I already had my meltdowns about the NFL schedule in the QB start or sit article, and the WR start or sit article. Let’s not rehash how my brain is turning into a fine sludge and running out of my ears because of this coronavirus season. Instead, let’s decide which tight ends we should start or sit this week among Eric Ebron, T.J. Hockenson, or Rob Gronkowski.
Eric Ebron versus Cleveland
I know I called Eric Ebron a drop this week. And I know I’ve been doom-screaming about Steelers tight ends for years, but here’s the thing… You should start Eric Ebron this week. Ebron averages six targets per game over the last four contests and is turning in at least 5/40 each week. That presents a great PPR floor, and given that the floor of a lot of TEs is literally zero (*cough* Mo Alie-Cox *cough*), I am going to recommend some nice, soft points for you here.
Ebron gets the Browns this week, who “shut down” Jack Doyle and Big MAC last week, but in reality, Philip Rivers shut them down. In the first four weeks, tight ends had 6, 6, 9, 7, and 8 targets against the Browns. That’s why they’re the #4 team in opposing TE fantasy points. And hey, if I’m wrong about this, I told you to cut him.
T.J. Hockenson at Jacksonville
Right now, Hockenson is tied for sixth in ten-zone targets, and he’s played one fewer game than the guys above him on the list. He’s the guy when the Lions get down deep and are knocking on the end zone. Hockenson doesn’t get a lot of targets (five per game ties him for seventeenth… with Mark Andrews and Jared Cook), but he does get good targets. The Jaguars allow the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends this season, and they’ve done that with no tight end getting more than five targets against them this year. That’s insane efficiency for good tight ends doing well and bodes well for Hockenson. I am going to bank on another touchdown and say to start T.J. Hockenson against the Jags.
Rob Gronkowski versus Green Bay
Rob Gronkowski has sixteen targets over the last three weeks, so he’s getting worked into the Bucs’ passing game plans with increasing frequency. The problem? It doesn’t matter. Gronk had a season-high 52 yards against the Bears and is yet to score a touchdown. He’s just a shell of his former self. The one reason I wasn’t super full-throated about betting against Gronk this year was his potential touchdown production in the red zone. That’s all gone to Mike Evans, who has somewhere around 500 one- or two-yard touchdowns this season (the actual number is four). Gronk has two red zone targets period. There’s just nothing left for him overall.
This is a plea: if you found this article by asking Google about Rob Gronkowski, free yourself from the pain.
The Verdict
Well, obviously you don’t want to start Rob Gronkowski. Look at that glowing praise I heaped on him. I would go Eric Ebron, and then T.J. Hockenson this week.
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