The last week of the fantasy regular season is here, and of course, it wouldn’t be fantasy football without some chaos. A few key TEs are on bye — George Kittle, Theo Johnson, and Hunter Henry — leaving lineups thinner than ever. At this point in the season, it’s simple: you start who you’ve got and pray the fantasy gods deliver at least 10+ points. Tight end has been a roller coaster all year, and now it’s all about survival mode. Set your lineup, trust the volume, and hope for a red-zone look or two.
There is one deep-dive tight end who might help you squeeze out that 8–12 point range: Gunner Helm of the Titans. Yes — starting any Titans player feels like punishment, but Helm has quietly carved out a stable fantasy role. Over his last six games, Helm has hit at least 8 PPR points every week, giving him one of the more reliable floors among streaming tight ends. He’s also seen 7+ targets in back-to-back games, which is rare volume at this point of the year. The matchup isn’t scary either. The Browns rank bottom 15 against tight ends, allowing roughly 8 fantasy points per game to the position. If you’re scrambling on waivers and the options are ugly, Helm is one of the few who can realistically give you a stable floor without needing a touchdown. –Steve Pintado
Not everyone will have to reach for a floor play like Helm, but many managers will be tempted to chase Isaiah Likely after finally flashing for the first time all season. It would be a mistake to expect a repeat performance. The Steelers’ numbers against tight ends look rough over the last five weeks, but the context matters — they’ve actually tightened up. They’ve held down players like Tyler Warren, Oronde Gadsden, and several TEs from higher-volume passing offenses. This matchup also projects as a low-scoring, grind-it-out game, which caps Likely’s already volatile role. Baltimore’s passing offense has struggled over the past month, and Likely’s usage remains inconsistent. Chasing last week’s production is risky, especially with such a shaky offensive environment. If you’re searching for upside, there are better bets. If you want safety, Likely doesn’t provide it this week. –Steve Pintado
One tight end shooting up the rankings this week is Brenton Strange, who legitimately profiles as a top-5 TE play for Week 14. Since returning two weeks ago, Strange has posted 10+ fantasy points in both games, giving him one of the strongest recent production trends at the position. The matchup only boosts his outlook. The Colts have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, and Strange is seeing bankable opportunity — nine targets over his last two weeks. With Parker Washington potentially missing this game, even more volume could funnel toward the young tight end. In a crucial divisional game where both teams are fighting for the AFC South, expect Trevor Lawrence to lean heavily on Strange in this plus matchup. Everything lines up: recent usage, defensive matchup, and projected game script. Strange is a strong, high-end TE option this week. –Steve Pintado