2024 Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings: TE, K, DEF

Hunter Henry wonders if this will finally be the spiked week, T.J. Hockenson battles his receiver teammates for targets, and Brenton Strange prepares to follow up his 11-catch outing.

Other positions: Quarterback | Running Back | Receiver

Week 16 Tight Ends

TE Notes: Things have been far from ideal for Brock Bowers of late, though that appears poised to change with Aidan O’Connell (knee) set to return for Week 16. It’s never exactly good news when, uhh, the good news is Aidan O’Connell is going to play, but everything is better news than Desmond Ridder playing. … As expected, Jonnu Smith’s zero targets in Week 14 regulation was an anomaly. He immediately returned to 11 looks against the Texans. You can question the wisdom of that approach, but there is no reason to expect it to change against the 49ers, who admittedly do a strong job of policing the seam. … There’s never been a better time to point chase with Sam LaPorta, who has started playing his best football just as the rest of the Lions landed in the infirmary. That includes a two-score day against the Bears on Thanksgiving, who have permitted the fourth most TE fantasy points over the past month. LaPorta finally has volume to match his touchdown odds.

A struggling Travis Kelce will at least have Patrick Mahomes out there against the Texans. Kelce looks like he might be more banged up than Pat. … Although a warrior target magnet, David Njoku remains uncertain to suit up through his hamstring woes. If Njoku returns, the problem — other than a potential hamstring aggravation — is the quarterback aggravation. Passing spigot Jameis Winston has been turned off in favor of sacrificial lamb Dorian Thompson-Robinson. That makes Njoku a shaky fantasy semifinals option who nevertheless maintains upside. … Second-year second-rounder Brenton Strange has had a surprisingly easy time commanding looks whenever Evan Engram is sidelined this season. He’s not someone you are looking to force into lineups, but he’s producing, and he’s someone the Jags undoubtedly want to get a longer look at heading into 2025. Engram’s contract could have him on the way out. … A classic “touchdown or bust” tight end option, Tucker Kraft at least has an amazing semis matchup in the Saints.

Hunter Henry always somehow finds a way to square the circle of being startable but someone you never want to start. The Week 16 case is that the Patriots have literally no choice but to throw against the Bills, and no one else on the Pats is capable of commanding looks. … Pat Freiermuth has a great matchup, not that it’s mattered much this season. With George Pickens (hamstring) trending toward another inactive or decoy status, Freiermuth will probably be the closest thing Pittsburgh has to a No. 1 target. … Dalton Kincaid’s targets are trending upward just in time for the Bills not to have to really pass against the Patriots. Nevertheless, they have the week’s highest implied team total, and Kincaid is playing his best football. … Kyle Pitts, somehow, has 10 targets over the past two weeks. That is something to cling to as the Falcons throw their Michael Penix Hail Mary. … Mason Rudolph seems to really enjoy targeting Chig Okonkwo. The seam man has quietly notched three receptions in three straight starts. … Stone Smartt is over 50 yards in back-to-back games. It’s easy to spot the path to three in this target-starved offense, though Hayden Hurst is coming off I.R. Thursday evening.

Week 16 Kickers

Week 16 Defense/Special Teams