Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Tight Ends Fantasy Football Week 8: Sam LaPorta Shines in Prime Time

The Lions’ rookie gets a star turn on Monday night.

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.

Fabs’ Top 10 Tight Ends

1. Travis Kelce at Broncos
2. Mark Andrews at Cardinals
3. T.J. Hockenson at Packers
4. Sam LaPorta vs. Raiders (Mon.)
5. Darren Waller vs. Jets
6. George Kittle vs. Bengals
7. Dallas Goedert at Commanders
8. Evan Engram at Steelers
9. Dalton Schultz at Panthers
10. Dalton Kincaid vs. Buccaneers (Thur.)

Complete Week 8 rankings

Week 8 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Byes: None

Week 8 Start ’Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

Kirthmon F. Dozier/USA Today Sports

Sam LaPorta vs. Raiders (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): LaPorta has been solid for fantasy managers this season, but he has been held to single digits in two of his last three games. I like him to produce on Monday night, however, as the rookie will face the Raiders at Ford Field. LaPorta is averaging 17.8 points per game at home, as opposed to just 9.3 on the road, so make sure he’s in all your lineups.

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Start ’Em

Dalton Schultz at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Schultz has been on fire in the last three weeks, as he’s scored a touchdown and 13-plus points in all three contests. He also posted those totals against some tough defenses, which he’ll face once again in Carolina. So, while their defense has allowed just one big game to an opposing tight end, I’d still ride Schultz while he’s posting big fantasy totals.

Jake Ferguson vs. Rams (1p.m. ET, Fox): Ferguson hasn’t put up huge totals this season, but he has seen seven targets three times and is a worthwhile option for those in need against the Rams. Their defense has allowed 10-plus fantasy points to four tight ends, including Dallas Goedert who finished with 25.7 points. Ferguson is likely on the waiver wire in some leagues for those in need.

Trey McBride vs. Ravens (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): McBride will see an increase in snaps and targets moving forward, as the Cardinals have placed Zach Ertz on injured reserve. He was already starting to see a bigger role in previous weeks, and now he's worth a look for those depserate at tight end or looking for a cheap option at the position in DFS. McBride remains a free agent in some leagues.

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More Starts

Dallas Goedert at Commanders (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Evan Engram at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Michael Mayer at Lions (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Dalton Schultz at Panthers ($3,900)
Jake Ferguson vs. Rams ($3,600)
Trey McBride vs. Ravens ($2,800)

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Week 8 Sit ’Em: Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Tyler Higbee at Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Higbee has seen a drastic drop in terms of his targets in the last three weeks, as he’s had a combined nine since the Rams got Cooper Kupp back from an injured hamstring. That trend is troublesome, and it makes him tough to trust against the Cowboys. Just one tight end (George Kittle) has beaten them for more than 10.8 PPR fantasy points this season.

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Sit ’Em

David Njoku at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Njoku has scored 10-plus points in two of his last three games, which is an improvement over the first three games where he was held to single digits. Still, he’s averaging just 7.3 points on the year and has a tough matchup in Seattle next. Their defense hasn’t allowed a tight end to score a touchdown, so Njoku could have a pretty low ceiling this week.

Cole Kmet at Chargers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Kmet didn’t see a single target on 63 offensive snaps in Tyson Bagent’s first NFL start, and he was a blocker on 33 of those plays. That’s a concern for his fantasy appeal. Fantasy fans should also know that while the Chargers have allowed the 10th-most points per game to tight ends, Travis Kelce’s 35.9 points last week is a huge part of that ranking.

Logan Thomas vs. Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Thomas scored a respectable 9.1 PPR points in last week’s loss to the Giants, but he’s also been held to single digits in three of his last four games. That includes a Week 4 contest against his next opponent, the Eagles, where he was held to 7.3 points. What’s more, their defense has held all but two opposing tight ends to just 7.3 or fewer fantasy points.

More Sits

Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Noah Fant vs. Browns (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)
Irv Smith Jr. at 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Hunter Henry at Dolphins ($3,700)
David Njoku at Seahawks ($3,600)
Logan Thomas vs. Eagles ($3,400)