games.

Though it's surprising to attack Pittsburgh's defense, the numbers have pointed toward them being vulnerable against the pass all season. A player who has found success of the span of a few seasons now is set up well for a big week.

Kyle Pitts Sr., Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins

Pitts is outside the top 10 tight ends in both standard and PPR, though the bye week might be the only thing keeping him out of the group in the latter. He has been more of a volume player this season, grading out much better in PPR leagues.

Pitts is averaging five catches per game but just 9.5 yards per reception. In his career, he has averaged 13.0 yards per catch, and he has never been below 12.6. There's nothing inherently wrong with shorter receptions, but Pitts has scored just one touchdown, limiting his fantasy impact.

This is a game that could bring both volume and efficiency and maybe even allow Pitts to find the end zone again. The Dolphins have given up the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and the 10th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

TEs are averaging nearly six catches and 65 yards per game against Miami, but they have scored just three TDs in seven games, the reason the Dolphins rank a little better in fantasy. I want to go after Miami with players at every position in fantasy; they're among the worst in the league.

Pitts is probably in line for the same type of game, building volume but hinging on getting into the end zone to have a big day. He should have a high floor if nothing else.

Mason Taylor, New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

There is quarterback consternation in New York. While head coach Aaron Glenn said he won't announce his starter for Week 8, it seems like Tyrod Taylor is going to take over for Justin Fields, who has struggled mightily the past few weeks.

Most pass catchers losing their starting QB would take a hit in fantasy, but Mason Taylor might actually get more opportunities with Tyrod Taylor under center. When Tyrod started in Week 3, Mason had a modest four catches for 18 yards against Tampa Bay, who is middling against tight ends.

This is a better matchup, as the Bengals have given up the fifth-most yards per pass attempt and the most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Cincinnati might be the best opponent a tight end can face right now.

Taylor has been a low-level player, but he had a few good games in Weeks 4 and 5, combining for 14 catches on 19 targets for 132 yards. He's still a low-level streamer here, but with the matchup heavily in his favor and an expected QB switch, he is set up with a good outlook for Week 8.

Sit

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders @ Kansas City Chiefs

Ertz found the end zone for the fourth time in Week 7. He hasn't found consistent volume, averaging around three catches and 30 yards per game, but his touchdown total helps his fantasy stock, putting Ertz in the top 10 in both standard and PPR.

There are multiple factors working against him this week, one of which is the status of Washington's quarterback. Jayden Daniels suffered an injury in Week 7 and left the game without returning, and his status is very questionable for Week 8. In Weeks 3 and 4 when Marcus Mariota started for Daniels, Ertz combined for just five receptions and 59 yards.

The Commanders also have a tougher matchup this week, as the Chiefs have allowed the ninth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the third-fewest fantasy points per week to tight ends. While Kansas City doesn't look like the dominant unit they've shown the past few years, they are improving and still harbor and above-average defensive group.

With Ertz probably missing his quarterback and facing a tough defense, he's better left on the bench this week. He's only a streamer at his best, and the circumstances here are far from the best.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles

I gave up on doubting Jaxson Dart, but we can still throw shade toward his pass catchers. Johnson has had several good fantasy weeks since Dart took over, scoring two touchdowns in Week 5 and racking up 66 yards and another score last week.

There's a low floor here; Johnson is averaging fewer than three catches and 28 yards per game. His four TDs help the fantasy standing, but he relies on that for good fantasy scores, and those trips to the end zone won't always come so often.

The matchup this week is also a tough one, as the Eagles have given up the 10th-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. These teams faced off in Week 6, and Johnson had just two catches for 27 yards.

It's always risky to use a player who depends on touchdowns, but Johnson will have fantasy value in the right matchups. This isn't one of those games, though, and while Dart might still have a decent statistical game, the odds are against his tight end finding the same heights.

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers @ Houston Texans

I mentioned Kittle several times last week as a player who might be worth sitting. He's a superstar at his position, but Kittle was just returning from a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1, and he was facing the Atlanta Falcons, maybe the toughest matchup in the league for tight ends.

Kittle was shut out. He had no catches on two targets despite playing over 80% of the snaps. Kittle had never previously been held without a catch in any game in his career, spanning eight seasons and 114 contests.

He will have much better games of course, but it shows that maybe he's hampered still by the injury, and Kittle has another tough matchup this week. The Texans have allowed the fourth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends.

While I don't think he will be shut out again, this could be another quiet game as he continues working his way back. He could also have a big game, as stars do, but owners with another option would do well to consider leaving Kittle out one more week.