Tight end non-PPR rankings for Week 9 fantasy football

Final injury report

Out: N/A
Doubtful: N/A
Questionable: Mo Alie-Cox (knee), Cole Kmet (groin), Nick Vannett (foot), Vance McDonald (illness), Dawson Knox (calf)

Wednesday injury report

The notable news is that Jimmy Graham was listed with a knee injury this week. He normally gets a veteran’s day off, but it’s listed as not injury related. If he can’t go, Cole Kmet would get the start.

Greg Olsen missed practice with a foot injury, but given his history, we’ll need to wait for Thursday and Friday news. If Olsen ends up unable to go, Will Dissly would probably be the lead option in a committee approach.

Jordan Akins was back to a full practice and is on track to return to a timeshare at tight end with Darren Fells when they take on the Jaguars.

DNP: Jimmy Graham (knee, hamstring), Tyler Eifert (not injury related, neck)
Limited: Mo Alie-Cox (knee), Nick Vannett (foot), T.J. Hockenson (toe), Logan Thomas (ankle)
Full: Jordan Akins (ankle, concussion), Adam Shaheen (shoulder)

Travis Kelce continues to be the only tight end providing fantasy managers (and his NFL teammates) consistent and reliable performances. Outside of his standard weekly TE1 performance, fantasy managers saw worthy days from Rob Gronkowski, Jack Doyle, Trey Burton and rookie TE Albert Okwuegbunam.

The only plus side if you had a down week at the position? Mark Andrews, Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Gerald Everett, Noah Fant, George Kittle and Darren Waller all ranked as TE15 or worse in non-PPR scoring formats this week. Simply put — if you had a bad day at the TE position, your opponent probably did too. Misery loves company.

Injury news

The biggest injury news of the week, no shock, comes in from the 49ers. TE George Kittle left Sunday’s contest limping off the field, diagnosed with a broken bone in his foot. Coach Kyle Shanahan expects Kittle to have an eight-week absence. Kittle has ranked as the TE2 in standard scoring formats, despite having missed two games already on the season.

Tyler Higbee returned to the active lineup following a one-game absence due to a hand injury. He snagged just two catches for 14 receiving yards in his return.

Bye weeks

The Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams are on bye in Week 9. Drew Sample, Harrison Bryant, Dallas Goedert, Tyler Higbee. The big benefit to this bye week is Austin Hooper has a chance to get healthy from his appendectomy. Fantasy managers won’t be significantly affected by these tight ends on bye.

Streaming options

Trey Burton, Colts

Fantasy managers had long given up on the emergence of Burton as a fantasy option, but his recent use in Indy could be enough to spark some hope for those in need of a streamer. Since being activated by the team in Week 4, he’s averaged five targets per game, including some usage as a rusher that’s been converted into two rushing scores. The Colts announced that RB Jonathan Taylor has an ankle injury, so it’s possible we see more of this creative usage versus the Ravens.

Eric Ebron, Steelers

Ebron has arguably been one of 2020’s safest assets at the tight end position. He’s averaged four receptions for 40 yards in each game that he’s played 70% or more of offensive snaps, and this week, gets a porous Dallas defense allowing anything and everything through the air that comes their way. 50 receiving yards seems like a safe bet, but don’t be surprised if he nabs a score in this contest as well.