Week 5 Fantasy Football Tight End Start/Sit: Gesicki, Fannin, and More

As much as tight end can be a more random fantasy position week to week than with other skills players, the top guys usually stand out most often. George Kittle, Trey McBride, Juwan Johnson, Travis Kelce, and Sam LaPorta are all in the top six in both standard and PPR scoring, and though Johnson may be a bit of a surprise, the rest of those players were expected to be weekly starters by most. (And Brock Bowers is in the top 10 despite missing two games.)

After that level, though, there are a lot of guys who have very close to the same value, so it generally comes down to matchups as to who is the best option for your lineup. Start/sit at the tight end position might be more important than any other.

Let's look at three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 5 of the NFL season. Most stats are from NFL.com, and fantasy points and rankings are from FantasyPros.

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

Start

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins

Gesicki has had a hot start to the season, catching a touchdown in three of the four games and combining for 155 yards in those games. He was shut out in the fourth game against Houston, but Gesicki has been a positive fantasy player the majority of the time. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are both questionable right now, and one of them missing this game would open even more chances for the tight end.

Miami has allowed the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends. They were projected to be one of the worst teams in the league, and that has played out on both offense and defense, leaving the Dolphins vulnerable to fantasy players at every position (including kicker and D/ST).

While the matchup is the most appealing part about Gesicki this week, he has also been productive and might be in line for a bump in the pass-catching hierarchy. This is a strong play in Week 5.

Isaiah Likely (or Theo Johnson), New York Giants @ Washington Commanders

Washington is a little worse than average in yards per pass attempt allowed, but they have given up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends. While the Commanders have given up more than 60 yards per game to the position, the biggest factor is that TEs have scored five touchdowns, including two games with multiple scores.

Likely is the top player at his position in New York, but there are injury worries, as he is dealing with both knee and groin issues. That brings some risk, but if Likely is active this week, he should be in your lineup. If he misses the game, then Johnson is a player who showed pass-catching skill in the past and had a touchdown last week (though he has just two catches and 20 yards this season).

Likely has the higher ceiling and is a strong option if he takes the field. Johnson has a lower floor and could put up another anonymous game, but he's a decent low-level streamer if Likely is inactive in Week 5.

Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts

Let's start with the Colts: Indy is just in the middle in terms of fantasy points allowed to tight ends, but they have given up the fifth-most yards per pass attempt. They have also been vulnerable to some tight ends, including Kelce going for 101 yards on nine catches and Mark Andrews reaching 49 yards. I'd call this a good, not great matchup for tight ends.

We also have two players to consider, which leaves things a little more uncertain, similar to a split backfield. They both play about the same number of snaps, and Freiermuth has been a little more productive in the passing game (14 catches, 125 yards, and two touchdowns versus nine, 119, and one for Washington).

With the matchup being closer to the middle than the top and two players who are middling at best, this is more of a low-level streaming play. I prefer Freiermuth because he has been a little more productive, but if you're in a deep league and find yourself scrambling late in the week, Washington is OK to consider.

Sit

Harold Fannin, Cleveland Browns @ New York Jets

The Browns are 3-1; what a world! While the Bucs have struggled all year, wins against the Panthers and Steelers were more impressive, leaving Cleveland with the most hope they have had in years. Fannin has been good so far, averaging more than four catches and 38 yards per game with three touchdowns, and he's a guy worth considering every week.

The Jets present a tougher matchup, allowing the eighth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the seventh-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. New York hasn't given up a touchdown to a tight end through the first month, and LaPorta and Colston Loveland are the only guys who topped 40 yards.

Fannin also has competition for targets, with a strong set of receivers and running back Quinshon Johnson all capable pass catchers. A touchdown is possible again, as Fannin has shown a nose for the end zone at times, but this could be a slower day for the Cleveland offense, leaving Fannin struggling to put up numbers.

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams

Kincaid started the season hot, catching 12 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown over the first two weeks. The past two games haven't been nearly as good, with just three catches and 45 yards (and a lost fumble thrown in). It's tempting to think of Kincaid's highs, but there have been plenty of lows in his career as well.

This might also be the toughest matchup for a tight end right now, as the Rams have given up the fewest yards per pass attempt and the third-fewest fantasy points to TEs. New York's Likely had the best performance against LA so far, and that was only 33 yards; no other tight end has even reached 20 yards.

Owners will surely be clamoring for more big numbers like the first two weeks produced, but Kincaid has a poor outlook this week and could be looking at his third straight dud of a fantasy game. You can probably find a better option elsewhere.

Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders @ New England Patriots

I thought Mayer would stop producing once his start teammate Bowers returned to the lineup, but he scored a touchdown in Week 3 then had eight catches for 82 yards last week against the Chiefs. He hasn't always been efficient, but Mayer has been involved in the offense. I still hold the same opinion, though: Mayer won't be as productive on a weekly basis while playing with Bowers, even as the Raiders lack depth at wide receiver.

The matchup is also against him in this one, as the Patriots have allowed the seventh-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fewest fantasy points to TEs. Freiermuth and Brenton Strange each reached 32 yards, but it took them five and six receptions, respectively, to reach that mark, very low efficiency. No player at the position has scored a TD against New England, leaving a bleak outlook for the position.

You're starting Bowers no matter what; he's one of THOSE guys who never touches your bench. Mayer will probably have more limited opportunities moving forward, though, and with the matchup heavily against him, it's best not to count on Las Vegas' second tight end.