You've made it. It’s Week 17. The fantasy football championship round is finally here, and honestly, your tight end spot is probably the only thing keeping you up at night. It’s a weird year. We’ve seen the "old guard" like Travis Kelce look human for stretches, while a new wave of freak athletes is basically rewriting how the position works.
If you're staring at your roster wondering if you should trust a guy who was in college nine months ago over a future Hall of Famer, you aren't alone. This week is a logistical nightmare. We have games on Thursday (Christmas!), Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Getting your tight end rankings week 17 right isn't just about who has the highest ceiling; it’s about who won’t give you a literal zero when you need ten points to take home the trophy.
The Elite Tier: No-Brainers and Narrative Street
Trey McBride is currently the king of the mountain. There’s really no other way to put it. The Arizona Cardinals have turned him into their de facto WR1, and the volume is just stupid. He’s coming off a season where he’s averaged nearly 10 targets a game, and heading into a Sunday matchup against the Bengals, he is the safest bet in fantasy.
Then there’s the Christmas Day slate. Travis Kelce and the Chiefs are hosting the Broncos on Thursday night.
Kelce hasn’t been the "20 points or bust" monster of 2020, but he’s still Patrick Mahomes’ security blanket. The Broncos' defense has been stingy, but you aren't benching Kelce in a title game. You just aren't. He’s seen a slight dip in touchdowns this year—only five heading into the final stretch—but the floor is 5 catches for 50 yards. In PPR, that keeps you alive.
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Brock Bowers is Not a Normal Rookie
The Las Vegas Raiders found a unicorn. Seriously. Brock Bowers is currently sitting with 64 catches and 7 touchdowns on the year. He’s playing the Giants this week. If you’ve watched the Giants lately, you know they struggle with intermediate crossers—which is exactly where Bowers lives.
He’s the rare tight end who can take a screen 40 yards. Most guys at this position look like they’re running in sand; Bowers looks like a wide receiver who happens to weigh 240 pounds. He is a locked-in top-3 play this week.
Mid-Tier Chaos: The Injury Bug and Matchup Hunters
The San Francisco 49ers situation is... messy. George Kittle is dealing with a nagging ankle injury that kept him out of practice for chunks of December. He’s officially questionable for the Sunday night game against the Chicago Bears.
This is the ultimate fantasy trap. Do you wait for the Sunday night kickoff only to find out he’s inactive? If you have a backup playing at 1 PM, like Sam LaPorta (who faces a tough Vikings defense on Thursday), you might have to make a business decision early.
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LaPorta has been a bit of a "TD or bust" play lately. He’s sitting at 20 career touchdowns already, which is insane for a guy in his second year, but the yardage hasn't been as consistent as his rookie breakout.
Rankings for the Brave
- Trey McBride (ARI) vs. Bengals: The volume is undeniable. He's the TE1 until proven otherwise.
- Brock Bowers (LV) vs. Giants: High ceiling, great matchup, elite YAC ability.
- Travis Kelce (KC) vs. Broncos: It's Christmas. Mahomes will find him.
- Mark Andrews (BAL) @ Packers (Saturday): He's looked healthy and remains Lamar's favorite red zone target.
- George Kittle (SF) vs. Bears: Only this low because of the ankle injury and the late kickoff risk.
- Kyle Pitts (ATL) vs. Rams: He’s actually been consistent this year. Weird, right?
- Dallas Goedert (PHI) @ Bills: The Bills' secondary is beatable, and Goedert is a chain-mover.
- Sam LaPorta (DET) @ Vikings: Tough defense, but he’s too talented to fade.
The Deep Streamers: For the Desperate
If you lost David Njoku (who is out again with that knee issue) or you’re tired of Taysom Hill’s 2-point outings, you’re looking at the waiver wire.
Keep an eye on Harold Fannin Jr. for the Browns. The rookie out of Bowling Green is basically the last man standing in Cleveland's receiving corps. With Njoku out and Judkins on IR, they have to throw to someone. He’s a risky play against the Steelers' defense, which is famously brutal on tight ends, but he should see 6+ targets.
Also, don't sleep on Brenton Strange in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence has been looking his way more often in the red zone lately. Strange is usually good for about 5 to 7 targets, and in a Week 17 game against the Colts, that could easily turn into a 12-point PPR day.
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Why Rankings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Matchups matter, but game scripts matter more. The Eagles and Bills game on Sunday afternoon is projected to be a shootout. That’s good for Dallas Goedert. Conversely, the Ravens and Packers game on Saturday night could be a cold, defensive slog.
You have to look at the weather. It's late December. Buffalo and Green Bay aren't exactly tropical paradises right now. Wind affects deep balls, which usually forces quarterbacks to dump it off to—you guessed it—the tight end.
Critical Strategy for Week 17
- Check the Inactives: If Kittle is a game-time decision on Sunday night, you need a backup plan from the Monday night game (Rams/Falcons). Pick up Colby Parkinson or even Charlie Woerner just in case.
- Avoid the "Name Value" Trap: Don't start a struggling veteran over a hot rookie just because of the name on the back of the jersey.
- TD Dependency: If your tight end relies on touchdowns to be relevant (looking at you, Hunter Henry), understand that your floor is basically zero.
Fantasy championships are won in the margins. You don't need 30 points from your tight end; you just need them to not sink your team. Stick with the high-volume guys like McBride and Bowers, and if you’re sweating an injury, have a contingency plan ready by Saturday morning.
Next Steps for Your Roster:
First, verify George Kittle’s status by Saturday afternoon. If he’s still a true game-time decision, grab Harold Fannin Jr. or Brenton Strange as a safety net. Second, check the weather reports for Buffalo and Green Bay—high winds favor the short-area passing game where Goedert and Andrews thrive. Finally, lock in your Thursday starters early; with three games on Christmas, you can't afford to miss the lockout on Kelce or LaPorta.