The fantasy season is nearly halfway over, and a Week 7 win will help stave off the depression (somewhat). Whether you’re in the thick of the playoff hunt, trying to secure a bye, or trying to climb out of the basement, make sure your starting lineup is set with The Wolf’s PPR Rankings.
Note – These rankings assume Jordan Reed will sit, despite returning to a limited practice on Wednesday. They will be updated accordingly if he is cleared to play, with Reed sliding in as the clear-cut #2 option.
Tier 1 – Potential Top Scorers
With Greg Olsen on bye and Jordan Reed potentially out, Gronk belongs in a tier alone. This will change if Reed proves healthy, especially given his dream matchup versus a Detroit team that’s surrendered oodles of touchdowns to seam-stretchers.
1. Rob Gronkowski (NE) @ PIT
Tier 2 – Quality TE1s
2. Hunter Henry (SD) @ ATL – One of our top waiver options of the week, Henry ascends to the #2 spot in a dream matchup versus Atlanta, the second worst team against TEs. His first multi-TD affair could be in the cards, and at minimum he should extend his TD streak to four games.
3. Travis “Tool Shed” Kelce (KC) vs. NO
4. Delanie Walker (TEN) vs. IND
5. Martellus Bennett (NE) @ PIT
6. Jimmy Graham (SEA) @ ARI – The Cardinals have generally shut down any tight end crosses their path, trailing only Philadelphia in fantasy points allowed to the position.
7. Zach Miller (CHI) @ GB
Tier 2.5
8. Gary Barnidge (CLE) @ CIN – With Terrelle Pryor potentially missing this contest, Barnidge could be Cleveland’s go-to guy, particularly in the red zone. Barnidge’s first true 2016 explosion could follow.
9. Tyler Eifert (CIN) vs. CLE – Eifert has returned to practice, wearing no support on his surgically-repaired ankle. Even on a snap count, Eifert would be a fantastic bet at a touchdown against a Browns defense that rolls out the red carpet to the end zone for opposing tight ends.
10. Julius Thomas (JAC) vs. OAK
11. Dennis Pitta (BAL) @ NYJ
12. Cameron Brate (TB) @ SF – Make sure to monitor Brate’s usage in VJax’s absence; he has little competition for the #2 receiving role.
13. Vernon Davis (WAS) @ DET – This obviously assumes Reed sits, in which case Davis is a prime streamer against a Lions defense that bleeds TDs to tight ends.
14. Jack Doyle (IND) @ TEN – With Dwayne Allen set to miss time, Doyle offers plenty of TE Streamer appeal as the unquestioned guy in Rob Chudzinski’s tight-end centric offense.
Tier 3 – Desperation TE2s
15. Coby Fleener (NO) @ KC – While the Chiefs have shown vulnerability against the pass, almost all the production has come from the WRs; they allow the 10th most points to wideouts, and just the 29th points to TEs. Outside of the Superdome, a Fleener disappearance is a real possibility.
16. Kyle Rudolph (MIN) @ PHI – No team has defended the tight end better than Philadelphia. This makes Rudolph, normally a shoe-in top 10 option, a huge Week 7 risk.
17. Charles Clay (BUF) @ MIA
18. Antonio Gates (SD) @ ATL
Tier 4 – Hello Darkness, my old friend
19. Zach Ertz (PHI) vs. MIN
20. C.J. Fiedorowicz (HOU) @ DEN
21. Vance McDonald (SF) vs. TB
22. Jacob Tamme (ATL) vs. SD
23. Jesse James (PIT) vs. NE
24. Lance Kendricks (LA) vs. NYG
25. Richard Rodgers (GB) vs. CHI
