Before Week 13 I wrote about how George Kittle was a must-start tight end even through his down weeks because of his incredible upside. It's amazing how much that feels like it's changed after just one week. Jimmy Garoppolo's injury led to Brock Purdy taking over and throwing 37 passes, only two of them went to Kittle.
It would be easy to look at that first game and think Kittle's no longer a starting option. In fact, if you look at the projections below, you'll see Kittle outside the top-15. It's even easier to think that Purdy will destroy any hope of Kittle having upside. It would be easy, but it would also be rash.
The fact that Kyle Shanahan let Purdy throw 37 passes and his aDOT was a paltry 5.4 yards per attempt could actually be viewed as encouraging. It could be that last week was a McCaffrey/Samuel week, and this week will be a Kittle week.
At the very least, it's too soon to give up on Kittle, which is why he's solidly inside my top 10. I can't imagine that changing before Week 16, mostly because he plays the Seahawks next week. If he gives us duds in the next two games, we'll have to reevaluate in the Fantasy semi-finals.
Here's everything else you need to know about tight end in Week 14:
Daniel Bellinger has five targets in each of his past two full games and I would expect the Giants to be well above their normal pass rate against the Eagles.
Hooper may be the No. 1 pass catcher in Tennessee if Treylon Burks is out. He has 20 targets over the last four weeks, but the efficiency just hasn't been very good. The hope is that improves against the worst defense he's seen since Week 9.
I don't really want to trust Henry or the Patriots pass game, but a matchup against the Cardinals is as good as it gets. They've allowed two more FPPG to the position than any other defense. Nine different tight ends have scored double-digit PPR Fantasy points against them.
Hockenson has already been an enormous part of the Vikings offense ever since he arrived. I can't imagine they don't get him at least one touchdown in his first game against the Lions.
If you want the ultimate cheap dart throw at tight end, this is it. Okonkwo played a season-high 58% of the snaps after Treylon Burks was hurt and caught a career-high four passes for 68 yards. The Titans have used him as a downfield threat, which gives him the upside to make your day in one play at his price.
