Fantasy Football: Tight End Volatility Demands Cautious Lineup Decisions in Week 11
Navigating the tight end position in fantasy football often requires a degree of risk tolerance, but Week 11 presents a landscape demanding particularly careful consideration. Several players with previously promising outlooks face challenging matchups or have demonstrated inconsistent production, forcing managers to weigh potential upside against likely limitations. Strategic benching decisions could be the difference between a playoff push and a frustrating defeat.
Tight end performance is notoriously unpredictable, and this week’s slate is no exception. A handful of players are facing defenses that have consistently stifled opposing tight ends, while others are struggling to earn consistent targets within their respective offenses.This analysis identifies key ”sit” candidates, offering data-driven insights to help fantasy managers optimize their Week 11 lineups.
Sit of the Week: T.J.Hockenson vs. Bears (1 p.m. ET, fox)
Despite a seemingly favorable matchup against the Chicago Bears, T.J. Hockenson remains a risky fantasy start. He has been held to single-digit fantasy points in five of his last six games, and is averaging fewer than four targets in games started by J.J.McCarthy. This limited involvement makes it difficult to confidently include Hockenson in starting lineups, even against a vulnerable opponent.
Additional Players to Bench:
Dalton Schultz at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox): While Schultz recently posted a strong performance with seven catches, a touchdown, and 18.3 fantasy points, caution is warranted this week. The Titans defense has largely contained opposing tight ends, allowing more than 9.3 points to only two players all season - Tyler Warren (twice),Hunter henry,and Schultz himself in week 4.
Evan Engram vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Engram’s first season with the Broncos has been underwhelming, with single-digit fantasy points in all but one of his nine games. his recent struggles – totaling just 3.2 points over the last two weeks – further solidify his status as a player to keep on the sidelines, particularly against a Chiefs defense that has limited all but two tight ends to 10 or fewer points.
Luke Musgrave at Giants (1 p.m. ET,Fox): Although Luke Musgrave is expected to see an increased role in the Packers offense following Tucker Kraft’s injury,his production remains heavily matchup-dependent. The giants defense has allowed double-digit fantasy points to only four tight ends this season and has successfully limited notable players like George kittle, Travis Kelce, and Oronde Gadsden to fewer than seven points.