Week 14 Fantasy Football Defensive Matchup Exploitation: TE

Jared Cook fantasy football
Jared Cook fantasy football
Oct 20 2013 Charlotte NC USA St Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook 89 breaks the tackle of Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis 58 during the game at Bank of America Stadium Panthers win 30 15 Sam Sharpe USA TODAY Sports

Tight end matchups can be very important but when it comes to our handful of “top” tight ends, they are always must-starts because their ceiling is far higher than typical tight ends around the league.

Vernon Davis was held to just three catches for 20 yards the last time he faced the Seahawks but he has been a fantasy goldmine all season, otherwise. He has put up at least one touchdown in eight of 10 full games that he’s played and has scored a touchdown in three straight weeks so I’d keep him in the lineup. Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, and Julius Thomas (if healthy) are always must-starts.

Jordan Reed is close to an elite tight end but he’s banged up, may not play, and has the toughest matchup of any fantasy tight end so I’d stay away. The Bengals are tough on tight ends but Coby Fleener is basically the number two wide receiver in Indy so he’s still startable but not a strong option. Greg Olsen isn’t a great option against the Saints either but he has put up a touchdown or 85+ yards in five of his last six games so he’s startable as well.

I’d stay away from Zach Miller (always), Brandon Pettigrew, Rob Housler, Tim Wright, the Eagles’ tight ends, Charles Clay, and the Bengals’ tight ends this week. Jordan Cameron has not put up more than 43 yards in four straight weeks and the Browns don’t even know who will start at quarterback so this isn’t the week to roll out Cameron.

On the favorable side, the unreliable Jared Cook has the most favorable matchup against a Cards defense that has been burned by Philly’s tight ends, Coby Fleener, Danny Noble (Jaguars), Zach Miller, Vernon Davis, Greg Olsen, and Jimmy Graham. Cook already faced the Cards back in Week 1 (although that was with Sam Bradford at quarterback) and put up his best game of the season with 141 yards and two touchdowns.

Garrett Graham is a very solid-looking start against the Jags defense, as are Heath Miller against the Dolphins, Delanie Walker against the Broncos, Martellus Bennett against the Cowboys, Anthony Fasano against the Redskins, either Chargers tight end against the Giants, Jason Witten against the Bears, and Tony Gonzalez against the Packers.

I’d still stay away from Mychal Rivera (always) and Andrew Quarless. Dennis Pitta could be a good start, though, if he plays.

Let’s take a look at how all of the tight end matchups are shaping up for Week 14.

Browse Matchups by Position: QBRBWRTE

Highly Unfavorable, Unfavorable, Neutral, Slightly Favorable, Favorable

Rank
vs
TE

AVG
TE
FPS
Allowed

Defense

Week 14 Opponents

1

5.3 Chiefs Jordan Reed (Q)

2

5.42 49ers Zach Miller

3

5.65 Eagles Brandon Pettigrew, Joseph Fauria

4

5.66 Rams Rob Housler

5

6.05 Saints Greg Olsen

6

6.35 Bills Tim Wright

7

6.46 Bengals Coby Fleener

8

6.62 Lions Brent Celek, Zach Ertz

9

6.76 Seahawks Vernon Davis

10

6.86 Steelers Charles Clay

11

7.09 Colts Jermaine Gresham, Tyler Eifert

12

7.21 Panthers Jimmy Graham

13

7.57 Patriots Jordan Cameron

14

7.79 Raiders Jeff Cumberland, Kellen Winslow

15

8.02 Texans Marcedes Lewis

16

8.08 Ravens John Carlson

17

8.14 Browns Rob Gronkowski

18

8.39 Buccaneers Scott Chandler

19

8.52 Chargers Brandon Myers

20

8.75 Titans Julius Thomas (Q), Jacob Tamme

21

9.03 Falcons Andrew Quarless

22

9.07 Packers Tony Gonzalez

23

9.07 Bears Jason Witten

24

9.14 Giants Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green

25

9.35 Jets Mychal Rivera

26

9.79 Redskins Anthony Fasano

27

10.23 Cowboys Martellus Bennett

28

10.31 Vikings Dennis Pitta (Q), Dallas Clark

29

10.47 Broncos Delanie Walker

30

10.63 Dolphins Heath Miller

31

11.15 Jaguars Garrett Graham

32

14.41 Cardinals Jared Cook

*Values based on Yahoo standard scoring.

Browse Matchups by Position: QBRBWRTE

author avatar
Igor Derysh
Igor Derysh is Editor-at-Large at XN Sports and has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sun-Sentinel, and FantasyPros. He has previously covered sports for COED Magazine, Fantasy Alarm, and Manwall.com.