1. Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) @ Arizona
Do we really need to explain this ranking? Witten is hands down the best tight end in all of football and regardless of the match up he is a must start. He has ten more receptions and 150+ receiving yards more than the second ranked tight end and his 15 point performance we project is a normal for Witten these days.
Point Projection: 15 points
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2. Chris Cooley (Washington Redskins) vs. St. Louis
Cooley had eight receptions for 108 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 5 and against a St. Louis Rams pass defense that ranks 28th he should show no signs of slowing down. Even if Cooley has a pedestrian showing we feel he reaches 60-70 receiving yards and find pay dirt.
Point Projection: 13 points
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3. Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) vs. New England
Not only is Gates nursing an injury, the entire Chargers offense is in the cellar and with Chris Chambers out of action in Week 6, Gates needs to step up. In his last meeting against New England, he had 77 receiving yards and a touchdown which shows us he forces mismatch problems but can Philip Rivers get him the football?
Point Projection: 11 points
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4. Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Baltimore
Clark's 81 receiving yards was a season high last week and is a good sign that Peyton Manning is going back to basics and targeting his all-pro tight end on a regular basis. His eight targets last week where two more than his season total and despite the Ravens sporting the best pass defense in the NFL, we think Clark finds pay dirt.
Point Projection: 9 points
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5. Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Detroit
Last week, we projected Shiancoe would score a touchdown and he did. This week, we are predicting he will score another touchdown and if he does, we will claim ownership on the man with the crazy name. Take this one all the way to the bank and grab him if you're in a bind at the tight end position.
Point Projection: 9 points
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6. Greg Olsen (Chicago Bears) @ Atlanta
A few weeks back we called Olsen a potential bust and said that until he starts splitting playing time with Greg Olsen he will have little fantasy value. Well, two weeks later and Olsen has 122 receiving yards and a touchdown and is making us eat crow. If he puts together another good week you might want to consider him as an every week option with the Bears next three opponents being suspect against the pass.
Point Projection: 8 points
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7. Owen Daniels (Houston Texans) vs. Miami
Daniels averages close to five receptions per game and is turning into the staple behind the Texans passing game. Despite his Week 6 opponent, the Miami Dolphins, limiting Antonio Gates to just one fantasy point last week, we feel Daniels should haul in 5-6 receptions for 65-75 receiving yards.
Point Projection: 7 points
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8. Dustin Keller (New York Jets) vs. Cincinnati
Over the season first two weeks Keller had just one target, but after back-to-back games with a touchdown he has Jets fans raving about the rookies future in the NFL. With Brett Favre loving his tight end around the end zone don't be surprised if Keller makes it three straight games with a TD.
Point Projection: 7 points
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9. L.J. Smith (Philadelphia Eagles) @ San Francisco
It was nice to see Smith mix in three receptions last week but he still remains a match up play each week. Facing a San Francisco 49ers passing defense that has been hit or miss against the pass could lead to good things for Smith. In fact he scored in his last meeting against the 49ers and we wouldn't be surprised if he did it again.
Point Projection: 6 points
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10. Benjamin Watson (New England Patriots) @ San Diego
Other than the fact that Watson is healthy for the time being we don't have much to say about him. Though this is the Bruno Boys gamble pick of the week as the Chargers have been terrible against the tight end and Watson could be a great plug-n-play option in Week 6.
Point Projection: 6 points
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11. Antony Fasano (Miami Dolphins) @ Houston
With every bust you get a surprise it seems and at the tight end position Fasano has been just that over the Dolphins first four games. His 14 receptions for 197 receiving yards rank in the top 10 at the TE position and Fasano should continue to be a reliable target for veteran quarterback Chad Pennington. If you own him in a 12 team league play him with confidence.
Point Projection: 5 points
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12. Zach Miller (Oakland Raiders) @ New Orleans
In our Week 6 podcast we talked about Miller was the only Oakland Raider with legitimate fantasy value in Week 6. He is starting to connect with quarterback JaMarcus Russell and with the Raiders expected to use a balanced pass/rush attack from here on out it helps Miller's value. Plus, the Saints allowed a touchdown reception to the tight end position last week.
Point Projection: 5 points
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13. Billy Miller (New Orleans Saints) vs. Oakland
With Jeremy Shockey expected to miss another game it gives fantasy owners one more week to get solid production out of him. He is starting to gain a nice rapport with quarterback Drew Brees and you can count on him for between 40-50 receiving yards in Week 6.
Point Projection: 5 points
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14. Kellen Winslow (Cleveland Browns) vs. New York Giants
Comparing
Winslow's 2007 stats to this year, he has 197 less receiving yards thus
far, despite just one less reception. This just shows that the Browns
offense is having trouble stretching the field and until they can do so
you have to limit your expectations. With the Giants bringing the
pressure all night, don't expect Winslow to breakout in Week 6. NOTE: Winslow has been hospitalized this week with an undisclosed illness. His status for the Browns Monday Night Game is up in the air.
Point Projection: 5 points
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15. Donald Lee (Green Bay Packers) @ Seattle
Lee has been solid in two of the last 3 games and with the Packers passing offense being one of the best in the league he could work his way into a low end TE1 by seasons end. The Seahawks have played the TE position well, but Lee is starting to see some red zone targets..
Point Projection: 4 points
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16. Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens) @ Indianapolis
Once again, Heap has been one of (if not) the biggest busts at the tight end position thus far. Expected to have a bounce back season, Heap has just seven receptions for 78 receiving yards and he has been held without a catch twice this season. The Colts sport one of the best pass defenses in the NFL and Heap will be lucky to break 40 receiving yards in Week 6.
Point Projection: 4 points
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17. John Carlson (Seattle Seahawks) vs. Green Bay
Not only was Carlson held without a catch in Week 5, he didn't even receive a target. Usually this is bad news, but head coach Mike Holmgrem already saying Carlson will play a bigger role in Week 6 his owners can rest assured that he will post a decent amount of fantasy points this week.
Point Projection: 4 points
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18. Daniel Graham (Denver Broncos) vs. Jacksonville
With starting tight end Tony Scheffler expected to miss Week 6 the value of Graham and Nate Jackson increases. With Graham being a better blocking tight end that receiving one you probably want to look elsewhere. However, with the Broncos expected to throw on Jacksonville, Graham has some red zone value.
Point Projection: 3 points
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19. David Martin (Miami Dolphins) @ Houston
Martin has been second fiddle to Anthony Fasano but over the seasons first month his numbers are far from shabby. He has nine receptions for 131 receiving yards and is averaging 4.5 fantasy points per game. The Texans had trouble defending the tight end position in Week 5 so there could be some opportunity for Martin.
Point Projection: 3 points
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20. Tom Santi (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Baltimore
With Peyton Manning using the approach of throwing the football to the open receiver around the goal line Santi has value when the Colts use two tight end sets. He caught a touchdown in Week 5 and could surprise with another short yardage score in Week 6.
Point Projection: 2 points
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21. Marcedes Lewis (Jacksonville Jaguars) @ Denver
In Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers we saw a Lewis sighting as he found pay dirt for the first time in 2008. His match up against the 30th ranked Broncos
Point Projection: 2 points
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22. Alex Smith (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Carolina
This Alex Smith is the better of the two in the NFL, but his fantasy value is nothing to write home about. His stats are dwindling on a weekly basis and the Tampa Bay passing game is sputtering. Plus the Carolina passing defense ranks 4th best in the NFL, allowing just 156 passing yards per game.
Point Projection: 2 points
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23. Kevin Boss (New York Giants) @ Cleveland
With Jeremy Shockey heading to the "big easy" everything thought Boss would become a favorite of Eli Manning but through four games that hasn't been the case. Boss has just five catches and has went from a tight end sleeper to a waiver wire option.
Point Projection: 2 points
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24. Delanie Walker (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Philadelphia
If you would've predicted that Delanie Walker and not Vernon Davis would be the top tight end in San Francisco we would have told you to get lost. Well folks, Walker has been the more productive of the two since Week 3 and is starting to play a bigger role in the passing game.
Point Projection: 2 points
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25. Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Philadelphia
Oh what a mess of a season it's been for Davis through five games. He is averaging just one catch per game, has been used primarily as a blocker and can't run a route to save his life. Nothing changes against a tough Eagles secondary that allows just 190 yards per game against the pass.
Point Projection: 2 points
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26. Desmond Clark (Chicago Bears) @ Atlanta
Clark is averaging roughly 4 targets per game but Greg Olsen is starting to mature as the primary tight end in Chicago. Clark will get his 20-25 yards per game but don't expect much more.
Point Projection: 2 points
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27. Jeff King (Carolina Panthers) @ Tampa Bay
King has regained the top tight end spot in Carolina but in an offense that features quality receivers on the outside and a solid running game he is often used as an extra blocker.
Point Projection: 2 points
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28. Dante Rosario (Carolina Panthers) @ Tampa Bay
After a fast start Rosario has been a non-factor over the past few weeks and has shown no signs of trending up. Stay away from Rosario as quarterback Jake Delhomme has been targeting both Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad around the red zone.
Point Projection: 2 points
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29. Tony Humphrey (Green Bay Packers) @ Seattle
In just his second NFL game with a reception, Humphrey had 67 receiving yards and even hauled in a 37 yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. Still, his value is slim to none and he shouldn't be considered in the deepest of leagues.
Point Projection: 2 points
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30. Leonard Pope (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Dallas
While Ben Patrick has been the most productive Cardinals tight end, with his six receptions for 71 receiving yards, Leonard Pope is the one who just barely makes our list as Patrick will most likely be out for Sunday's match-up with the Cowboys. Arizona sports one of the most productive passing offenses in the NFL, but their tight ends have little value.
Point Projection: 2 points
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WEEK 6 BYE WEEK TIGHT ENDS
Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers - BYE
Miller has been his typical self thus far, having some good weeks and some stinkers. He remains a red zone threat and a guy that makes a case to be a fantasy starter on a weekly basis.
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Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City Chiefs) - BYE
Despite talks of him being traded at the deadline we feel that Gonzalez isn't going anywhere and his fantasy value remains the same. Which, isn't a good thing with the Chiefs offense being one of the worst in the NFL.
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Bo Scaife (Tennessee Titans) - BYE
Scaife has been a nice surprise to those who plucked him off the waiver wire and a dagger to those who drafted Alge Crumpler. He has 20 receptions in five games, but we think he's capped his value.
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Alge Crumpler (Tennessee Titans) - BYE
Finally Alge Crumpler scored a touchdown last week, but did it really help anyone? Probably not, as Crumpler is owned in less than 20 percent of fantasy leagues.
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Robert Royal (Buffalo Bills) - BYE
Bring out the pepto, as you never know which Royal you will get on a weekly basis.
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WEEK 6 RANKINGS (click to view)
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense
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