Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Week 17: Tight Ends - Sleepers, Fades, Matchups, DFS Bargains

Dallas Goedert is primed for another big game against Washington.

Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Jonathan Taylor, Davante Adams or Travis Kelce. Instead, I'll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set the most effective starting lineup possible. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.

Week 17 PPR Rankings: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | FLEX | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES (D/ST)

Week 17 Start ‘Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Dallas Goedert at Football Team (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Goedert put up a big stinker last week, scoring a mere 4.8 fantasy points in a win over the Giants. I’d keep the faith in the veteran tight end, however, as he has a great matchup next on the slate when the Eagles face Washington. Their defense has allowed at least 14.7 fantasy points to a tight end in three of their last four games, including Goedert’s 20.5 points in Week 15.

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Week 17 Start ‘Em. Sit ‘Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES

Start ‘Em

Rob Gronkowski at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Gronkowski is on a two-game stinker streak, scoring a combined 8.2 fantasy points in that time. Regardless, I’d continue to roll with him in a matchup against the Jets. Since Week 9, their defense has given up four touchdowns and the 10th-most fantasy points to tight ends. Gronkowski has also averaged nearly 14 fantasy points per game in his career against the Men in Green.

Dawson Knox vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Knox has scored the fifth-most points among tight ends since Week 11, finding the end zone a combined four times in that time. Evan with Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis (reserve/COVID-19) both back in action this week, Knox should still continue to produce good numbers against the Falcons. Their defense has allowed 15-plus points to two tight ends since Week 13.

Gerald Everett vs. Lions (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Everett has become a nice asset for his fantasy managers in recent weeks, scoring 10 or more fantasy points in three straight games and five of his last seven. That streak should continue against the Lions, who have allowed 10-plus fantasy points to three tight ends in their last two games. Their defense has also surrendered the third-most points to the position since Week 9.

More Starts

• Hunter Henry vs. Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Noah Fant at Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains

• Dallas Goedert at Football Team ($5,100)
• Foster Moreau at Colts ($3,800)
• Cole Kmet vs. Giants ($3,400)

Week 17 Sit ‘Em: Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Mike Gesicki at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Gesicki is tough to sit at what is such a thin position, so consider this more of a warning than a firm sit ‘em. The Titans defense has been tough on tight ends, allowing just three touchdowns and the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the position. That includes holding fantasy superstar George Kittle to a mere 4.1 fantasy points last week and Hunter Henry to just 3.6 points back in Week 12.

Sit ‘Em

Kyle Pitts at Bills (1 p.m. ET , Fox): Pitts is more of a "beware" than a hard sit, as he's played well in recent weeks and is a top-10 player overall at what is a thin position. Still, I'd temper expectations when he faces the Bills at Orchard Park. Their defense has been one of the toughest in the league against tight ends, and they'll no doubt look to stop Pitts in this matchup. Temper expectations for the rookie tight end this week.

Evan Engram at Bears (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Engram found the end zone against the Eagles last week, but he’s still failed to score more than 7.3 fantasy points in four of his last six games. He’s also had more than 38 yards just once in his last eight contests. I’d keep him on the sidelines this week in Chicago, as the Bears have allowed 37.6 yards per game and the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

Tyler Conklin at Packers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Conklin has struggled in the stat sheets in recent weeks, as he's failed to score more than 8.4 fantasy points in five of his last six games. I'd keep him on the sidelines this week, as the Vikings will be without Kirk Cousins (reserve/COVID-19 list) and will turn to journeyman Sean Mannion at quarterback. The temperature at game time is supposed to be around five degrees too.

More Sits

• Austin Hooper at Steelers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• C.J. Uzomah vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades

• Kyle Pitts at Bills ($5,900)
• Mike Gesicki at Titans ($5,300)
• Dalton Schultz vs. Cardinals ($5,000)

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!