Week 8 Tight End Preview: T.J. Hockenson Gets His Shot At Detroit
Top Fantasy TEs for Week 8
Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 8 TE Rankings.
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1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride is the only TE to account for at least a 20% target share in every week this season. His 28.7% target share on the season leads the position and is the highest by a TE since McBride finished with a 29.3% mark in the season before last. He faces a Cowboys defense boosting TE points by 3.2% to give him the TE1 overall projection in Week 8.
2. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
We’ve gotten floor games from Brock Bowers the last 2 weeks: 4-70-0 and 6-73-0. Nice floor for a guy we know has week-winning upside! Next up for Bowers is the Jets’ 12th-ranked TE defense. New York held Sam LaPorta to 44 scoreless yards and Colston Loveland to 57 scoreless yards over the first 4 weeks, but they’ve coughed up a 4-48-1 line to Hunter Henry and a 5-86 line to Greg Dulcich over the last 2 games.
3. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Played Thursday night.
4. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren is set to return from his groin injury for Sunday's game vs. Jacksonville's 13th-ranked TE defense. Over the first 5 weeks of the season, Warren ranked top 6 among TEs in targets, target share, catches, expected PPR points per game, and actual PPR points per game.
5. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Dalton Kincaid's usage took a promising step forward last game, as his 26.7% target share easily topped the 6.7% and 11.1% marks from his prior two games. The inconsistent role makes him a low-floor fantasy option, but he’s worth sticking with Sunday in a neutral matchup with Baltimore. The Bills are implied to score a nice 28.75 points at home.
6. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
After an underwhelming first three weeks that left him at TE46, Colston Loveland has turned it around to rank as the TE8 over the previous four. He has been the Bears' target leader over that span, out-targeting both WRs Luther Burden and Rome Odunze. Even against a Seahawks defense allowing the third-fewest points to TEs, Loveland still projects as a TE1 in Week 8.
7. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert has produced the 16th-highest target share among TEs and ranks as the TE16 with 10.9 PPR points per game since QB Tanner McKee took over as the starter. With both WRs DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks possibly out for a consecutive week, Goedert projects as a TE1 against a Commanders defense boosting TE points by a staggering 94.1%.
8. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
The Broncos have been slightly tougher on WRs than TEs so far this season, but they’re still reducing TE scoring by 6.3%. Travis Kelce tallied 71 yards against them in the opener, although 59 of those came on one play. Consider him a low-end TE1 for the rematch.
9. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
T.J. Hockenson has registered a solid 20.7% target share in three full games with Kyler Murray. Next up is a Lions pass defense that’s dead last in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. That includes a TD allowed to a TE in five of six games.
10. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Sam LaPorta crashed to TE41 last week after delivering TE6 and TE2 finishes in his previous two outings. A rebound won't come easily against a Vikings defense that's allowed 0 TDs and averages of just 3 catches and 38.8 yards per game to TEs. The matchup pushes LaPorta into low-end TE1 territory.
11. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brenton Strange delivered his third straight game of 7+ targets and 5+ catches before the Week 7 bye. Combine that with this week’s matchup against a cottony-soft Colts D, and you get Strange as a decent low-end TE1. The biggest question might be whether Jacksonville passes enough in this game to support multiple fantasy assets.
12. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts finished as TE12 in Week 7, catching all 5 targets for 22 yards and a TD. He averages just 3.9 targets per game (TE28) and has outperformed his expected points by 2.0 per game, so he’s been TD-dependent. The Buccaneers have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to TEs (16.0 per game). Pitts is a back-end TE1.
13. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Washington Commanders
Chig Okonkwo has seen his route share increase each week, even prior to the Commanders losing WR Terry McLaurin for the season. That pushed Okonkwo’s 16.9% target share to 15th among TEs for the season and 11th among TEs for Week 6. Facing an Eagles defense allowing the sixth-fewest points to TEs, Okonkwo projects as a fringe TE1 in Week 8.
14. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Last week, Hunter Henry set season-highs in catches (7) and yards (71). He’s in play as a TE1 streamer, especially with Drake Maye back to playing at a high level. The Pats are also implied to score a healthy 25.25 points.
15. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
Harold Fannin finished as TE13 in Week 7, catching 6 of 9 targets for 91 yards. He owns an 18.8% target share (TE8) and averages 5.6 targets per game (TE12). The Steelers have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to TEs, and the Browns are implied for just 18.0 points. Fannin is a high-end TE2.
16. AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks
AJ Barner was accounting for a 72.9% route share through the first four weeks that ranked 14th among TEs before he surpassed an 80% route share in Week 5 and hasn’t fallen below since. His 84.5% route share over that span is the fifth-highest at the position. He projects as a fringe TE1 in a matchup against a Bears defense reducing TE points by 9.5%.
17. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth finished as TE34 in Week 7 with 2 catches for 20 yards. He averages 4.7 targets per game, and his 8.4-yard aDOT (TE5) gives him big-play potential. The Browns have allowed the 14th-most fantasy points to TEs. Freiermuth is a mid-range TE2.
18. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
We like the game environment for Mark Andrews, whose Ravens enter with an implied team total of 25.75 points as 3-point road underdogs. He should get Lamar Jackson back in the lineup, too. But it’s tough to place the veteran in TE1 range given his struggles of late. He’s finished at TE24, TE45, and TE31 over his past three.
19. Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
Michael Mayer has continued to alternate big games with quiet ones since TE Brock Bowers returned. He has 3 top-13 PPR finishes but has fallen outside the top 24 in the other 2. Mayer is just a desperation Week 8 fantasy start against the Jets' 12th-ranked TE defense.
20. Mason Taylor, New York Jets
Mason Taylor is coming off a big 5-62-2 line against a bad Dolphins pass defense. It was his second straight game with 6 targets, but he’s still yet to reach a 70% route rate this season. The floor remains low unless and until that playing time improves. But Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders’ 29th-ranked TE defense boosts Taylor’s upside. Only the Lions have allowed more TE TDs than Vegas’ 8.
21. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cade Otton was shut out on 1 target in Week 7, finishing as TE57. He’s averaged 4.3 targets per game but has scored 1.6 fewer points per game than expected. The Falcons have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to TEs (15.2 per game). Emeka Egbuka returning could further limit his looks, so Otton is a low-end TE2.
22. Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins
Greg Dulcich broke out for a season-high 86 yards last week and has now caught 4+ passes in three straight games. But a tough matchup with New England limits his upside. Miami's run-heavy approach doesn't help, either. The Dolphins rank last in the league in pass attempts per game.
23. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee has remained ahead of his TE teammates in playing time and routes lately, but he has trailed Colby Parkinson in targets in two straight games. That makes this whole unpredictable group low-floor plays, even against the Chargers.
24. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Gesicki should benefit some from TE Erick All landing on IR, but it’s tough to like Gesicki off two straight 1-catch outings. Don’t let his four-game TD streak fool you, either. Gesicki didn’t catch more than three passes in any of those contests.
25. Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams
Colby Parkinson probably leads Rams TEs in upside after two straight 5-catch games. But he has continued to trail Tyler Higbee in playing time and watched Davis Allen snag both TE TDs in last week’s win over the Raiders. This is an unpredictable group, best avoided if you can.
