10. Who Should I Start for Fantasy Football Week 15? Adam Thielen, Brian Thomas Jr., Mike Evans
In most fantasy football leagues, this is the final week of the regular season. So if this is the week you need to win to qualify for the playoffs in your league, you better not make a mistake filling out your lineup.
The tight end position has been tricky for fantasy footballers this season. Some of the upper-tier veterans like Kansas City's Travis Kelce and Baltimore's Mark Andrews have not provided the bang for the buck people thought they would, while youngsters like Detroit's Sam LaPorta and Buffalo's Dalton Kincaid have disappointed fantasy managers as well.
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith has been one of the hottest tight ends in fantasy football over the past month. He has provided fantasy footballers with 28 receptions for 345 yards and four touchdowns over his recent four-game stretch.
Miami head honcho Mike McDaniel has finally figured out how to utilize Smith after ignoring him during the opening month (nine catches, zero TD in first four weeks). Smith has found a place as the Dolphins' No. 3 pass catcher behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
There is no reason to bench Smith while he is on fire. While he does face a Houston defense that is ranked seventh against the pass and usually plays better at home, Smith is a high TE1 until he finally falters. Keep riding the hot hand and hope that he does not come back down to earth during your fantasy squad's playoff push.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton went on a torrid hot streak during the middle of the season when Pro Bowl wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were both out with injuries. Otton had 27 receptions for 273 yards and four touchdowns in four games between Week 5 and Week 8 as he became Baker Mayfield's top target.
Otton has slumped recently as Evans has returned, catching 13 passes for 155 yards and no scores in his past four outings. He is still Mayfield's second-best option in Tampa Bay's passing attack, though, and racked up 70 yards in last week's win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Otton faces a stingy Los Angeles Chargers defense that is ranked eighth against the pass and did not allow Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson or Kirk Cousin to throw for more than 215 yards in its last three games. Otton is a low-end TE1 this week that could muster 50-60 yards.
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has had a downer of a season for his fantasy managers thanks to injuries and his inability to find the end zone (zero touchdowns). He returned from his latest injury last week and caught three passes for 32 yards on Monday night against Cincinnati.
Ferguson has only topped the 50-yard mark three times in 10 games this year and has to deal with the quarterback downgrade of having Cooper Rush throwing to him instead of Dak Prescott. He also has backup tight end Luke Schoonmaker breathing down his neck for time and targets.
Ferguson is facing a Carolina Panthers defense that has allowed three tight end touchdowns over their past three contests, but it is hard to feel good about him with how he has played in 2024. He is a TE2 this week who should be benched unless you have no better viable option on your fantasy roster.