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What started in 2018 as a silly sideline riff between George Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo officially ballooned into an NFL-wide extravaganza by 2019.
Fast forward to today, and National Tight Ends Day has become the ultimate hallmark holiday for fantasy football enthusiasts, complete with its own unwritten guarantee of unexpected touchdown celebrations and rogue tight end explosion games.
Over the years, savvy fantasy managers have learned that joining in on the fun isn’t just entertaining, it’s genuinely profitable.
If you’re looking to give your starting lineup a little extra juice this week, doubling down on the position and slotting a second tight end into your flex spot is a high-reward strategy when the matchups align.
Historically, no player embodies this holiday quite like Travis Kelce, who has stacked 10 touchdowns, 121 receptions and 1,521 receiving yards specifically during Tight Ends Day action. His 10 scores make him the all-time leader for the occasion.
Sitting right behind him on the leaderboard with seven touchdowns apiece are Dallas Goedert and Mark Andrews. Goedert gets a favorable draw against a defensively challenged Dallas unit this week. Meanwhile, Andrews takes on a Bengals defense that has historically struggled to contain tight ends. Though Andrews has dealt with a hand injury, do not be surprised if backup Matthew Hibner finds the end zone for a score if called upon.
We also have plenty of recent dominance to look back on. Last season, Tucker Kraft tore up the gridiron on Tight Ends Day with seven catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Kraft faces the Lions, a defense that ranks 30th in DVOA against the position and surrenders more than 100 receiving yards per game to tight ends.
Looking back to 2024, Kyle Pitts Jr. rang the bell twice with four receptions, 91 yards and two touchdowns. Though his matchup against the 49ers looks tough on paper, the Falcons’ heavy, new reliance on throwing inside the red zone makes Pitts a strong starting option once again.
Several other tight ends may demand serious consideration for your Flex spot this week. The Chiefs are allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, making Seattle’s A.J. Barner a sneaky play. If Kenyan Sadiq of the Jets plays without limitations, watch for him to make an impact against a Miami defense ranking 31st in DVOA and 29th in fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends.
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Tampa Bay’s Cade Otton should be on your radar against Carolina with Baker Mayfield potentially returning to action. For a deep sleeper, take a look at Evan Engram of the Broncos. He has earned 11 targets over his past three games and gets an ideal matchup against the Cardinals, who rank 28th in both DVOA and fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
If the NFL continues to lean in and celebrate this makeshift holiday, fantasy managers should capitalize at every opportunity. Slotting a capable tight end into your Flex spot could be the winning edge your lineup needs this week.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy, catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Ch. 87) weekdays from 6-8 p.m. and dominate your leagues with the latest football news and advice from Fantasy Alarm.