Fantasy Football Week 13 Tight End Start Decision: Jonnu Smith, Taysom Hill, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Kyle Pitts and More

With three Thursday games in week 13, it’s a bit more difficult to put together start decision stories. We did it for quarterbacks, but switched things up for running backs and wide receivers a bit.

We can go back to my regular start decision story setup for tight ends. We’ll discuss Jonnu Smith, George Kittle, Taysom Hill, Cade Otton, T.J. Hockenson, Mark Andrews, Evan Engram, Will Dissly, David Njoku, Luke Schoonmaker or Jake Ferguson and Kyle Pitts.

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

Season Stats

Smith is up to 535 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 48 receptions and 63 targets for the season. He scored 24 fantasy points last week and 28 the week before that. Smith has scored in double figures in five of the past seven weeks.

Kittle has 642 yards and eight scores on 49 catches and 59 targets. In the games he’s played in, Kittle has scored 15 or more fantasy points in all but one game (the season opener) - he’s been over 20 points on five occasions.

Hill has caught 18 of his 24 targets for 150 yards and no touchdowns this season. He’s rushed for 268 yards and six scores on 34 attempts and also passed for 21 yards on 2-of-4 passing, with no touchdowns and a pick included. 

Hill scored a whopping 42 fantasy points in his last appearance. He scored 16 points back in week 9, and had seven fantasy points in the game between.

Otton has 486 yards and four scores on 50 receptions and 73 targets for the season. He has tallied just 13 fantasy points over the past two weeks. Otton had between 18-29 fantasy points in weeks 7-9 as the Buccaneers were without their top wideouts.

Hockenson has tallied 226 yards, but no scores, on 20 catches and 25 targets across four games so far. He scored six fantasy points in his season debut before scoring 15 points. Hockenson had just three points in week 11 before tallying a season-high 18 in week 12.

Andrews has accumulated 423 yards and six touchdowns on 37 receptions and 44 targets this season. He scored 16 points in week 12, but just four in week 11. Andrews has alternated single- and double-digit fantasy performances across the past five weeks. 

Engram has 291 yards and a score on 36 grabs and 49 targets this season. Since returning to the field in week 6 (after missing four games), Engram has scored at least eight fantasy points in each game - he’s been over 15 points just once (his first game back).

Dissly has come on strong of late, and now has 399 yards and a score on 41 catches and 52 targets this season. He has eight or more fantasy points in each of the past three games, with a season-high 18-point performance in week 11.

Njoku has 345 yards and two touchdowns across 40 catches and 57 targets. He only scored four fantasy points in week 12, but had 19 in week 11. Njoku had eight points in week 9, 17 in week 8 and a season-high 24 back in week 7.

Schoonmaker and Ferguson are listed together because Ferguson is still working his way back from a concussion. 

Ferguson has 369 yards, but no scores, on 43 receptions and 58 targets this season. He’s scored in double figures four times, including the team’s first clash with the Giants (who the Cowboys play this week). Schoonmaker has been good in Ferguson’s absence, tallying 167 yards and a score on 17 grabs and 25 targets overall. He has scored 27 fantasy points over the past two weeks as Ferguson got hurt and then sat out.

Pitts is up to 494 yards and three touchdowns across 35 grabs and 52 targets. He scored two points in week 11, 10 in week 10 and just two in week 9. Pitts had a string of four straight double-digit fantasy performances from weeks 5-8.

Week 13 Matchups

Smith faces the Packers in the third Thanksgiving game. Ferguson and Schoonmaker have a matchup against the Giants in the second game of the day.

On Sunday, Dissly and Pitts are part of the same game. Engram takes on the Texans, while Hockenson faces the Cardinals.

Otton goes up against the Panthers, while Hill takes on the Rams. Andrews is taking on the Eagles, while Kittle faces the Bills. Njoku plays Monday night against the Broncos.

Smith’s clash against the Packers is somewhat favorable, as Green Bay allows 13 fantasy points a week to opposing tight ends. Whoever starts at TE for the Cowboys has a tough test against the Giants, who give up just eight fantasy points a week.

Pitts and Dissly have pretty average tests, as the Chargers and Falcons each allow 11 fantasy points a week. Engram has a tough matchup against the Texans, who give up only nine points per game. It’s just a bit of a better matchup for Hockenson against the Cardinals, who allow 10 points.

Otton has one of the most favorable matchups for a TE, as the Panthers give up 16 fantasy points a week. The Rams are a pretty favorable matchup for Hill (although he’s not a true TE), as LA gives up 14 points.

Andrews has a brutal test against the Eagles, who give up only eight points a week to TEs. It’s an average matchup for Kittle against the Bills, who surrender 12 points a week. Njoku’s clash against the Broncos is just below average, as Denver allows 11 points a week.

Projections and Starting Recommendations

In the week 13 projections, Kittle is projected for 13 PPR fantasy points. Hill is set for 12 points.

Smith, Otton, Engram and Njoku are all set for 11 points. Hockenson sits at 10 points, while Dissly and Pitts are at nine each. Andrews (8), Ferguson (7) and Schoonmaker (4) are the lowest-projected fantasy performers - I don’t think Schoonmaker would absorb Ferguson’s projection if he’s out; instead, I’d guess Schoonmaker is set for eight, or nine points at most.

Kittle has been the top fantasy tight end this season, and regardless of the matchup, I want to take him first. I’d drop him a spot or two if Brock Purdy misses week 13.

I’d target the favorable matchup and want Otton second. I think he gets rolling again this week, even with Mike Evans back in the lineup.

I’d roll the dice on Hill next. I think his last game out was a sign of things to come, and although I wouldn’t expect a monster fantasy showing every time out, his upside is probably just as high, or higher, than every other fantasy TE out there.

Give me Smith next. He’s been tearing it up of late, and thinking the Dolphins will need to pass a bunch to keep up with the Packers, I expect Smith to deliver again.

I’d take Hockenson next. He hasn’t been super consistent yet, but his upside is too good to pass on any longer.

I’d then want Njoku, followed closely by Dissly. Both have similar matchups and could be big-time parts of their team’s passing games.

I’d take Engram here. I’m not as high on him as the projections are, especially if Trevor Lawrence is out again, but Engram could still score a bunch of fantasy points with several catches.

I’d roll with Pitts next. His inconsistencies of late scare me off him, even in a pretty solid matchup. He’s still capable of a big-time fantasy score, so I don’t want to pass on him any longer.

I’d take Ferguson or Schoonmaker next - Ferguson if he starts, or Schoonmaker if Ferguson is out, not both. The matchup is rough, but the Cowboys’ tight end needs to be involved in an offense that lacks pass catchers outside CeeDee Lamb.

That leaves Andrews for the last spot. He’s not a consistent fantasy performer and a tough matchup scares me more so than with Ferguson or Schoonmaker. The Ravens could still win and play well without getting Andrews involved. I’d still be fine playing Andrews in a standard league, but I’d feel much better starting him in a deeper league.