We’re into the fantasy football playoffs, and ideally, we wouldn’t worry about streaming players or looking for sleeper tight ends. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is tearing through the NFL right now, which means players are falling into the protocol on a moment-to-moment basis. If you’re left without a good tight end option because of COVID-19 or injury, then never fear. We have you covered with some sleeper tight ends for week fifteen. To make this list, two players need to be available in at least 50% of leagues. The third of these three sleeper tight ends is available in at least 90% of leagues. Without further ado, let’s get to the first round of the fantasy football playoffs, and the sleeper tight ends.
Cole Kmet versus Minnesota (26% rostered)
Kmet didn’t really come through for us last week, but he still has the targets indicator to look at for future production. Over the last four weeks, he averaged 6.3 targets per game, which his more than guys like T.J. Hockenson, Kyle Pitts, and Dallas Goedert. He has the look of someone who is ready to have a big game, and he has a pretty decent opponent to do it this weekend. The Vikings yield the tenth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends, but most of that is thanks to an ungodly run of denying them touchdowns. From weeks one through ten, the Vikings allowed zero tight end touchdowns. They have allowed four in their last four games. This is mostly thanks to injuries among their linebackers, who are still banged up. It could be a breakthrough game for Kmet on Monday.
David Njoku versus Las Vegas (5% rostered)
Njoku is waving to all his offensive teammates hitting the COVID-19 IR as he comes off of it, ready to go for this weekend’s game against the Raiders. The tight end situation in Cleveland is generally a mess, with too many mouths to feed. This weekend, the only mouth available will be Njoku’s. Austin Hooper tested positive for COVID-19, and Harrison Bryant was limited in practice with an ankle injury (after being inactive in week fourteen).
The Raiders have given up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends, with six tight ends getting over 100 yards or a touchdown against them since their week six bye. Five tight ends had at least six targets against them this season; everyone walked away with at least 100 yards or a touchdown.
James O’Shaughnessy versus Houston (2% rostered)
The Jaguars’ tight end is an easy 5-6 targets every week. It was true of Dan Arnold, and it remains true of James O’Shaughnessy, who has 6.25 targets per game this year (excluding the game where he was injured). He hasn’t done a ton, notching just 63 yards in his three games off of IR, but he gets the Texans this week. The Texans are a tight end free space and are the team that gave JOS his best game this year (6/48 on 8 targets in week one).
Houston gave up a touchdown to Gerald Everett last week, a double-digit game to Anthony Firkser in week 11, and let tight ends score at will on them. They have given up the eighth-most fantasy points on the season without playing a tight end we would consider a must-start. The highest caliber tight ends they’ve faced are Mike Gesicki and Dawson Knox, to give you an idea of the level of competition they’re dealing with.
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