The fantasy football regular season is officially in our rearview mirrors. That was then. This is now. It doesn’t matter where you are seeded in the fantasy playoffs. All that matters is that you are in the big dance, where anything can happen.
But there is no rest for the weary. We now need to find every potential advantage we can, and once again, the tight end position cannot be overlooked.
Week 15 has some very interesting matchups to exploit. Few people stockpile tight ends, so the waiver wire should still have a few streamers who can give you a boost. Best of all, you might even find a bonus flex play if your league is deep.
Any tight end acquisition this week should begin with Isaiah Likely, or Mark Andrews in the unlikely event he is available. The Ravens take on the Bengals. If you haven’t been paying attention, not only do the Bengals rank 30th in DVOA (defensive value over average) and allow the most fantasy points per game to tight ends, they are worse than any defense against the position in the history of the NFL — allowing the most receptions, the most receiving yards and the most receiving touchdowns ever.
Against the Bills on Sunday, they allowed a combined total of 11 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns to their tight ends, so just imagine what Andrews and Likely can do.
If neither Raven is available, take a look at Seattle’s AJ Barner. They play the Colts next — a team that ranks 24th in DVOA against the tight end, allows an average of seven catches for 72 yards and is giving up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position.
Barner plays a 70 percent snap share and leads all Seattle tight ends in targets, receptions and routes run. He hasn’t found the end zone since Week 5, but with nearly five catches per game over his past four, he’s got a solid floor.
You could go with Mason Taylor of the Jets, who faces a Jaguars team that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to the tight end, but we have no idea who his quarterback will be.
Instead, look at Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith, with Darnell Washington in concussion protocol as they face a Miami team that allows the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.
Betting on the NFL?
Pittsburgh likes to use two-TE formations. Typically, Washington handles the primary work with Pat Freiermuth mixed in. But if Washington is out, Freiermuth could be tethered to the line more, thus freeing up Smith to do more pass catching. A long shot, maybe, but it’s the playoffs, and anything can happen.
They say to dance with the one you brought, but sometimes you need a new partner. That isn’t to say you use a Ravens tight end over a George Kittle or Trey McBride, but if you’ve been using Evan Engram or Cade Otton, a new dance partner is necessary. Fantasy playoffs are here, and every point counts.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football news and advice.
