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Fantasy managers may have survived the Week 7 bye week apocalypse, but the challenge isn’t over just yet. Unfortunately, Week 8 will take two more studs off of the tight end market with the Raiders and Ravens on a bye — leaving managers without Mark Andrews and Darren Waller.
Injury news
Though he’s on bye this week, Darren Waller was a surprise last-minute inactive after suffering an injury in practice ahead of Week 7. The bye week is well-timed, so hopefully he’ll be good to go upon his return.
Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski has remained out of the team’s lineup since suffering fractured ribs in Week 8 that caused a punctured lung. He could be in to make a return in Week 8 against the Saints, so keep an eye on his practice status throughout the week. Despite his lengthy absence, he still ranks as the TE15 in full PPR formats.
Patriots TE Jonnu Smith was ruled out of the team’s Week 7 contest with a shoulder injury. So far in 2021, Jonnu Smith has played just 51.8% of offensive snaps to Hunter Henry’s 72.1%.
Bye Week
Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens
Week 8’s best TE Streamer
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams vs. Houston Texans
Although the Rams rank third in scoring among NFL teams while Matthew Stafford continues on a campaign for 2021 league MVP, it hasn’t translated to consistent success for tight end Tyler Higbee. So far in 2021, Higbee ranks 7th among all tight ends in number of routes run while playing 90.7% of team snaps. This week’s contest against the Texans provides fantasy managers a perfect bye-week fill-in, as they’ve allowed the third-most fantasy points to the position with a touchdown scored by a TE in six of seven games played in 2021.
Tight End PPR Rankings, Week 18
Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Name | Team | Opp |
1 | Travis Kelce | KC | @ DEN |
2 | Mark Andrews | BAL | vs PIT |
3 | George Kittle | SF | @ LAR |
4 | Zach Ertz | ARI | vs SEA |
5 | Rob Gronkowski | TB | vs CAR |
6 | Darren Waller | LV | vs LAC |
7 | Dalton Schultz | DAL | @ PHI |
8 | Dawson Knox | BUF | vs NYJ |
9 | Kyle Pitts | ATL | vs NO |
10 | Mike Gesicki | MIA | vs NE |
11 | Hunter Henry | NE | @ MIA |
12 | Noah Fant | DEN | vs KC |
13 | Tyler Higbee | LAR | vs SF |
14 | Tyler Conklin | MIN | vs CHI |
15 | Gerald Everett | SEA | @ ARI |
16 | Cole Kmet | CHI | @ MIN |
17 | Jared Cook | LAC | @ LV |
18 | C.J. Uzomah | CIN | @ CLE |
19 | Evan Engram | NYG | vs WAS |
20 | Albert Okwuegbunam | DEN | vs KC |
21 | Pat Freiermuth | PIT | @ BAL |
22 | David Njoku | CLE | vs CIN |
23 | Brevin Jordan | HOU | vs TEN |
24 | Cameron Brate | TB | vs CAR |
25 | Foster Moreau | LV | vs LAC |
26 | Jack Doyle | IND | @ JAC |
27 | Austin Hooper | CLE | vs CIN |
28 | Tyree Jackson | PHI | vs DAL |
29 | Jonnu Smith | NE | @ MIA |
30 | Brock Wright | DET | vs GB |
31 | Tyler Kroft | NYJ | @ BUF |
32 | Dallas Goedert | PHI | vs DAL |
33 | Anthony Firkser | TEN | @ HOU |
34 | James O'Shaughnessy | JAC | vs IND |
35 | Jack Stoll | PHI | vs DAL |
36 | Geoff Swaim | TEN | @ HOU |
37 | Ricky Seals-Jones | WAS | @ NYG |
38 | Josiah Deguara | GB | @ DET |
39 | Dan Arnold | JAC | vs IND |
40 | Adam Trautman | NO | @ ATL |
41 | John Bates | WAS | @ NYG |
42 | Hayden Hurst | ATL | vs NO |
43 | Mo Alie-Cox | IND | @ JAC |
44 | Jimmy Graham | CHI | @ MIN |
45 | Will Dissly | SEA | @ ARI |
46 | Stephen Anderson | LAC | @ LV |
47 | Durham Smythe | MIA | vs NE |
48 | Ian Thomas | CAR | @ TB |
49 | Pharaoh Brown | HOU | vs TEN |
50 | Marcedes Lewis | GB | @ DET |
51 | Darrell Daniels | ARI | vs SEA |
52 | Jeremy Sprinkle | DAL | @ PHI |
53 | Adam Shaheen | MIA | vs NE |
54 | O.J. Howard | TB | vs CAR |
55 | Nick Vannett | NO | @ ATL |
56 | Blake Bell | KC | @ DEN |
57 | Nick Boyle | BAL | vs PIT |
58 | Jesse James | CHI | @ MIN |
59 | Kyle Rudolph | NYG | vs WAS |