Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Tight Ends Fantasy Football Week 1: Plenty of Targets for Tyler Higbee

With Cooper Kupp sidelined, look for Matthew Stafford to lean on his tight end.

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, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. 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 2023 NFL season.

Week 1 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Fabs’ Top 10 Tight Ends

1. T.J. Hockenson vs. Buccaneers
2. Darren Waller vs. Cowboys
3. Dallas Goedert at Patriots
4. Tyler Higbee at Seahawks
5. George Kittle at Steelers 
6. Isaiah Likely vs. Texans
7. David Njoku vs. Bengals
8. Evan Engram at Colts
9. Pat Freiermuth vs. 49ers
10. Kyle Pitts vs. Panthers

Week 1 Start ’Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Tyler Higbee at Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): The Rams will be without Cooper Kupp, leaving Higbee to be the lone trusted option in the passing game for Matthew Stafford. The matchup is favorable, too, as the Seahawks allowed the second-most points to opposing tight ends last season. What’s more, Seattle gave up 36.9% more points to the position based on adjusted points allowed.

Start ’Em

Evan Engram at Colts (1 p.m. ET, Fox): I’m not expecting Engram to duplicate his 2022 totals, but he remains a TE1 at what is a thin position. I’d start him against the Colts, who allowed 20.6 combined points to Engram in their two meetings last year. Overall, their defense allowed eight-plus fantasy points to tight ends 12 times, a list that includes four players who finished with more than 13 PPR points.

David Njoku vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Njoku is coming off a career season that saw him finish in the top 10 in fantasy points among tight ends. That includes a Week 14 game against the Bengals when he posted seven catches, a touchdown and 18.7 points. Njoku is coming off a great camp, too, and he should have a nice rapport with Deshaun Watson. He’s a No. 1 fantasy option this week.

Isaiah Likely vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Ravens are going to be without Mark Andrews, so Likley becomes a popular pivot in the fantasy world. He's a talented player who would be a sleeper or breakout candidate if he didn't have Andrews ahead of him on the depth chart, and this week Likely will be Baltimore's top tight end. He's a top-eight option at what is a thin position.

More Starts

Luke Musgrave at Bears (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Pat Freiermuth vs. 49ers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Juwan Johnson vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Pat Freiermuth vs. 49ers ($4,100)
Juwan Johnson vs. Titans ($3,900) 
Isaiah Likely vs. Texans ($3,000)

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Week 1 Sit ’Em: Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Brett Davis/USA Today network

Kyle Pitts vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Is it me, or has the press on Pitts been underwhelming this summer? Maybe he’ll turn his fantasy fortunes around, and most managers who drafted him will have to start him. Just keep in mind that the Panthers allowed the 10th-fewest points to tight ends last year, and Pitts has been held to fewer than five points in half of his career starts against them.

Sit ’Em

Dalton Schultz at Ravens (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Schultz could very well become a nice asset for fantasy managers, but I’m not sure you want to play him against the Ravens. Their defense was tough on tight ends last season, allowing the ninth-fewest points to the position. What’s more, Houston will be rolling out a rookie in C.J. Stroud in his first NFL start. That will put Schultz in a difficult spot.

Cole Kmet vs. Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Kmet was a touchdown-dependent fantasy option this past season, making it tough to trust him as a regular starter. He has also failed to score a single touchdown against this week’s opponent, the Packers, and Kmet has averaged just 6.3 points in the six meetings. With Robert Tonyan also in the mix, Kmet is better left to the fantasy sidelines.

Irv Smith Jr. at Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Smith Jr. could become a nice option in fantasy leagues playing in what should be a great offense, but I’d keep him on the bench in this week’s opener against the Browns. Their defense gave up just two touchdowns to tight ends a year ago, allowing an average of just 9.7 points per game to the position. That was the seventh-lowest rate in the league.

More Sits

Chigoziem Okonkwo at Saints (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Noah Fant vs. Rams (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Tyler Conklin vs. Bills (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Dalton Schultz at Ravens ($4,600)
Kyle Pitts vs. Panthers ($4,500)
Cole Kmet vs. Packers ($4,400)