MIAMI, Sept. 29 (UPI) — Noah Fant, Darren Waller, Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski and Mark Andrews lead my Week 4 fantasy football tight end rankings for 2021.
George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, Dalton Schultz, Tyler Higbee and Logan Thomas round out my Top 10 options for Week 4. Dawson Knox, Pat Freiermuth and Juwan Johnson are among my top tight end streamers.
The top-tier tight ends should not leave your lineup if you are in a league that requires starting the position.
Look for players with great matchups on a weekly basis if you didn’t draft an elite option. I recommend starting a tight end who will be the first or second target in their respective offense.
Here are some of my favorite players in this week’s Top 20 rankings:
TOP SHELF
Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant ranks 13th in fantasy points scored at his position. He averaged more than five targets per game over the first three weeks of the season and should be a big factor again in Week 4.
The Broncos host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Denver. The Ravens allowed a league-high 23 catches and 290 yards to tight ends through three weeks. Look for Schultz to see at least eight targets in this matchup. I expect him to post his first 100-yard game of the season and find the end zone.
He is my top tight end this week.
Darren Waller of the Las Vegas Raiders should never leave your lineup, regardless of your league’s format. He ranks fourth among tight ends in fantasy points and is tied for second in the NFL in targets.
This week, the Raiders face the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers were scorched by Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in Week 3 and have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to the position.
Look for Waller to expose this defense again this week. He is my No. 2 option.
SNEAKY PLAYS
Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz lands at No. 8 in my Week 4 rankings. Schultz is off to a great start and ranks fifth among tight ends in fantasy points.
He scored twice in the Cowboys’ Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. This week, the Cowboys face the Carolina Panthers.
Look for the Panthers to focus on limiting the Cowboys outside receivers, allowing quarterback Dak Prescott to find Schultz for short gains.
The Cowboys also should get several red zone opportunities. I expect Schultz to catch one of Prescott’s three touchdown tosses and finish the week inside the Top 10.
Dawson Knox of the Buffalo Bills is my No. 13 tight end, but should only be used in leagues that require starting the position.
Knox received at least three targets in each of the Bills’ first three games. He scored in each of his last two games. Look for the tight end to extend that streak in Week 4, when the Bills host the Houston Texans.
The Texans allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends through three weeks. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is off to a hot start and should throw at least three touchdown passes in this game, which I expect to be a blowout victory.
Knox is a great bet to catch one of those touchdown throws from Allen, my No. 1 fantasy football quarterback for Week 4.
LONGSHOTS
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is my No. 17 option. Freiermuth is still a free agent in many leagues, but can be used as a TE1 streamer if you are in a league that requires starting the position.
Freiermuth caught four passes in Week 2 and snagged another three catches in Week 4, including his first career touchdown.
The Steelers tight end should find more success in Week 4. The Steelers face the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers allowed a touchdown to a tight end in two of their first three games.
They also allowed the third-most fantasy points to the position. Look for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to target the rookie with targets in this tough road matchup.
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson went off for two scores in Week 1, but secured just one catch for 23 yards in Week 2 and didn’t make a catch in Week 3.
He is a risky play in Week 4, but I expect him to score a touchdown against the New York Giants on Sunday in New Orleans. The Giants allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends through three weeks.
Look for quarterback Jameis Winston get the offense going in the Saints’ first home game of 2021. He should throw at least three touchdown passes and find Johnson on one of the Saints’ red zone possessions.
Johnson is my No. 19 tight end. He should only be used in leagues that require starting the position.
Week 4 fantasy football tight end rankings
1. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos vs. BAL
2. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders at LAC
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs at PHI
4. Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NE
5. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens at DEN
6. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA
7. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions at CHI
8. Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys vs. CAR
9. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams vs. ARI
10. Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team at ATL
11. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers vs. PIT
12. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs. KC
13. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills vs. HOU
14. Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots vs. TB
15. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons vs. WAS
16. Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins vs. IND
17. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers at GB
18. Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns at MIN
19. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs. NYG
20. Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings vs. CLE
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