Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Week 13 was once again a big week for the tight end position as six of them scored double digit fantasy points and three tight ends went for over 100 receiving yards. For the second straight week super-studs Antonio Gates and Jason Witten went over 100 receiving yards as they continue to get hot at the right time for their fantasy football owners. Also, Vernon Davis continued his stellar play in Week 13 against the Seattle Seahawks. The emerging tight end scored a touchdown for the third straight games and his 10 TDs are tops at the position. Last but not least, was Mr. Monday Night Jermichael Finley. Finley torched the Baltimore Ravens for 79 receiving yards to go along with two touchdowns and he now has scored all of his TDs on the national stage.

To see how these guys, as well as the other tight ends, stack up in the first round of the fantasy playoffs check out the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 14 Tight End Rankings.

1. Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Arizona

Last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Davis had six receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown. It was the third game in a row that Davis has both caught six passes and caught a touchdown. The athletic tight end has had 100 or more receiving yards in three of his last five games and takes on a Arizona Cardinals squad that has allowed the second-most touchdowns (tied) to opposing tight ends.
Point Projection: 15 points

2. Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) vs. San Diego

Witten was targeted a team-high 16 times last week, and he came away with a monster game, catching 14 passes for 156 yards. He has gained at least 100 yards in each of his last two contests, and though he still hasn’t scored since Week 2, keep in mind that only eight other squads have allowed more touchdowns to opposing tight ends than the San Diego Chargers.
Point Projection: 14 points

3. Brent Celek (Philadelphia Eagles) @ NY Giants

Celek caught only two passes for 16 yards last week against the Atlanta Falcons, but one of those receptions went for a touchdown. His match-up this week is one to savor, because the New York Giants have had trouble with opposing tight ends. They’ve allowed the most receiving yards to players at that position, the second-most receptions, and the second-most touchdowns (tied). He had four catches for 61 yards and a score in Week 8 against New York.
Point Projection: 14 points

4. Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) @ Dallas

With 167 yards on eight receptions last week, Gates closed in on 1,000 receiving yards for the season (he has 994). It also marked his second consecutive 100-yard game, and the third time in four games that he had at least seven receptions. He’s clearly hitting his stride at the right time.
Point Projection: 13 points

5. Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons) vs. New Orleans

Gonzalez hauled in eight passes for 72 yards last week in the Falcons dismantling at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles; it was his third straight game with at least eight catches and 70 yards. While those are very solid numbers, he does have a match-up that is not prime. The Saints have allowed just one tight end to score a touchdown, and that was last week, though New Orleans does allow a fair amount of receptions and yards to players at that position, so don’t expect a huge drop-off from Gonzalez.
Point Projection: 13 points

6. Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Denver

With just two fantasy football points (three catches, 25 yards) last week, Clark had his lowest point total of the season. And over his past four games, he’s had more than four receptions just once, and hasn’t had over 65 receiving yards as Pierre Garcon has gotten more involved in the offense. Still, you have to believe Peyton Manning will continue to look for him whenever possible, though he does have a tough match-up this week – no team has allowed fewer receiving yards to opposing tight ends than Denver.
Point Projection: 11 points

7. Greg Olsen (Chicago Bears) vs. Green Bay

The Bears decided to cram the ball down the St. Louis Rams’ throat last week, and thus had little for a passing game. As such, Olsen caught only two passes for one yard. Yep, a single yard. The Green Bay Packers have allowed the second-most touchdowns (tied) to opposing tight ends this season, though they stymied Olsen in their first match-up, holding him to one catch for eight yards in Week 1.
Point Projection: 10 points

8. Kevin Boss (New York Giants) vs. Philadelphia

Boss has only caught three passes over his last two games, but his match-up this week is an outstanding one. No team has allowed more receptions to opposing tight ends than the Philadelphia Eagles have, and only one team has allowed more receiving yards and touchdowns to them. The last time Boss faced Philly, he had three catches for 70 yards and one score. This week we rank him based on him once again finding the end zone against the Eagles.
Point Projection: 9 points

9. Kellen Winslow (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. New York Jets

Winslow caught four passes for 69 yards in Tampa’s loss to the Carolina Panthers last week. That was the same game in which Josh Freeman threw five interceptions, and now the rookie quarterback has to face one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, and one that has held opposing tight ends to the sixth-fewest receiving yards, third-fewest receptions (tied) and fourth-fewest touchdowns (tied). Still, with Freeman targeting him as a check down option throughout this game it should lead to solid yardage from Winslow.
Point Projection: 8 points

10. Dustin Keller (New York Jets) @ Tampa Bay

Keller caught only one pass for five yards last week against the tough pass defense of the Buffalo Bills. Thankfully, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do not offer such resistance, at least against opposing tight ends. Only five NFL teams have allowed players at that position to catch more passes than Tampa.
Point Projection: 8 points

11. Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Cincinnati  **CHECK INJURY REPORT**

Shiancoe scored a touchdown for the third consecutive game last week against the Arizona Cardinals, but he also re-injured his rib. That led to just two catches for 14 yards overall, and as of this writing, his status had not been updated. If he’s okay, his match-up is solid; only four teams have allowed opposing tight ends to catch more passes than the Cincinnati Bengals.
Point Projection: 8 points

12. Jermichael Finley (Green Bay Packers) @ Chicago

Finley had a huge night against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, scoring twice on seven catches for 79 yards. He now has caught seven passes in two of his last three games, but has a tough match-up against a Chicago Bears team that has allowed opposing tight ends to gain fewer receiving yards than all but two other teams. He had just one catch for six yards against them in Week 1.
Point Projection: 7 points

13. Heath Miller (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Cleveland

A very difficult match-up netted little for Miller last week, as he predictably managed only one catch for 27 yards. In fact, he has just two receptions for 29 yards over his last two games, but his opponent this week offers an excellent match-up. The Cleveland Browns have allowed more receiving yards to opposing tight ends than all but four other teams, and Miller had five catches for 80 yards and one score against them back in Week 6. What’s holding us back from ranking him higher is the weather in Cleveland on Thursday Night. With wind gusts approaching 35mph and a strong chance of snow both of these teams could revert to the running game.
Point Projection: 6 points

12. Bo Scaife (Tennessee Titans) vs. St. Louis

Scaife led Tennessee receivers with five catches and 56 yards last week while also grabbing a touchdown pass. It was the second consecutive game, and third time this season, that Scaife had five receptions, and the second week in a row he had at least 55 receiving yards. This week he faces a St. Louis Rams team that has been susceptible to quality tight ends.
Point Projection: 6 points

15. Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints) @ Atlanta

Shockey had four catches for 47 yards, his highest output in five weeks in both categories. He’s clearly not fallen off Drew Brees’ radar as much as fantasy football owners may have thought, and this week he has a solid match-up against the Atlanta Falcons, who have allowed the fourth-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends. Still, his recent struggles make Shockey tough to play with your season on the line.
Point Projection: 6 points