Week 7: Start or Sit David Njoku, C.J. Uzomah, or Trey Burton?
Every week at Football Absurdity, we like to help you with your start or sit decisions. However, we have found that highlighting just one player at the fringe helps exactly one player in every league. In the interest of spreading the wealth, we have changed the format. We will now provide you start or sit advice and details on three players you should start and three you should sit on the periphery of usefulness. We are here for the people, and we only want to help you! Without further ado, the TE discussion part one this week: should you start or sit David Njoku, C.J. Uzomah, or Trey Burton?
Start or Sit David Njoku at Tampa Bay
It was the best of teams, it was the worst of teams. Njoku did almost nothing with Tyrod Taylor under center, despite getting seven targets in two of three contests. Then, a Baker Mayfield shaped angel gripped Njoku tight and lifted him from perdition, as Baker Mayfield immediately began peppering Njoku with targets. In Baker’s three full games, Njoku has 7, 11 and 12 targets. He’s increased his scoring in each of those games, as well as each game from week one until now. The Buccos defense has allowed four different tight ends to score more than 14 fantasy points against them in 0.5 PPR. Three of those guys, objectively, are not great tight ends. If Vance McDonald can do it, or Austin Hooper, or Trey Burton, then David Njoku can do it. This is probably the last time you will be wondering if you should start or sit David Njoku. This week, and pretty much from here on out, he should be a start.
C.J. Uzomah at Kansas City
Tyler Eifert is dead. Tyler Kroft is dead. Last year, the Bengals had their tight ends score the eleventh-most fantasy points out of any team in the NFL, and Uzomah is the only one left standing. He’s also pretty good, performing well enough in limited action this season. Last week with both Tylers dead, he garnered the second-most targets, second-most yards, and most catches of his career. There’s nobody to take those targets from him, so expect more of the same, as well as his fourth career touchdown. That’s because the Chiefs stink out loud against tight ends, allowing the third-most fantasy points to the position, with a tight end going for at least ten fantasy points against them in each of the last four games (in 0.5 PPR). He popped up this week as a waiver wire add, so it’s right to have to think about if you should start or sit Uzomah. Personally, I would start Uzomah this weekend.
Trey Burton versus New England
Fantasy owners who drafted Trey Burton hoping for a set-and-forget tight end this season haven’t exactly gotten what they have hoped for. He has scored touchdowns in three-of-four games, but he has more than five targets just once this year. He’s a marginal, touchdown-reliant tight end, not a mini-Ertz like we have hoped for this year. However, his opponent, the Patriots scheme to take away exactly what you do best. Nothing about the Bears offense this season would make them list “throwing the ball to Trey Burton” among their strengths. I envision him getting a season-high in targets and catches, and coming close to his 86 yard season high. A touchdown isn’t out of the question, either. The Pats allow the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends, including three touchdowns to the position in their last two games. Owners did not want him to reach “start or sit Burton” territory, but he is there. This week, however, he is a start.
If you’re in the enviable position of trying to decide who to start or sit out of these three, I would personally order them:
- David Njoku
- C.J. Uzomah
- Trey Burton
If you own one of the guys below, these articles should help you decide if you should start or sit them:
Start or Sit Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff or Joe Flacco?
Start or Sit Jameis Winston, Matthew Stafford or C.J. Beathard?
Start or Sit Jarvis Landry, Devin Funchess or John Brown?
Start or Sit Will Fuller, Larry Fitzgerald or Demaryius Thomas?
Start or Sit Frank Gore, Peyton Barber or Kerryon Johnson?
Start or Sit Adrian Peterson, Bilal Powell or Lamar Miller?
Start or Sit David Njoku, C.J. Uzomah or Trey Burton?
Start or Sit Greg Olsen, Austin Hooper or Jordan Reed?
