Tight end PPR rankings for Week 7 fantasy football

Final injury report

Out: Dawson Knox (calf), Austin Hooper (illness), Tyler Eifert (neck)

Doubtful: None

Questionable: Robert Tonyan (ankle), Jordan Akins (ankle, concussion), Jake Butt (hamstring)

Thursday injury report

We still aren’t seeing Robert Tonyan or Jordan Akins on the practice field through two days. Neither is a must start if healthy, but both have emerged as solid options if you’re shorthanded due to injuries or bye weeks. Keep an eye on both on Friday’s final reports.

One piece of news that will be important to track is the status of Bucs-Raiders. The game was flexed out of Sunday Night Football to an afternoon start. The reasoning is concern over a potential need to postpone the game due to Covid-19. If that happens, Rob Gronkowski and Darren Waller are the players most significantly impacted.

Wednesday injury report

The big news this week is Zach Ertz’s absence from Thursday Night Football due to an ankle injury. With Dallas Goedert also sidelined, Richard Rodgers takes over starting duties. Once we get through TNF, the two big questions are Robert Tonyan and Jordan Akins. Both have offered upside at times this season and are worth starts in deeper leagues, especially in bye weeks, but both were Wednesday DNPs.

DNP: Dawson Knox (calf), Logan Thomas (neck), Robert Tonyan (ankle), Jordan Akins (ankle, concussion), Rob Gronkowski (shoulder)
Limited: David Njoku (shoulder), Marcedes Lewis (knee), Tyler Eifert (neck), Jonnu Smith (ankle)

How many of you had Anthony Firkser in your lineup last week? Not many I would assume. Well, he led all tight ends in fantasy points while Trey Burton was third and Darren Fells was fifth and Adam Shaheen was eighth. I wonder if we can find anymore ex-Bears on that list?

George Kittle and Travis Kelce were also up there, as usual and you actually started them. It was good to see Rob Gronkowski back in the Top 6, I say “6” because he was sixth. He’s not going to have the athleticism of his olden days, but he’s still good and if he can keep those targets coming, he’ll show some consistency.

Injury news

Noah Fant is closer to returning from his ankle injury. Hopefully he’ll be able to start this week against the Chiefs.

Jordan Akins should be closing in on a return and if he does, Darren Fells loses his fantasy appeal against the Packers.

Zach Ertz is out 3-4 weeks, which will give Richard Rodgers the start. He’s worth a start in deep 2TE leagues during the byes week, but even that is stretching things.

Jonnus Smith has a chance of playing this week against the Steelers. If he can’t, Anthony Firkser gets the start.

Bye weeks

Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins

Irv Smith Jr., Trey Burton, Mark Andrews and Mike Gesicki are going to get an afternoon nap in on Sunday instead of working for your fake teams. All four have fantasy value, with Andrews as the highest upside player. Bye weeks can be painful for replacing such a thin position.

Streaming options

Rob Gronkowski, Buccaneers

Gronk has come on of late and has averaged 17.7 yards per reception over his last three games. And he has now seen six and eight targets over his last two, as his old pal Tom Brady continues to trust another future hall of famer. With his big play ability, I’m on board with streaming him this week.

Austin Hooper, Browns

Hooper doesn’t have a lot of upside, but he has become a stable target of late. Over his last three games he’s caught 15-of-23 targets for 143 yards and a touchdown. In PPR, that’s working out okay. This week he’ll face a Washington team that ranks fifth-worst in PPR fantasy points allowed to the position.