Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Tight Ends Fantasy Football Week 9: Get a Charge Out of Gerald Everett

The Chargers TE faces a plus matchup in Atlanta.

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 Josh Allen, Jonathan Taylor or Cooper Kupp. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the NFL season.

Fabs Top 10 tight ends

1. Travis Kelce vs. Titans
2. Zach Ertz vs. Seahawks
3. Dallas Goedert at Texans (TNF)
4. Tyler Higbee at Buccaneers
5. Gerald Everett at Falcons
6. Isaiah Likely at Saints (MNF)
7. Evan Engram vs. Raiders
8. Kyle Pitts vs. Chargers
9. Hayden Hurst vs. Panthers
10. Robert Tonyan at Lions 

Byes: 49ers, Browns, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Steelers

Week 9 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 9 Start ‘Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Gerald Everett at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Everett has averaged a respectable 9.9 fantasy points in seven games this season, and he’s hit double digits in four of them. He should provide a nice stat line this week, as Keenan Allen (hamstring) is out and the team will also be without Mike Williams. The Falcons have allowed seven tight ends to score at least 9.7 points, so the matchup is favorable.

Start ‘Em

Evan Engram vs. Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Engram is on quite a hot streak, as he’s scored double digits in three of his last four games and has seen a combined 29 targets in that time. He’ll be an attractive option this week, too, as the veteran faces a Raiders defense that’s surrendered 9.8 or more points to five different tight ends. Overall, their defense has allowed the third-most points to the position.

SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Engram over 40.5 receiving yards (-125)

Robert Tonyan at Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Tonyan has posted eight-plus points in four of his last six games, and this week’s matchup in Detroit makes him a solid bye-week option. Their defense has allowed nine or more points to six tight ends this season, and Tonyan has scored in double digits in three of four career games versus the Lions. He’ll be a top-10 option in a week with six teams out of action.

SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Tonyan over 30.5 receiving yards (-125)

Isaiah Likely at Saints (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Ravens have listed Mark Andrews (shoulder) as doubtful to face the Saints, so Likely will step into a bigger role in the offense. He was superb in Andrews' absence last week, catching six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers, so Lamar Jackson has shown trust in the rookie. Likely will be a top-10 play at the position. 

More Starts

• Hayden Hurst vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Noah Fant at Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Bargains

• Robert Tonyan at Lions ($3,800)
• Evan Engram at Raiders ($3,300)
• Noah Fant at Cardinals ($2,900)

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Week 9 Sit ‘Em: Tight Ends

Tyler Conklin vs. Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Conklin is coming off a massive stat line, scoring a pair of touchdowns and 25.9 fantasy points in a loss to the Patriots. I wouldn’t chase the points, though, as that was more points than he had scored in his previous four games combined. He’ll also be facing a Buffalo defense that’s given up fewer than 10 points to all but one tight end (Travis Kelce) this year.

SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Conklin under 27.5 receiving yards (-120)

Sit ‘Em

Mike Gesicki at Bears (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Gesicki has been touchdown dependent in fantasy leagues this season, scoring single digit points in every game he’s been held out of the end zone. That makes him a risk against the Bears, who have given up just two touchdowns to opposing tight ends and just one in their last five games. Gesicki is also averaging a very mediocre 3.8 targets per game this year.

SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Gesicki under 26.5 receiving yards (-125)

Cade Otton vs. Rams (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Otton has been more involved in the Bucs pass attack in recent weeks, but he’s still been inconsistent in the stat sheets. I’d be wary of the rookie this week, as Otton faces a Rams defense that hasn’t allowed more than 6.6 fantasy points to all but two tight ends (George Kittle, Zach Ertz), and neither scored more than 12.9 points. At best, Otton is a dart throw.

Cole Kmet vs. Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Kmet found the end zone and scored 9.1 fantasy points last week, but don’t let the touchdown fool you into streaming him this week. The veteran hasn’t seen more than three targets in all but one game this season, and he’s been targeted in the red zone in a mere three of eight games. I’d keep him on the sidelines or the waiver wire even with six teams on a bye.

More Sits

• Hunter Henry vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Juwan Johnson vs. Ravens (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

DFS Fades

• T.J. Hockenson at Commanders ($5,000)
• Mike Gesicki at Bears ($4,000)
• Dawson Knox at Jets ($3,500)

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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 to help you win a fantasy championship!