Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Tight Ends Fantasy Football Week 13: Relying on David Njoku Is No Joke

The Cleveland offense doesn’t have much to offer, but Njoku is a safe pick at a thin position.

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 Packers
2. George Kittle at Eagles
3. Sam LaPorta at Saints
4. Evan Engram vs. Bengals (Mon.)
5. David Njoku at Rams
6. Trey McBride at Steelers
7. Taysom Hill vs. Lions
8. Pat Freiermuth vs. Cardinals
9. Jake Ferguson vs. Seahawks (Thur.)
10. Juwan Johnson vs. Lions

• Complete Week 13 player rankings

Week 13 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Byes: Bears, Bills, Giants, Raiders, Ravens, Vikings

Week 13 Start ’Em: Tight Ends

Start of the Week

AP Photo/Nick Wass

David Njoku at Rams (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Njoku has been one of the most consistent tight ends in recent weeks, scoring 10-plus points in six straight games including one with more than 17 points. He has been targeted heavily over the last two weeks, too, seeing 24 chances. Njoku also has a great matchup in Los Angeles against a Rams defense that’s allowed the sixth-most PPR points to tight ends.

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Start ’Em

Evan Engram vs. Bengals (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Engram scored a decent line last week, catching five passes for 49 yards in a win over the Texans. I’d keep him in lineups this week, too, as he faces a Bengals defense that just allowed 120 yards and 21 fantasy points to Pat Freiermuth last week. Overall, their defense has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

Trey McBride at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): McBride has scored 13 or more fantasy points in three of his last six games, and he's played 60 snaps in each of the last two contests. This week's matchup against the Steelers isn't great on paper, but they have allowed 12-plus points to two tight ends since Week 8. With six teams off and Michael Wilson out, McBride is one of the five best options at the position. 

Taysom Hill vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Hill didn’t put up a huge fantasy line last week, but he did see enough touches to be fantasy relevant at a thin position. The Saints are also hemorrhaging receivers due to injuries, with Michael Thomas on the injured list and Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh) hurt last week. In what could be a shootout, Hill and Juwan Johnson are both startable.

More Starts

Pat Freiermuth vs. Cardinals (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Logan Thomas vs. Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Tyler Conklin vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Logan Thomas vs. Dolphins ($3,600)
Juwan Johnson vs. Lions ($3,400)
Tyler Conklin vs. Falcons ($3,000)

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Week 13 Sit ’Em: Tight Ends

Sit of the Week

Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Tyler Higbee vs. Browns (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Higbee had a huge game last week, scoring two touchdowns and 19.9 points in a win over the Cardinals. That’s more points than he had scored in his previous five games combined, however, and a matchup against the Browns makes him tough to start this week. Just one tight end (Mark Andrews) has scored more than 7.8 points against them in 2023.

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Sit ’Em

Gerald Everett at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Everett returned from injury last week and scored a touchdown, finishing with 14.3 points. I wouldn’t chase the points this week, though, as the Patriots have been tough on tight ends. In fact, their defense has allowed just one touchdown and the third-fewest points to tight ends. So, unless you’re desperate, starting Everett is a bad move this weekend.

Cade Otton vs. Panthers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Otton was a hot add off the waiver wire a few weeks back, but he’s been held to just 20.4 PPR points in his last three games. This week he faces the Panthers, who have allowed just two tight ends to score more than 9.6 points against them this season. Overall, their defense has given up just three touchdowns and the sixth-fewest points to the position in 2023.

Tucker Kraft vs. Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Kraft was a hot add off the waiver wire this week, as he scored a touchdown and 9.5 points in his first game without Luke Musgrave. While he’s certainly worth a roster spot, the rookie is a tough sell against the Chiefs this week. Their defense hasn’t allowed more than 11.7 points to a tight end, and all but three have been held under 10 PPR points this season.

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More Sits

Kyle Pitts at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Hunter Henry vs. Chargers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Kyle Pitts at Jets ($3,800)
Tyler Higbee vs. Browns ($3,700)
Gerald Everett at Patriots ($3,500)