Fantasy managers face another week of reevaluating the tight end position as the must-start, borderline, and avoid categories shift heading into Week 9. Using a benchmark of 12 PPR fantasy points per game, six tight ends have cleared that mark for the season: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Isaiah Likely, George Kittle, Tyler Warren, and Sam LaPorta. Harold Fannin and Travis Kelce sit just below the threshold but remain in the conversation.
Recent Surge and Kyle Pitts Concerns
Over the past month, Colston Loveland (14.0 PPR PPG), Kyle Pitts (13.5), and Tucker Kraft (13.1) have joined the elite group while LaPorta has fallen off. Loveland and Kraft's recent production appears sustainable, but Pitts presents a puzzle. Since Michael Penix took over at quarterback, Pitts averages 10.5 PPR points per game, driven largely by touchdowns. In that span he ranks 13th in receptions and 18th in yards among tight ends despite playing every game, matching the yardage of AJ Barner and the catch total of Dallas Goedert (who has played only four of the last six weeks). Consequently, Pitts is no longer viewed as a must-start and sits outside the top 12 at the position for Week 9.
Key Numbers to Know
Sam LaPorta still ranks second among tight ends with eight red zone targets, suggesting a bounce-back is due. Travis Kelce posted 11.7 PPR points in Week 8, his best since September, but remains a borderline starter. Terrance Ferguson earlier showed a 26.7% target-per-route rate and could return this week. Harold Fannin has run 259 routes, second only to McBride. Colston Loveland has seen 28 targets in three games since Caleb Williams returned, making him a potential league-winner. Eli Raridon played a season-high 91.7% of snaps in Week 8.
Waiver Wire Targets
Eli Raridon (NE) emerges as a streamer with Hunter Henry nursing a foot injury; the rookie averages 13.3 yards per catch and 8.7 yards per target and could become Drake Maye's top option if A.J. Brown remains out. Dalton Schultz (HOU), dropped during his bye, still projects as the Texans' number two passing option and is a solid bye-week replacement with touchdown upside.
DFS Plays
George Kittle (SF) is the top DFS play against Las Vegas, projected for 14.1 points. He boasts the best matchup of the elite trio (Bowers, McBride, Kittle) and the highest implied point total, having scored at least 16 PPR points in five of his last six games. For a contrarian cheap option, Greg Dulcich (MIA) faces Detroit, which has allowed 27.1 PPR FPPG to opposing tight ends and at least 14 points to three straight tight ends; Dulcich has at least five targets in four straight games and projects for 10.7 points.
