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Week 12 fantasy TE PPR rankings

Matt Lutovsky

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30 slides

With no teams on bye this week, we can say that "every tight end" is available for our Week 12 fantasy TE PPR rankings, but that wouldn't really be accurate, now would it? Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, and Darren Waller are all unavailable because of injuries (and Kyle Pitts and Gerald Everett might be out, too), and because of that, our rankings are still lacking for a lot of high-upside sleepers and waiver-wire streamers.

Tough matchups for some usual starters further complicate matters. The disappointing George Kittle (vs. Saints in Week 12) is even on the chopping block in shallow leagues, but the bigger worries are Dalton Schultz (vs. Giants), Greg Dulcich (@ Panthers), Robert Tonyan (@ Eagles), Cole Kmet (@ Jets), and Tyler Conklin (vs. Bears). Schultz has a higher floor in PPR formats -- and Dulcich has a high ceiling thanks to frequent targets and explosive athleticism -- but all face above-average tight end defenses this week. Don't settle if there are better options.

That includes mid-tier guys like Everett (@ Cardinals), if active, Tyler Higbee (@ Chiefs), Dawson Knox (@ Lions), and Hayden Hurst (@ Titans). You can't simply pick up these guys in most leagues, but they could be hanging around benches or available for trades. If they're available in any way, consider acquiring them and getting them into your lineup. All face defenses that entered Week 11 in the top 10 in fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends, and all have higher floors/ceilings in PPR formats.

WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers

Going deeper, Foster Moreau (@ Seahawks), Evan Engram (vs. Ravens), Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith (@ Vikings), and Will Dissly and Noah Fant (vs. Raiders) are the top matchup-based streamers available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. Dissly and Henry have particularly low floors in PPR formats, but Moreau -- who has the best possible matchup for a TE -- and Engram are both solid-floor and high-ceiling PPR plays. Fant's ceiling is capped by Dissly and Smith's ceiling is capped by Henry, but they've both been seeing more targets lately.

WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

We'll continue monitoring the statuses of Everett (groin), Pitts (knee), and Daniel Bellinger (eye), and the target shares/snaps for Ertz-replacement Trey McBride (vs. Chargers). (Update: Pitts has reportedly suffered a torn MCL and is expected to miss extended time.) As is the case with Cade Otton (@ Browns) and Juwan Johnson (@ 49ers), Bellinger (@ Cowboys) and McBride have tough matchups this week, but they could all find their way into starting lineups down the stretch and be potential difference-makers in the fantasy playoffs.

Overall, tight end is fairly deep this week. There are plenty of "must-starts" and consistent producers at the top of the rankings, many of whom have favorable matchups. We also have enough sleepers and potential streamers to help all owners fill out their starting lineups. But as usual, TE remains a TD-or-bust position for most players, so no matter who you choose to start, you might be waiting for that one big play, even in PPR leagues.

We'll be updating these TE PPR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes and analysis.