2023 Fantasy Football Week 2: Start Em’ or Sit Em’ Tight Ends

Each week we’ll break down one player that should start in your fantasy lineup and one that would be better left on the bench per position. There are players like Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews who are matchup proof and should be in your starting lineups every week barring a major circumstance.

Tight Ends to Start:

Sam LaPorta

With limited tight ends available on the market, Sam LaPorta is one we’d stream this week. The Lions are coming off a win and should get rookies LaPorta and Gibbs more involved in the offense as the season goes on. 

Pat Freiermuth

Freiermuth wasn’t going to succeed against a tough 49ers defense last week. This week, the Steelers should fare better in Monday Night Football. We think it’ll be a bounce back game for Pickett and with Diontae Johnson out, this means more targets for Freiermuth and Pickens. 

Hunter Henry

In addition to Rhamondre Stevenson of the Patriots being a start in fantasy lineups this week, his teammate Hunter Henry is another guy that’s on our list. Henry is coming off a very solid week 1 with 56 yards and a touchdown. The game script is favorable for Henry to see another high target day. 

Tight Ends to Sit: 

Tyler Higbee

With Kupp out, Stafford & the Rams didn’t turn to veteran Tyler Higbee as the next best option. Instead, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, and company picked up the slack. This was a bit of a surprise to us and until we get more clarity on this offense, Higbee might be better left on the bench. 

Zach Ertz

The Cardinals offense without Kyler Murray is atrocious. The Cardinals struggle to move the ball and veterans like Zach Ertz and James Conner who typically have done well in the past look like they might be in store for career low seasons. This isn’t just because Kyler Murray is out, but they have new coaching who doesn’t appear they’ll last very long. Zach Ertz and the rest of the Cardinals offense are on the sit list for the foreseeable future. 

Hayden Hurst

Moving in the offseason from Cincinnati to Carolina Panthers was a downgrade in situation for Hurst. He went from a Super Bowl contender to a Panthers team undergoing a rebuild with a rookie quarterback. Hurst does get more playing time but at the cost of losing. Even though he gets more playing time, it’s not like he’s getting as many targets and if he does get targets, it’s from an inexperienced quarterback throwing to him and not Joe Burrow. Hurst should be benched or dropped until Bryce Young improves.