Start Zach Ertz, Hunter Henry, Noah Fant, Cole Kmet, Tyler Conklin? More Expert Start/Sit Advice For TEs

Setting your lineups can be difficult, especially with COVID-19 outbreaks galore and the fantasy football semifinals upon us.

Below you will find some tight ends I like, as well as some I don’t like for Week 16 based on matchups, injuries, trends and more.

Be sure to consult our experts' real-time rankings for fantasy football start/sit advice on any COVID- or injury-impacted players.

Fantasy TEs To Start/Sit In Week 16

Zach Ertz, Cardinals vs. Colts

Ertz has been underwhelming since he was traded to the Cardinals. He is coming off of a strong Week 15, however, and saw a season-high 11 targets in Detroit. He caught six passes for 74 yards and finished as the TE7 with 10 fantasy points in half PPR scoring. It appears he and receiver Christian Kirk will benefit most from the loss of DeAndre Hopkins (knee) from a target perspective. Ertz vaults into the mid-range TE1 tier this week with the Colts on deck, as Indianapolis has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this year.

Verdict: Start.

Noah Fant, Broncos at Raiders

Fant is coming off of his best game since Week 10. He caught five of six passes for 57 yards and finished inside the top 12 at his position for the sixth time this season. Albert Okwuegbunam was also involved and caught three of four targets for 58 yards. I don't think the switch to Drew Lock will impact Fant, who played with Lock for multiple seasons. The Broncos face the Raiders this week, whose defense has allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Fant should be a borderline TE1 this week.

Verdict: Start.

Cole Kmet, Bears at Seahawks

Kmet had a nice day for fantasy against the Vikings on Monday. He caught six of nine targets for 71 yards — good enough for 10 fantasy points and a TE8 finish. The Bears face Seattle this week, whose defense has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to the tight end position this year. Kmet is a viable streaming option for managers scrambling for a replacement for Darren Waller, Travis Kelce or Pat Freiermuth — who could all miss Week 16.

Verdict: Start.

Hunter Henry, Patriots vs. Bills

It's going to be tempting to start Henry coming off of his best game of the year. He reeled in six of eight targets for a season-high 77 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts, finishing as the TE3 with 23 fantasy points in half PPR. I am wary of chasing points here, especially going from the fourth-worst defense against fantasy tight ends to the fourth-best. The Bills have been extremely stingy to tight ends this year and have only allowed two double-digit fantasy performances to the position all season (Logan Thomas and Travis Kelce). Henry is a low-end TE1 this week with downside.

Verdict: Sit.

Tyler Conklin, Vikings vs. Rams

Conklin has been serviceable in certain matchups as a bye-week fill-in or streamer. He is coming off of his worst game of the season, however, in which he caught one of three passes for seven yards against the Bears, tallying just one fantasy point. Some expected his target share to increase with Adam Thielen sidelined due to an ankle sprain, but with just five targets over the last two games, that surely was not the case. With Thielen trending toward returning this week and the Rams — who are above average against tight ends — Conklin belongs back on the waiver wire and is a sit for me.

Verdict: Sit.

Foster Moreau, Raiders vs. Broncos

Moreau finally showed up last week against a Browns team that had been ravaged by COVID-19. He caught seven of nine targets for 69 yards — good enough to finish as the TE9 in half PPR with 10 fantasy points. This comes on the heels of two disappointing outings with Darren Waller out in which Moreau combined for four catches, 47 yards and zero touchdowns. Waller is trending toward missing another game this week, but either way, I am out on Moreau against the Broncos; Denver has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends all year.

Verdict: Sit.