Fantasy Football Week 18 Tight End Start/Sit: Mark Andrews, Oronde Gadsden II, and More
Three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 18 of the NFL season.
The last week of the NFL season brings uncertainty. Players sit out due to injury and team standing, and guys we haven't seen on the field all season are going to be in line to make major impacts.
If your fantasy league is still going, you are scrambling to put together the best lineup. You might be without some of your top performers from the season, so streamers and start/sit decisions become even more important.
Let's look at three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 18 of the NFL season. There won't be any obvious names below, like Trey McBride. Instead, we have six players who are good fantasy starters some weeks but better left on the bench other times. Most stats are from NFL.com.
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Start
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Zay Flowers clearly leads Baltimore's pass-catching group, followed by Andrews a distant second, then everyone else. It has been an inconsistent year for the Baltimore tight end, as he is averaging just 2.9 receptions and 25.5 yards per game but does lead the team with five receiving touchdowns.
Andrews is outside the top 15 tight ends in both standard and PPR scoring. He is a tough player to trust right now, limiting his fantasy value to that of a low-to-mid-level streamer.
The matchup is what puts him in this spot, as Steelers have given up the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Pittsburgh is in the middle in yards per pass attempt allowed, but TEs are averaging 6.4 catches and 67.2 yards per game with 11 touchdowns.
There is a low floor here; when these teams played four weeks ago, Andrews had just one reception for nine yards. The matchup is intriguing, but Andrews is just a lower-level streamer.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
New England has a chance to move into the top spot in the AFC if they win and Denver loses, but even if the Broncos win, the Patriots can lock in the No. 2 spot, guaranteeing themselves two home playoff games.
They face a Miami team that has shown a little fight but is undermanned and starting seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers at quarterback. The defense is also a liability, allowing the seventh-most yards per pass attempt and the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
These teams played way back in Week 2. Despite Drake Maye throwing for 230 yards, Henry had just one catch for nine yards. That was a long time ago; these are completely different teams.
Henry is averaging 3.4 receptions and 44.5 yards per game, modest numbers. He is leading the team with seven receiving touchdowns, which helps him to a top-10 TE fantasy standing in both standard and PPR.
Henry is questionable for this game, and if he doesn't play, then Austin Hooper would become an intriguing option. Hooper caught three passes for 38 yards in the first matchup between these teams, and he would be in line for high-quality snaps against a weak defense. Whoever starts for New England is a good mid-level fantasy guy this week.
Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans, Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
These two are just low-level streamers; you can probably find a better option unless you're in a super-deep league. Neither Tremble nor Evans are heavily involved in Carolina's poor offense, both close to 20 receptions and 200 yards with a touchdown or two.
The matchup here is just so good that it's worth mentioning the Panther tight ends as desperation options. Tampa Bay has allowed the sixth-most yards per pass attempt and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
When these teams faced off two weeks ago, Evans had three catches for 23 yards and Tremble one catch for six yards. Ja'Tavion Sanders, who is out for Week 18, had two catches for nine yards and a touchdown. Put it all together, and the three TEs combined for six receptions, 38 yards, and a touchdown.
Those aren't great numbers, but it's something if you're in a deep league or find yourself in desperation mode. It's also a 50/50 choice as to who might get the best stats, making this even more of a risky play.
Don't look here for someone to save your week, but either Tremble or Evans could fill in with a good matchup. Tremble gets on the field more and has slightly better stats, but it's truly a toss-up as to who is better this week.
Sit
Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos
Before talking about anything else, the biggest issue for Gadsden this week is that his quarterback isn't playing. Justin Herbert is dinged up with a few different injuries, and he is resting in Week 18 with Los Angeles guaranteed a wild card spot.
Trey Lance hasn't played much in a career offset by injuries and bad timing, and it's hard to expect him to put together a big day. The ceiling and floor of every Chargers pass catcher is significantly lower than most weeks.
On top of that, the matchup is tough here. Denver needs to win to lock in the top seed, so they will be coming in full force. The Broncos have allowed the second-fewest yards per pass attempt. They are in the middle in terms of fantasy performance against tight ends, but Denver has a vicious D.
With a backup quarterback in the game and not much to play for, Gadsden has a low floor this week. The tough matchup just adds to it, making Gadsden something close to a much-bench player.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
This is a game between two teams that are out of playoff contention, but they will both be at something close to full strength considering that we are in the final week of a long season. It helps that every game in Week 18 is a divisional matchup.
Johnson is one of the last remaining healthy skill players in New Orleans, which will probably be without Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave in this game. He has already blown by his career highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, averaging 4.6 catches and 51.8 yards per game.
He finishes with a tough matchup, as the Falcons have given up the third-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. Atlanta is in the middle in yards per pass attempt allowed after starting the year better, but they have continually shut down the tight end position.
Johnson had inefficient volume the first time these teams played, catching six passes for 46 yards. Given the lack of other options, we might see a similar line here if the ball gets forced to Johnson while he struggles to find space.
With Johnson topping out as a fringe fantasy starter, the matchup makes him better left on benches. There is a hope for volume if you find yourself desperate late in the week.
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Mayer hasn't been on the fantasy radar much this season, but he is coming off his best game of the season, catching nine of 10 targets for 89 yards against the Giants.
Mayer usually plays second fiddle to Brock Bowers, but with the star tight end out injured or playing hurt most of the season, he got a few more opportunities. This was only his second game reaching five catches or 50 yards, though, leaving Mayer as a tough player to trust in fantasy.
Things are working against him this week also, as Geno Smith is unlikely to play with a high ankle sprain, leaving Kenny Pickett or Aidan O'Connell to start (Smith hasn't been ruled out as of this writing, but he is listed as doubtful). Even a limited Smith in the lineup would leave a bad offense even more compromised.
Kansas City is a little better than average in yards per pass attempt allowed, and they have given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Bowers missed the first game these teams played against each other, and Mayer had just one catch for 10 yards.
The Chiefs are dealing with plenty of injuries, but the defense is mostly intact, with guys like Chris Jones and Greg Karlaftis healthy and expected to play. Maybe players will rotate more, but we are likely to see the Raiders' offense struggle against a solid defensive unit.
Mayer has a low floor and ceiling in this one. His name is on people's minds after a hot Week 17, but Mayer is a must-bench player to finish the season.
