Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Tight Ends Fantasy Football Week 12: Pat Freiermuth Ready for Monday Night Breakout

Now that David Njoku is healthy, he’s a viable option as well.

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, Austin Ekeler 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 2022 NFL season.

Fabs Top 10 tight ends

1. Travis Kelce vs. Rams
2. Mark Andrews at Jaguars
3. George Kittle vs. Saints
4. T.J. Hockenson vs. Patriots (Thur.)
5. Pat Freiermuth at Colts (MNF)
6. Dalton Schultz vs. Giants (Thur.)
7. Dawson Knox at Lions (Thur.)
8. Tyler Higbee at Chiefs
9. David Njoku vs. Buccaneers
10. Greg Dulcich at Panthers

Week 12 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

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Week 12 Start ‘Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Pat Freiermuth at Colts (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Freiermuth is coming off his biggest game of the season from a fantasy perspective, scoring 15.9 points in a loss to the Bengals. I’d keep him active this week, as the Steelers face the Colts on Monday night. This unit has allowed nine or more points to seven tight ends, and the position has a 75.4% catch rate (third highest in the league) against them.

SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Freiermuth over 43.5 receiving yards (-118)

Start ‘Em

David Njoku vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Njoku returned to action last week and was held to just three targets and 3.7 fantasy points during a loss to the Bills. I’d still keep him active this week though, as the Buccaneers have been soft versus tight ends. Their defense has allowed the seventh-most points to the position this season, not to mention the seventh-highest catch rate (73.2%) in their 10 games.

Gerald Everett at Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Everett missed last week's game with an injury, but he's expected to be back in the lineup when the Bolts face Arizona. Their defense has been brutal against tight ends, allowing 10-plus points to 10 players at the position including five who have scored 17 or more. With Mike Williams banged up, Everett should see enough targets to make a fantasy impact.

Juwan Johnson at 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Johnson has been doing his best Rob Gronkowski impression in recent weeks, finding the end zone in four of his last five games. This week's matchup against the Niners isn't good on paper, but fantasy fans are looking for touchdowns at a position that is thin due to injuries. So if you're in need of help at the position, Johnson is well worth a look.

SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Johnson anytime TD (+390)

More Starts

• Tyler Higbee at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Foster Moreau at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Moreau over 36.5 receiving yards (-120)

DFS Bargains

• Foster Moreau at Seahawks ($3,400)
• Evan Engram vs. Ravens ($3,200)
• Noah Fant vs. Raiders ($3,200)

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Week 12 Sit ‘Em: Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Robert Tonyan at Eagles (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Tonyan seems to have become an afterthought in the Packers offense lately, as he’s seen four or fewer targets in four of his last five games. He’s also seen just one red zone target since Week 2, and a matchup against the Eagles makes him a fade in fantasy leagues. Their defense has allowed three scores and fewer than 10 points per game to tight ends.

Sit ‘Em

Cole Kmet at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Kmet will no doubt be active in a lot of fantasy leagues, so take this as a warning. The talented tight end will be without Justin Fields (shoulder), and the Jets defense is no joke against the position. Just two tight ends have beaten them for more than 11.1 fantasy points, and not a single player at the position has scored a single touchdown against them this season.

Cade Otton at Browns (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Otton became a viable fantasy option, scoring 10-plus points in two of his last four games before the bye. He did see his target share decline in Cameron Brate’s first game back, however, and this week’s matchup against the Browns makes him a fade. Their defense has allowed just one touchdown and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2022.

Tyler Conklin vs. Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Conklin was a popular streamer last week, but he scored just 3.5 points in a loss to the Patriots. He has now scored fewer than nine points in all but one of his last seven games, and the Bears have been tough on the position this season. In fact, just two tight ends have scored more than 8.2 fantasy points against these Monsters of the Midway this season.

More Sits

• Hayden Hurst at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Austin Hooper vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades

• George Kittle vs. Saints ($5,300)
• Cole Kmet at Jets ($3,900)
• Cade Otton at Browns ($3,300)

SI Sportsbook Player Prop: Kittle under 46.5 receiving yards (-120)

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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!