Fantasy Football Week 6 Tight End Start Decision: Cole Kmet, Isaiah Likely, Dalton Schultz, Dallas Goedert, Pat Freiermuth and More

Taking a look at several fantasy tight end starting options for week 6.

Week 6 is already underway after Thursday’s game, but a big slate of games still lies ahead. Fantasy football owners are focused on putting together as good of starting lineups as they can and that’s what I’m here to try and help with.

We’ll take a look at several tight ends. We’ll decide between Dalton Schultz, Cole Kmet, Cade Otton, Zach Ertz, Mark Andrews, Tucker Kraft, Isaiah Likely, Sam LaPorta, Tyler Conklin, Dalton Kincaid, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Pat Freiermuth, Kyle Pitts and Dallas Goedert.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Season Stats

Schultz has 116 yards across 14 catches and 22 targets. He’s yet to score. Schultz has had four or less catches in every game, and hasn’t topped 35 yards yet.

Kmet is up to 219 yards and a touchdown on 21 catches and 24 targets. He’s topped 50 yards two times, and had five or less catches in four contests.

Otton has 148 receiving yards and no scores on 17 receptions and 25 targets. He’s been over 40 yards three times, but also had two games at five or less yards.

Ertz has caught 17 of his 24 targets for 160 yards and no touchdowns. He’s hit five receptions just once, and only gone over 40 yards once.

Andrews had a season-high 55 yards last week. He had 51 yards in week 2 and 14 in week 1, but was held without a catch in weeks 3 and 4. He hasn’t hit five receptions in a game yet, and also hasn’t scored.

Kraft had two catches and under 40 yards in the first three games, but has 10 receptions for 141 yards and three scores since Jordan Love returned to the lineup. He’s dealing with a groin injury going into week 6.

Likely had 111 yards and a score in week 1, but has just 69 yards on seven catches since - he scored two times last week, but had just 13 yards on three catches total.

LaPorta has 147 yards and no scores on 12 catches and 14 targets across four games. He’s topped 50 yards just once, and hasn’t hit five receptions in any contest. 

Conklin is up to 181 yards, but no scores, on 17 catches and 27 targets in five games. He has two games over 50 yards, but three under 20 yards. He’s gone over five catches on two occasions. Conklin is dealing with a hip injury as week 6 approaches.

Kincaid has just 166 yards and a touchdown on 15 grabs and 24 targets. He’s reached five receptions once, but his season high is 47 yards.

Engram has been out since week 1 with a hamstring injury. He had five yards on a catch and four targets in the opener.

Njoku returned last week from knee/ankle injuries. He had 14 yards on a catch and three targets, and went for 44 yards on four grabs and five targets in week 1.

Freiermuth has 178 yards and two touchdowns on 20 grabs and 23 targets. He’s reached five receptions and 50 yards once. 

Pitts had his best game in week 5, going for 88 yards on seven catches and eight targets. He had 59 yards in another game, finished under 30 yards twice and was held without a catch in week 4.

Goedert has 301 yards, but no scores, on 24 receptions and 28 targets. He had 170 yards and 10 of his catches in one game, while going for 62 yards on seven grabs - that came without A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the lineup.

Week 6 Matchups

Schultz has an average matchup against the Patriots, who allow 10 fantasy points to tight ends per week so far. Jacksonville is a slightly tougher matchup for Kmet, as the Jaguars allow nine points.

Otton takes on the Saints’ defense that allows opposing TEs to score 12 points per game. Ertz’s clash with the Ravens is pretty favorable, as Baltimore allows 14 points per contest.

The matchup against the Commanders for Likely and Andrews is tough, as Washington allows just seven points per game. Kraft’s clash with the Cardinals is average, as they allow 10 points.

The Cowboys are a bit tougher matchup for LaPorta, with Dallas allowing eight points per game. Conklin takes on the Bills, who give up 10 points. 

Kincaid’s matchup with the Jets is really tough, with New York giving up just six points a game. The Bears are a tougher matchup for Engram, as Chicago allows seven points. 

Njoku’s matchup with the Eagles is tough as well, as Philly gives up six points per week. Las Vegas is a slightly below-average matchup for Freiermuth, as the Raiders allow nine points per week.

Pitts has a favorable matchup against the Panthers, who give up 12 points per game. The matchup for Goedert against the Browns is tougher, with Cleveland allowing seven points a game.

Projections and Recommended Starters

I was surprised to see Kraft with the highest projection at 11 PPR fantasy points. I guess the fantasy TE position is so weak that a couple big weeks will do that for a player.

LaPorta, Pitts and Goedert are all projected for 10 points. Kincaid sits at nine points, while Engram, Schultz, Kmet, Otton, Likely, Conklin and Freiermuth are all at eight points.

Njoku is projected for seven points, with Andrews and Ertz at six each.

The fantasy TE position is so hard to predict, but I’ll do my best.

I’d go with LaPorta as my No. 1 option. I know he’s underwhelmed so far, but coming off a bye, I think Detroit tries to get him going this week. The matchup is average, and I think you just have to trust your top-end draft pick to get the job done.

I’m taking a gamble with Pitts here. He’s coming off a big game and has a favorable matchup, so I’m hoping he can deliver again. 

As long as Kraft isn’t on a snap count restriction, I’d take him here. I really wanted to take him above Pitts, but Kraft’s injury scares me just enough. Kraft could easily lead the position in scoring again.

I’d take Schultz here. The matchup is solid, and although he’s underwhelmed so far, I think Schultz gets more involved now with Nico Collins out. 

Give me Conklin here. The matchup is solid and he’s been targeted a bunch of late. The only thing I’d really worry about is the Jets’ offense looking a bit different after the coaching change.

I’d play matchups next and try Ertz. He’s coming off his worst game of the season, but was still targeted eight times. His matchup is super favorable, and I’d start him and that upside over anyone else.

Give me Freiermuth here. He’s got a pretty solid floor, and that’s what I’m hoping for the further down this list I go.

I’d play matchups again here and take Otton. He’s been pretty solid over the past three games, and I think the matchup will allow him to have another solid showing in week 6.

Give me Kmet here. He too has strung a few solid showings together now, and I like his fantasy floor. 

I’d take Goedert here. I expect Brown and Smith to be back this week, which will limit Goedert a bit offensively. He still could go off, but I wouldn’t be nearly as confident in that happening as the past couple games.

I’d take Kincaid after that. He just hasn’t lived up to the preseason hype yet, and has a brutal matchup. I’d try to avoid playing him if I could.

Engram also has a tougher matchup, and coming off a long layoff, I don’t expect him to be full go this week. Avoid Engram if you can as well.

Give me Likely and then Andrews back to back. I don’t trust either player right now, but they might bail you out with a touchdown, or a single big play. 

Njoku takes my last spot. Even though he returned last week, he’s still not 100%, and this matchup for him is brutal. Avoid him for another week if you can.

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