Free tool · Dec 8 – Dec 14
Week 14 TE start or sit
Outside the top handful of tight ends, the position is a touchdown lottery. That makes matchup a bigger tiebreaker at TE than at any other spot: red-zone defense and offensive quality are most of the signal.
Week 14 · Dec 8 – Dec 14
Start these TEs — week 14
Biggest positive matchup swing at tight end this week.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam LaPortaTE · DET | vs TEN | 13.2 | +1.7 | vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 1.7 points above a normal week. |
| 2 | Travis KelceTE · KC | @ CIN | 12.5 | +1.6 | @ CIN grades smash spot — worth about 1.6 points above a normal week. |
| 3 | Evan EngramTE · DEN | @ NYJ | 11.1 | +1.6 | @ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 1.6 points above a normal week. |
| 4 | Dallas GoedertTE · PHI | vs IND | 9.5 | +0.6 | vs IND grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week. |
| 5 | Mark AndrewsTE · BAL | vs TB | 11 | +0.5 | vs TB grades neutral — worth about 0.5 points above a normal week. |
| 6 | Colston LovelandTE · CHI | @ MIA | 8.4 | +0.3 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
| 7 | David NjokuTE · CLE | vs ATL | 7.1 | -0.2 | vs ATL grades neutral — about 0.2 points below a normal week. |
| 8 | Tucker KraftTE · GB | vs BUF | 8.3 | -0.3 | vs BUF grades tough — about 0.3 points below a normal week. |
| 9 | George KittleTE · SF | vs LAR | 11.7 | -0.4 | vs LAR grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 10 | Hunter HenryTE · NE | vs MIN | 6.1 | -0.7 | vs MIN grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
Sit or downgrade — week 14 TEs
The schedule works against these names. Elite players still start; use this to settle close calls.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brock BowersTE · LV | vs LAC | 12.6 | -1.3 | vs LAC grades nightmare — about 1.3 points below a normal week. |
| 2 | T.J. HockensonTE · MIN | @ NE | 8.9 | -1.1 | @ NE grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week. |
| 3 | Hunter HenryTE · NE | vs MIN | 6.1 | -0.7 | vs MIN grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 4 | George KittleTE · SF | vs LAR | 11.7 | -0.4 | vs LAR grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 5 | Tucker KraftTE · GB | vs BUF | 8.3 | -0.3 | vs BUF grades tough — about 0.3 points below a normal week. |
| 6 | David NjokuTE · CLE | vs ATL | 7.1 | -0.2 | vs ATL grades neutral — about 0.2 points below a normal week. |
| 7 | Colston LovelandTE · CHI | @ MIA | 8.4 | +0.3 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
| 8 | Mark AndrewsTE · BAL | vs TB | 11 | +0.5 | vs TB grades neutral — worth about 0.5 points above a normal week. |
| 9 | Dallas GoedertTE · PHI | vs IND | 9.5 | +0.6 | vs IND grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week. |
| 10 | Travis KelceTE · KC | @ CIN | 12.5 | +1.6 | @ CIN grades smash spot — worth about 1.6 points above a normal week. |
Week 14 TE rankings
Every tight end ranked by matchup-adjusted projection for this week.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam LaPortaTE · DET | vs TEN | 13.2 | +1.7 | vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 1.7 points above a normal week. |
| 2 | Brock BowersTE · LV | vs LAC | 12.6 | -1.3 | vs LAC grades nightmare — about 1.3 points below a normal week. |
| 3 | Travis KelceTE · KC | @ CIN | 12.5 | +1.6 | @ CIN grades smash spot — worth about 1.6 points above a normal week. |
| 4 | George KittleTE · SF | vs LAR | 11.7 | -0.4 | vs LAR grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 5 | Evan EngramTE · DEN | @ NYJ | 11.1 | +1.6 | @ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 1.6 points above a normal week. |
| 6 | Mark AndrewsTE · BAL | vs TB | 11 | +0.5 | vs TB grades neutral — worth about 0.5 points above a normal week. |
| 7 | Dallas GoedertTE · PHI | vs IND | 9.5 | +0.6 | vs IND grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week. |
| 8 | T.J. HockensonTE · MIN | @ NE | 8.9 | -1.1 | @ NE grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week. |
| 9 | Colston LovelandTE · CHI | @ MIA | 8.4 | +0.3 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
| 10 | Tucker KraftTE · GB | vs BUF | 8.3 | -0.3 | vs BUF grades tough — about 0.3 points below a normal week. |
| 11 | David NjokuTE · CLE | vs ATL | 7.1 | -0.2 | vs ATL grades neutral — about 0.2 points below a normal week. |
| 12 | Hunter HenryTE · NE | vs MIN | 6.1 | -0.7 | vs MIN grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
On bye in week 14
ARI · DAL
Comparing two specific names? Run them through the start/sit optimizer or check injury impact before you lock the lineup.
Week 14 TE matchup heatmap
Green is a matchup that adds points to a normal week, red is one that takes them away. The number is the average swing in points for that team's TE starters.
Biggest TE upside
- DET vs TENLead option: Sam LaPorta · 13.2 pts+1.7
- DEN @ NYJLead option: Evan Engram · 11.1 pts+1.6
- KC @ CINLead option: Travis Kelce · 12.5 pts+1.6
- PHI vs INDLead option: Dallas Goedert · 9.5 pts+0.6
- BAL vs TBLead option: Mark Andrews · 11 pts+0.5
Biggest TE downside
- LV vs LACLead option: Brock Bowers · 12.6 pts-1.3
- MIN @ NELead option: T.J. Hockenson · 8.9 pts-1.1
- NE vs MINLead option: Hunter Henry · 6.1 pts-0.7
- SF vs LARLead option: George Kittle · 11.7 pts-0.4
- GB vs BUFLead option: Tucker Kraft · 8.3 pts-0.3
Built from the same matchup grades as the week 14 TE start/sit board, so a hot cell and a start call always agree.