Fantasy Football Week 14 Tight End Start/Sit: Travis Kelce, Dalton Kincaid, and More

Tight end is often the toughest offensive position at which to find consistent fantasy value. If you spent a top pick on Trey McBride, then you have gotten top-tier production nearly every week. If you waited and have played matchups, though, things surely haven't gone as smoothly.

Streaming doesn't end until the season does; plenty of owners are getting ready to enter the playoffs without a solid tight end, counting on matchups and a little bit of luck to get them through. In the last regular season week for many fantasy leagues, we have a solid list of good streamers and guys to avoid.

Let's look at three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 14 of the NFL season. There won't be any obvious names below, like McBride. Instead, we have six guys who are good fantasy options some weeks but better left on the bench other times. Most stats are from NFL.com.

Use FantasySP's weekly projections to find the players expected to perform best each week and help make your toughest lineup decisions!

Start

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. Washington Commanders

Hockenson hasn't found any consistency while Minnesota has flailed offensively. He is averaging 3.7 receptions and 29.8 yards per game with just two touchdowns, a low level of performance from a guy who topped 900 yards in both 2022 and 2023.

He tied his season high with six catches and set a new season high with 59 yards last week. That was in a great matchup against the Seahawks, and Hockenson has another positive outlook here against the Commanders.

Washington has allowed the most yards per pass attempt and the seventh-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. TE groups have averaged 5.2 receptions and 62.8 yards with seven total touchdowns against the Commanders, finding regular success.

J.J. McCarthy's struggles leave Hockenson with a low floor, but Washington's defensive struggles give everyone a nice outlook in Minnesota this week (if you have the stomach to trust them).

Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Kincaid has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury, but he could return for this one. Knox has been playing the most snaps at the position all season, so both players could be feasible streamers here.

Cincinnati offers a better matchup to tight ends than any other team does to any other position. The Bengals have given up by far the most fantasy points to the position and the second-most yards per pass attempt.

The opposing team's tight ends reached 100 receiving yards in six of 12 games against Cincinnati, and they have given up 13 touchdowns. The TEs for the Patriots and the Ravens both topped 150 yards in the past two weeks.

It's important to check Kincaid's status for this one. If he is out, Knox is a great fantasy option, and even Spencer Hawes could have some low-level value. If Kincaid is in the lineup, he would be the top option, though there is some risk.

Mason Taylor, New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins

New York's passing game has a higher floor now that Tyrod Taylor is under center. He has started three games (the past two weeks and in Week 3), and in those games, Mason Taylor had four catches for 18 yards, three catches for 21 yards, and two catches for 21 yards. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him put up another similar stat line.

There is upside here against Miami, though, as the Dolphins have given up the seventh-most yards per pass attempt and the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. TEs are averaging 6.3 catches and 67.8 yards per game with seven touchdowns in 12 games.

Taylor is another low-floor fantasy player, but the matchup here is right to have a decent day. This is a guy to look at in a deep league or if you find yourself without an option late in the week.

Sit

Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals @ Buffalo Bills

Neither of this duo is much of a fantasy player, generally looking like nothing more than low-level streamers in the right matchups. Fant is averaging about three receptions and 25 yards per game with three touchdowns, and Gesicki is under two catches and 15 yards with no scores.

I would recommend Fant as a low-level guy in the best matchups (like if he could face his own team), but it's a rare occurrence that Cincinnati's tight ends are on the fantasy radar. Joe Burrow returned last week against Baltimore, and these two tight ends combined for just three receptions and 22 yards.

The matchup here is also really tough, as the Bills have allowed the eighth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Buffalo's pass defense has been very good while the run defense falters, and tight ends have found the toughest time producing fantasy points.

We have two low-level players here with a very tough matchup; there's not much of a question. Bench the Cincinnati TEs.

Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

A fifth-round rookie, Gadsden has been something of a revelation at tight end, LA's weakest position on offense (until injuries ran through the offensive line). He is fourth on the team in targets, receptions, and touchdowns behind the team's top three receivers: Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston.

Gadsden actually has nine more yards than Johnston to rank third, putting up a few big games and showing consistent production since the middle of October. Gadsden is just inside the top 20 fantasy TEs, but he didn't play the first two weeks and took a few more to really ramp up his usage. He will be drafted in every fantasy league next year.

The matchup is a tough one here again, though, as the Eagles have given up the ninth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the third-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. The position has averaged about four catches and 35 yards per game with just three touchdowns against Philadelphia.

Justin Herbert is questionable for this one after having surgery on his left hand, and while he is expected to play, he could be limited a bit. Throw in the tough matchup, and it's probably better to leave Gadsden on the bench this week.

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans

Let's finish with a big name who has a brutal matchup. The Texans have allowed the fourth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. Only two teams have had their tight ends reach 50 yards combined against Houston, and they've given up just four touchdowns to the position.

Many owners aren't going to bench Kelce. His name recognition combined with good production makes him pretty much a weekly starter, and even in a tough matchup, most won't have a better option than Kelce. And that's fine.

Kelce is on pace for 84 receptions, 1,019 yards, and seven touchdowns and ranks as fantasy TE2 in both standard and PPR heading into Week 14 (no one is close to McBride at the top). He is back to looking something like a top-line player statistically, though he will never be what he was in his prime.

I understand anyone who chooses to start Kelce; there's nothing worse than benching one of your weekly starters only to watch him excel. It's sometimes better to ride or die with your top men unless you have another fantastic option. Beware of the low floor here, though, and don't be surprised if Kelce has a quiet week.