Tucker Kraft Start or Sit Advice for Week 8

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft has been a solid part of his team’s passing attack this season, and the Packers will look to get back in the win column after a close loss to the Lions last week. They’ll host the Panthers at Lambeau Field for Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 8. Can you rely on Kraft to be in your fantasy football starting lineup this week, or should you leave him sitting on your bench for a better matchup later in the week?

Let’s take a look at what to expect from Kraft and the Packers as they take on the Panthers in Green Bay.

Tucker Kraft Start or Sit Advice for Week 8

Kraft has been trending up over the last few weeks and has become a top-10 option, especially in PPR formats. The Packers have leaned heavily on their passing game since their run-blocking has struggled. Despite using multiple different backs, they are averaging only 2.9 yards per carry this season. As a result of those issues, they have a very pass-heavy approach with a pass vs. run split of 65.6% pass to 34.4% run on the season. That is the third-highest pass ratio in the NFL.

With Jordan Love attempting an average of 38.7 passes per game, there have been plenty of targets for multiple Packers pass catchers. While Christian Watson (56) and Matthew Golden (69) lead the team in targets, Kraft is third with 43 targets in seven games, averaging 6.1 targets per game. He has 29 catches in those seven games for 297 yards and two touchdowns.

Against the Lions in Week 7, Kraft caught four of six targets for 48 yards and a touchdown.. He had a key fourth-down conversion and was a key part of the game plan against Detroit.

Kraft has at least four catches in each of his last five games and has over 11 FPTS in three of his last four games. His best game of the year was against the Bucs in Week 4, when he had six catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.

On Thursday, Kraft gets a good matchup against the Panthers, who have allowed four tight end touchdowns in six games. The Bucs crushed them last week, barely throwing the ball at all, but before that, tight ends had posted over 50 yards in each of their previous three games with three touchdowns during that stretch.

Kraft has a 16.3% target share this season, and that number has been trending up as the season has gone on. He could be in line for even more work depending on the availability of Matthew Golden (shoulder/foot), who is questionable.

Kraft has top-10 potential at tight end this week and can be started in all standard-sized leagues.

For single-game DFS contests like the NFL Showdown $1.25M Thursday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (CAR @ GB) on DraftKings, Kraft is a very solid play at $7,400 in a FLEX spot and can even be worth a look at $11,100 in the Captain’s spot. He brings a high enough floor to be played in almost any format, and he has the potential to be one of the best tight ends of the week if he gets into the end zone.

Start or Sit: Start Tucker Kraft in Week 8