Fantasy Football Week 11 Tight End Start/Sit: Sam LaPorta, Dalton Kincaid, Zach Ertz and More

Cincinnati tight end Tanner Hudson proved an important lesson last week: after combining for just four catches and 32 yards prior to Week 10, Hudson hauled in six receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens.

In my Week 11 FAAB preview, I talked about how owners shouldn’t be chasing mediocre (or worse) players who have one big week, like Hudson, but should instead be chasing their matchups. Baltimore, Cincy’s Week 10 opponent, has allowed the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

It would be better to start a tight end facing Baltimore every week rather than relying on a guy like Hudson. Look for the fire, not the smoke.

Let’s look at three tight ends to start and three to sit in Week 11 of the fantasy football season. I used defensive stats from NFL.com and our FantasySP defensive fantasy rankings to help identify the best and worst matchups. I will reference those numbers often.

Start

Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

While the Bengals are right at average in yards per pass attempt allowed, they have been shredded by tight ends, allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to the position. Each of Cincinnati’s past three opponents had a tight end top 50 receiving yards and catch a touchdown.

Dissly isn’t on the level of David Njoku, Brock Bowers, and Mark Andrews (Cincy’s last three opponents), but I was surprised to find that Dissly is second on the Chargers in receptions and targets. He’s fourth in yards and hasn’t scored a touchdown, but Dissly has been involved, averaging close to four catches and 30 yards per game.

Dissly is nothing more than a low-level streaming option; the matchup is right if you’re desperate for a tight end, though.

Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Speaking of matchups, Kansas City has been allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends all season. The Chiefs are average or better in terms of allowing pass yards and fantasy points to quarterbacks and wide receivers, but tight ends continue to excel against KC.

Kincaid left last week’s game and is questionable to play. If he were to miss the game, Knox would step into the starting lineup and jump onto fantasy radars. Kincaid leads the Bills in targets and is second in receptions and third in yards. His two touchdowns are tied for third. Knox’s stats are lower, understandably, as he’s in a backup role.

Buffalo’s starting tight end is worthy of being in fantasy lineups in Week 11. Kincaid will be a top-five tight end option if he plays, and Knox will be close to the top 10 if Kincaid is out. Knox would also have a little value as a desperation play even if Kincaid is in the lineup.

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

LaPorta has disappointed to the point that he’s not necessarily a weekly starter. Many owners still treat him that way because of his upside and because there aren’t a lot of great options, but it’s reasonable to play matchups with LaPorta if you have another reliable guy.

The matchup is in his favor in this one, as Jacksonville has allowed the third-most yards per pass attempt and seventh-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. The Jags are severely underwhelming because of their defense more than anything that’s happening with the offense (though both sides shoulder blame).

LaPorta has been OK, and he has a chance to perform better than that with a great matchup in Week 11. Coming off a 66-yard, one-touchdown game, LaPorta is positioned to match or top those numbers against the Jags.

Sit

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles

Ertz averaged over 10 yards per catch in all but one of the first nine seasons of his career (and that one was 9.3). Over 2022-23, that average fell to a combined 8.0 yards per reception. It was easy to see a tight end nearing 35 and assume he had lost his top gear.

While he will never be the player he was in his prime, Ertz is again over 10 yards per reception this season. He’s averaging around four catches and 40 yards per game and has caught just one touchdown. That’s not a superstar line, but it’s good enough to be a fantasy streamer.

This is one of the worst matchups around, as the Eagles have allowed the least yards per pass attempt and third-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. Philly oddly lost their way on defense last season, leading to their downfall in the playoffs, but they have righted the ship in 2024 and again look like contenders.

Jayden Daniels makes things happen, and Ertz could find the end zone, but the numbers are against a good performance this week.

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans

Ferguson lost his quarterback for the season; that’s issue #1. When Dak Prescott went on IR, Ferguson’s fantasy ceiling and floor plummeted. Dallas threw for just 66 yards against the Eagles in Week 10, though Ferguson did have 24 of them on four catches.

Another brutal matchup for the passing game awaits on Monday night: Houston has allowed the third-least yards per pass attempt and the fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. It won’t be surprising to see the Cowboys struggle again throwing the ball, even if they do top 100 yards.

There just doesn't seem to be enough to go around for Dallas’ pass catchers to have much fantasy value. Ferguson belongs on a bench in Week 11.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings @ Tennessee Titans

Hockenson returned a few weeks ago from a major knee injury suffered near the end of last season. After a modest debut, he racked up 72 yards on eight receptions against Jacksonville last week.

The matchup is much tougher against Tennessee. The Titans have been among the best pass defenses all season, currently ranking second in yards per pass attempt allowed and giving up the sixth-least fantasy point per game to tight ends.

Hockenson was a top-five fantasy tight end before his injury, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him return near that level, but Week 11 is a bad matchup; Hockenson is probably better on your bench than in your starting lineup.