Each week with the positional rankings, I’m going to offer Dallas Cowboys centered Fantasy Football information. I’ll offer you a breakdown of the matchup for your tight end and mine: Jason Witten.
Make sure you go to InsideTheStar.com to get the breakdowns on all the important match ups for the coming week.
The Dallas Cowboys Tight End
Jason Witten
Jason Witten is about as durable and dependable as they come at the tight end position. Witten may not put up the numbers some of his contemporaries do in 2016, but plays every game. He’s played in every game since his rookie season in 2003.
Since his second season in the league, Witten has seen at least 90 targets every single year. He’s never had a catch percentage less than 65-percent. He averages 7.22 targets and 5.13 catches per game.
The table below shows his career against the New York Giants, which hold up to his career averages. Statistics taken from pro-football-reference.com
[table id=67 /]
I have him ranked just inside the TE 1 threshold for 12 team leagues, and I wouldn’t hesitate to start him in 10 team PPR leagues.
One to Start
Zach Miller, Chicago Bears
Martellus Bennett was the starter in Chicago and was having an effective season. In week nine, Zach Miller put up a very impressive 5 receptions for 107 yards, and two touchdowns.
That marked the changing of the guard at the tight end position for the Chicago Bears. Martellus Bennett is now in New England after an offseason trade and Zach Miller has taken over.
Miller, who had sat out the previous three seasons, came back to the NFL with an effective second half of the season. From week nine to week 15, Miller posted 29 receptions for 381 yards, and four touchdowns. That was good for 8.9 fantasy points per game over that stretch. Not great by any stretch of the imagination, but a solid contribution to your lineup.
This week the Chicago Bears face the Houston Texans, in a matchup that I’m not a fan of for Chicago.
While the Bears have upgraded their offensive line this offseason, they are still facing one of the best front sevens in the NFL and I expect Jay Cutler to be under a tremendous amount of pressure.
This is where I see Miller coming in. He will get opportunities in the middle of the field against the Texans’ 3-4 as Cutler will need to get the ball out quickly.
Zach Miller has been dealing with a concussion, but is currently listed as probable. Make sure you check the injury report, and if healthy, don’t hesitate to start him in all formats.
Flawless Fantasy Forecast: 5 catches, 86 yards, and one touchdown.
One to Sit
Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
First, let me get this out of the way.
I’m a Delanie Walker believer. He has a good rapport with Marcus Mariota. In 2015, the Tennessee Titans tight end had at least five receptions 11 times. He saw 10 or more targets seven times during the season.
The Titans leaned on him heavily and he came through, catching 70% of his targets.
The Titans did add Rishard Matthews in free agency from the Miami Dolphins and fifth round pick Tajae Sharpe has emerged to take one of the starting receiver roles. Those two will see quite a few targets in the passing game, diminishing Walker’s value.
This week they face a Minnesota Vikings defense that finished fifth in the league in points against allowing 18.9 points per game. Mike Zimmer’s defenses are famous for their bend but don’t break abilities. You can get near the red zone, but you may not be able to get into the end zone.
Flawless Fantasy Forecast: five catches for 68 yards, and zero touchdowns.
The Tight End Rankings
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