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TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  TE SOS  
1. Cincinnati Bengals 186.39
2. Miami Dolphins 193.98
3. Philadelphia Eagles 196.38
4. Washington Commanders 197.75
5. Houston Texans 198.15
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 199.18
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 199.68
8. New York Giants 201
9. Dallas Cowboys 201.18
10. Los Angeles Rams 201.38
11. Buffalo Bills 201.39
12. Chicago Bears 201.66
13. Arizona Cardinals 201.76
14. New York Jets 202.56
15. Jacksonville Jaguars 202.86
16. Baltimore Ravens 203.04
17. Denver Broncos 203.95
18. Los Angeles Chargers 204.02
19. Atlanta Falcons 204.25
20. Cleveland Browns 204.59
21. New Orleans Saints 205.62
22. Seattle Seahawks 205.73
23. San Francisco 49ers 206.80
24. Indianapolis Colts 206.89
25. Detroit Lions 207.92
26. New England Patriots 208.23
27. Kansas City Chiefs 210.92
28. Tennessee Titans 211.44
29. Green Bay Packers 212.07
30. Minnesota Vikings 212.23
31. Carolina Panthers 213.66
32. Las Vegas Raiders 213.81


A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.

Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.

The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.

Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.

Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.

The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.

Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.

There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.

Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last. 

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.

  TE PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Atlanta Falcons 175
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 182.37
3. Philadelphia Eagles 184.73
4. Arizona Cardinals 187.67
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 187.77
6. New England Patriots 189.83
7. Miami Dolphins 190.37
8. New Orleans Saints 191.3
9. Los Angeles Rams 192.17
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 192.43
11. Cincinnati Bengals 196.1
12. Detroit Lions 196.12
13. Houston Texans 196.2
14. Indianapolis Colts 198.97
15. Buffalo Bills 199.63
16. Kansas City Chiefs 203.03
17. New York Jets 204.13
18. Carolina Panthers 205.7
19. Baltimore Ravens 205.9
20. Green Bay Packers 207.7
21. Chicago Bears 213.73
22. New York Giants 214.27
23. Seattle Seahawks 214.72
24. Cleveland Browns 214.97
25. Dallas Cowboys 215.8
26. Las Vegas Raiders 219.4
27. Washington Commanders 220.13
28. Denver Broncos 220.8
29. Minnesota Vikings 221.72
30. Tennessee Titans 223.73
31. San Francisco 49ers 225.53
32. Los Angeles Chargers 228.53


The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.

Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.

The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.

George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.

The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.

The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.

Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 5

Player Notes
Jauan Jennings Oct 5 3:00am CT
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings will try to continue his unlikely run as a fantasy difference-maker when the team squares off against the Arizona Cardinals at home on Sunday. Against New England last week, Jennings paced all 49ers receivers with three receptions on six targets for 88 yards. It was one thing for Jennings to have a career day in Week 3 with Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle absent, but it was quite the surprise to follow it up with a fantasy-useful performance with everyone healthy. Arizona's pass defense is tied for 14th in half-PPR points allowed to opposing wide receivers, which makes for a decent opportunity for San Francisco's receivers. However, Jennings is still a dubious bet to continue producing like he has, given the talent of Samuel Sr., Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk demanding targets. Jennings is a consensus WR4 and a risky FLEX play in Week 5.

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Deebo Samuel Oct 5 2:30am CT
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will line up against the Arizona Cardinals at home on Sunday. Last week versus New England, Samuel Sr. caught three of five targets for 58 yards plus two carries for 14 yards rushing after spending some time on the injury report. His day, disappointing as it was, was somewhat saved by a single 53-yard reception. Arizona, coming into the game tied for 14th in half-PPR fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, represents a decent opportunity for Samuel Sr. Also worth noting is that the Cardinals' defense has been sixth-worst against the run and Samuel Sr. usually gets at least a couple of carries. He's averaging 13 half-PPR points in fantasy so far. Start a healthy Samuel Sr. as a back-end WR1 in Week 5.

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Rome Odunze Oct 5 2:10am CT
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze is set for a bounce back this Sunday against a vulnerable Carolina Panthers secondary. In Week 5, Odunze will go up against the 19th-ranked pass defense in the league, allowing an average of 209.3 yards per gamean encouraging matchup for him. He has a chance to score this week, as the Panthers have surrendered multiple touchdown passes in every game this season. Last week, Caleb Williams missed Odunze on a potential deep touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams, but both players are improving with each game. While Odunze's long-term potential is clear, his current 14.9% target rateranking 78th among wide receiversmakes him less appealing as a fantasy starter. He won't be a reliable option until the Bears' offense finds its rhythm or Odunze surpasses Allen in targets. However, with a favorable matchup against the Panthers, he could see the end zone, positioning him as a WR4 with significant risks and potential rewards.

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Cole Kmet Oct 5 2:10am CT
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet is a borderline starter this week, thanks to a favorable matchup against the struggling Carolina Panthers secondary. In Week 5, Kmet will face the 19th-ranked pass defense in the NFL, which allows an average of 209.3 yards per game, presenting a solid opportunity for him. However, with all three starting wide receivers now healthy, Kmet's usage has reverted to more typical levels following his breakout in Week 3. He has been held to under 35 receiving yards in three of his four games this season. Kmet appeared on the Bears' first practice report for Week 5 as limited due to a knee injury. Still, he participated fully in practice the following day, likely clearing him for Sunday's matchup against the Panthers. He has a chance to score this week, as the Panthers have allowed multiple touchdown passes in every game this season.

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Cairo Santos Oct 5 2:10am CT
Cairo Santos

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos is a solid fantasy option for Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. Although he has struggled in the past two weeks, managing only one field goal in each game, he did convert all three of his extra point attempts and his lone field goal in the Bears' 24-18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4, totaling six points. As one of the top streaming kickers and a viable bye-week replacement, Santos has a favorable matchup this week. The Panthers allow a league-high 32.3 points per game and an average of 2.3 field goals per contest. With this in mind, the veteran kicker presents an appealing lineup option for fantasy managers in Week 5.

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D'Andre Swift Oct 5 2:00am CT
D'Andre Swift

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift is a solid RB3 for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, presenting a promising opportunity. Last week, he had his best performance of the season against the Rams, totaling 16 carries for 93 yards, one touchdown, and seven receptions for 72 yards. Before Week 4, Swift had struggled, not exceeding 30 rushing yards or 24 receiving yards in any game. He led all Bears players in carries, rushing yards, targets, receptions, and receiving yards while scoring a touchdown. Although it's concerning that Roschon Johnson handled the goal-line work, Swift's overall snap distribution keeps him relevant. He demonstrated his potential in a favorable matchup, and the Panthers have allowed the second-most rushing yards and touchdowns to running backs. In Week 5, Swift will look to capitalize on this advantageous matchup against Carolina's 29th-ranked run defense, which concedes an average of 148.8 yards per game.

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Roschon Johnson Oct 5 2:00am CT
Roschon Johnson

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson is set to build on his increased usage in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. He aims to capitalize on a favorable matchup against a Panthers defense ranked 29th in the league, allowing an average of 148.8 rushing yards per game. While Johnson maintained a consistent snap rate of 37% in Week 4 and he only had seven touches for 26 rushing yards, he didn't see a significant uptick in his offensive role. Meanwhile, D'Andre Swift regained the lead in red zone snaps, which bodes well for his fantasy prospects. However, Johnson has shown himself to be an effective runner between the tackles, particularly in short-yardage situations. Given the Panthers' struggles against the run, Johnson could be a worthwhile option as a high-end RB4 for those hoping for a touchdown opportunity.

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D.J. Moore Oct 5 2:00am CT
D.J. Moore

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore is a strong WR2 option this week against the struggling Carolina Panthers secondary. Moore is tied for seventh in the NFL for red zone targets, helping to maintain his fantasy value. Although he had a modest performance last week, he salvaged it with a touchdown. In last year's matchup against the Panthers, Moore led the Bears with five receptions for 58 yards, playing alongside Tyson Bagent in place of the injured Justin Fields. With Moore and Caleb Williams developing chemistry, the veteran wideout could have a standout game against Carolina on Sunday. He aims to exploit a shaky Panthers defense in Week 5 and would love to prove them wrong for trading him, especially in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair.

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Keenan Allen Oct 5 2:00am CT
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) aims to bounce back this Sunday in Chicago against a notably weak Carolina Panthers secondary. After missing some time due to a heel injury, Allen returned last week but saw limited action, with just three targets and seven air yards. The Bears' offense has struggled to succeed in the passing game, making target competition a mess. In Week 5, however, Allen will go up against the 19th-ranked pass defense in the NFL, allowing an average of 209.3 yards per gamean advantageous matchup. He has a solid opportunity to find the end zone, as the Panthers have given up multiple touchdown passes in every game this season. Although the Bears' overall lack of passing volume has hindered Allen's production, a healthier status combined with a favorable matchup could lead to a more productive fantasy outing. He's currently a WR3, but if the Bears are forced to throw, he can exceed that expectation.

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Brandon Aiyuk Oct 5 1:50am CT
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk gets another opportunity to break out of his early-season funk when the 49ers face the Arizona Cardinals at home in Week 5. Last week, Aiyuk disappointed fantasy managers with two receptions of five targets for 48 yards. Even more disheartening was perennial fantasy non-factor Jauan Jennings continuing his hot streak to lead the 49ers in receiving on the day against New England. It isn't panic time quite yet though. Aiyuk is averaging 6.25 targets per game, compared with last year's 6.56 per-game pace and he's tied for 10th in the NFL in red zone targets to wide receivers. Arizona has been mediocre at stopping wide receivers in fantasy, allowing 27.5 half-PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers. A good matchup at home plus suitable usage so far makes Aiyuk a worthy WR2 in Week 5.

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Caleb Williams Oct 5 1:50am CT
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams offers a high-risk, high-reward choice as he faces the struggling Carolina Panthers. In Week 5, Williams will encounter the NFL's 19th-ranked pass defense, which allows an average of 209.3 yards per gamean advantageous matchup for him. He's poised to find the end zone against the Panthers, who have given up multiple touchdown passes in every game this season. After throwing for 363 yards and two touchdowns in Week 3, Williams had a quieter performance with just 157 yards in Week 4. It's reasonable to anticipate his production will land between those outings, aiming for at least 225 passing yards and a couple of scores this Sunday in Chicago. Williams emerges as a solid QB2 with significant upside in this favorable matchup as he seeks to impress fantasy managers.

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Joey Slye Oct 5 1:20am CT
Joey Slye

New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye looks to build off last week's productive outing with a big game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5. The veteran was the 11th-ranked kicker in terms of fantasy points last week, and this week, he benefits from an even more favorable matchup. The Dolphins have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing kickers so far, which gives Slye a great opportunity to be added as a solid streamer off waivers. He's not a top-12 kicker every week, but he's certainly making the case for specifically Week 5.

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Cam Little Oct 5 1:20am CT
Cam Little

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little should be a solid fantasy play in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. The rookie kicker has been pretty good to start the year and had his best fantasy performance of the season last week against the Houston Texans. As the offense continues to get better, so should Little's fantasy output. The Colts defense hasn't been great to start the year, so Little could get opportunities for numerous field goals, or even extra points if the offense plays really well. The offense could reach new heights if star tight end Evan Engram returns from injury. Little has already proven he has the leg to nail long field goals, and in a matchup where the Jaguars should certainly score points, he could get more opportunities for 50+ yard field goals. There may be more reliable fantasy kickers out there, but fantasy managers can definitely do worse than Little in Week 5.

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Tank Bigsby Oct 5 1:10am CT
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby has been slowly reintroduced into the game plan since missing Week 2, and that should continue in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. He was limited in practice all week, but fortunately enters Sunday's game with no injury tag. While he still remains the backup to Travis Etienne Jr., the Ole Miss product has shown he deserves play time in his limited touches, putting up a combined 163 rushing yards in Week 1 and Week 4. In a matchup with the Colts who might be missing both starting quarterback Anthony Richardson and star running back Jonathan Taylor, the Jaguars may be in line for their first win of the season. That should mean more rushing opportunities for both Etienne Jr. and Bigsby. It may be hard to trust a backup, but the second-year RB could once again put up a great stat line in limited action. Bigsby has higher upside than the typical backup running back, making him an interesting flex play in deeper leagues this week.

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Demario Douglas Oct 5 1:00am CT
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas is an unreliable fantasy football option heading into Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins. While Douglas did break free for seven catches and 69 yards in Week 3, he's posted a total of five catches for 25 yards over his other three games. Not only has the second-year receiver struggled to produce when on the field, but he has had difficulty getting on the field in the first place. Douglas has logged a snap share of 60 percent or lower in three of his four games as he continues to battle for opportunities with the likes of Ja'Lynn Polk and K.J. Osborn. He'd also lose additional playing time if the Patriots activate Kendrick Bourne (knee) from the PUP list on Saturday. All in all, Douglas faces an uphill battle to produce against a Miami defense allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points and the second-fewest catches to wide receivers this year.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Oct 5 1:00am CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has been a disappointment in fantasy football this season, contributing two catches and fewer than 20 yards in three of his four games so far. The lone outlier was an eight-catch, 109-yard showing back in Week 2, but it seems unlikely that Henry will replicate that production anytime soon. That will be particularly difficult in Week 5 given his role in a struggling Patriots offense against a Miami Dolphins defense allowing just 130 yards and zero touchdowns to opposing touchdowns this season. Henry and Jacoby Brissett may have a solid rapport, but it won't be enough to get the veteran on the fantasy radar this week.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Oct 5 12:50am CT
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett remains off the fantasy radar as he heads into a Week 5 clash with the Miami Dolphins. Brissett has been uninspiring through the first four weeks of the NFL season, tallying just 536 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two turnovers. The veteran remains off the fantasy radar heading into a difficult matchup against the Dolphins, who have allowed the fourth-fewest passing touchdowns, fourth-fewest interceptions, and second-fewest completions to opposing quarterbacks this season. It's impressive that Miami's defense has fared this well despite being blown out the last three weeks, but that's likely a result of opponents gashing the Dolphins on the ground. Accordingly, we can expect a solid showing from Antonio Gibson and perhaps Rhamondre Stevenson, but Brissett remains a fantasy non-factor.

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Christian Kirk Oct 5 12:50am CT
Christian Kirk

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk will look to continue his upward fantasy trajectory in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. After a rough first two weeks, Kirk has turned things around, and now serves as a reliable starting fantasy receiver, especially in PPR leagues. The former Arizona Cardinal isn't much of a threat in the red-zone or on deep bombs, but he is good at getting open quickly and serves as a great security blanket for Trevor Lawrence. It makes a lot of sense that the offense has looked better since Kirk started producing again. The Colts serve as a great matchup for the Jaguars passing offense, boosting Kirk's value this week. Evan Engram potentially is returning from injury which should cut into the receiver's target share, but not enough to take him out of fantasy starting lineups anytime soon. Kirk serves as a great WR2/flex play with an extra boost in PPR leagues in Week 5.

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Antonio Gibson Oct 5 12:50am CT
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson is expected to start at running back in Week 5 after head coach Jerod Mayo announced that Rhamondre Stevenson had lost the starting job. Stevenson has fumbled four times through four games this season while Gibson has demonstrated impressive burst and productivity with 219 scrimmage yards over his last three contests. The increased role comes at an opportune time for Gibson; this weekend, the Patriots face the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the most fantasy points and the most touchdowns to opposing running backs this year. While we can still expect some growing pains from Gibson as he adjusts to an increased role within a poor offense, he has a real chance to rank as a low-end fantasy RB2 this week. He's particularly appealing as someone who can leave an impact on the ground and through the air.

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Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 5 12:40am CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has a great opportunity to reach even greater heights in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. BTJ had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown last week against the Houston Texans, and the Colts should be an easier matchup for the rookie. The Jaguars offense looked horrible to start the year but has slowly looked better as the year has progressed. Trevor Lawrence looked better last week, and was able to get both Christian Kirk and BTJ involved a lot in the passing game. Despite the team's early struggles, the first-round pick has exceeded expectations of fantasy managers so far and has not started slowly like many rookie receivers do. Evan Engram may return from injury this week providing more competition for targets, but that should more affect BTJ's red-zone usage, which hasn't been much as is. BTJ should continue to show off his speed and route-running against the Colts, making him a great flex play with WR2 upside.

From RotoBaller