Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

In what is a continuing trend this season, the tight end position is feast or famine in fantasy football. Week 7 had six tight ends score in double figure fantasy points, but only nine tight ends managed to score six or more points. There have been only a handful of tight ends that have been producing solid numbers on a weekly basis, while most tight ends have proven to be very inconsistent fantasy producers. Heading into Week 8 of fantasy football, there is very little room for error when you are putting your weekly lineup together. You need to make sure you start the best possible player at every position if you want to keep your playoff hopes alive, and yes, that includes the often overlooked tight ends.

So, as you search for the right tight end this week to put together the best possible fantasy football lineup for the crucial stretch run toward the playoffs, please enjoy the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 8 Tight End Rankings.

1. Dallas Clark (Indianapolis Colts) vs. San Francisco

Dallas Clark was one of five tight ends to post double figure fantasy points in Week 7, which is something he has done three times in six games this season. He has been one of the most consistent tight ends in fantasy football this year. This week he faces a 49ers’ defense that is ranked No. 21 against the pass, and last week, they allowed 18 fantasy points to Houston’s tight end Owen Daniels. Clark should be in line for another big game this week and is once again a must-start fantasy option.
Point Projection: 13 points

2. Owen Daniels (Houston Texans) @ Buffalo

This season Owen Daniels has emerged into an elite fantasy tight end. He has 39 receptions for 497 yards with five touchdowns through seven games. He has been targeted 56 times this season, which is more then any other tight end, and he is a main focal point in Houston’s high powered passing offense. Daniels has scored 37 fantasy points in the past two weeks, and he should be used as a starting fantasy tight end this week against the Buffalo Bills.
Point Projection: 12 points

3. Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) vs. Oakland

Five appears to be a magic number for Antonio Gates. He has caught five passes in five different games this season, including last week when he had five receptions for 55 yards. He has 34 receptions this season for 474 yards, but he has only managed to find the end zone twice. With 57 fantasy points this season, he is tied for fourth among tight ends. Use Gates as a starting fantasy tight end this week as he faces the Chargers’ division rival, the Oakland Raiders.
Point Projection: 11 points

4. Brent Celek (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. New York Giants

In a Week 7 victory over the Washington Redskins, Brent Celek had his lowest offensive output of the season when he had three catches for eight yards. It was the first time this season that he did not have at least four receptions, and it was the first time he was held under 35 yards. Before this game, he had emerged as one of the best tight ends in football with 33 receptions for 386 yards with two touchdowns. Celek will look to rebound this week as the Eagles host the New York Giants who are ranked No. 2 against the pass, but have slipped of late and have given up nine passing touchdowns this season. Use Celek as a TE1 this week in a divisional match-up
Point Projection: 10 points

5. Greg Olsen (Chicago Bears) vs. Cleveland

Greg Olsen had a streak of three straight games with a touchdown snapped when he had 4 receptions for 24 yards in a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week. He has 19 receptions for 175 yards with three touchdowns this season. He has not emerged as the elite tight end many owners were hoping for this season, but he does have nine receptions over his past two games, and he is starting to build a better rapport with Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler. Olsen should be used as a starting fantasy tight end this week as the Bears host a Cleveland Browns’ pass defense that has given up 1,710 yards passing with 10 touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 9 points

6. Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers) @ Indianapolis

The San Francisco 49ers finally appear to have the tight end they thought they drafted in 2006, as Vernon Davis is finally starting to live up to expectations. In a Week 7 loss to the Houston Texans, he had seven receptions for 93 yards with three touchdowns. He now has 29 receptions for 355 yards with six touchdowns on the year and has nearly exceeded his offensive numbers from last year in just six games this season. He has a tough match-up this week against a Colts team that is ranked No. 6 against the pass, but Davis should be in your starting line-up as he has emerged into a weekly must-start.
Point Projection: 9 points

7. Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Seattle

With five receptions for 53 yards against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, Jason Witten now has five receptions or more in five of the six Cowboys games. He has 33 receptions for 312 yards, but has disappointed fantasy owner with just one touchdown this season. In addition, he has yet to top 80 receiving yards in a game. The Cowboys offense has been playing better of late though, and the emergence of wide receiver Miles Austin should help open up Witten in the offense. He has too much talent to sit on your bench, especially against a Seattle team that is giving up more than 220 passing yards per game.
Point Projection: 8 points

8. Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings) @ Green Bay

After totaling just six receptions over the first three games of the season, Visanthe Shiancoe has 15 receptions over the past four games. He had four receptions for 27 yards without a touchdown last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before the game against the Steelers, he had scored four touchdowns in the three previous games. He has become a big red zone option for quarterback Brett Favre in Minnesota’s offense. Shiancoe should be used as a low-end TE1 this week against the Green Bay Packers.
Point Projection: 8 points

9. Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons) @ New Orleans

Tony Gonzalez had four receptions for 37 yards in a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He now has 27 receptions for 304 yards with three touchdowns this season, but he has not topped 70 yards in a game since doing it in each of the first two games. He has totaled 14 receptions over the past three games, but he has only managed one touchdown over his past four games. Even with a decline in production of late, Gonzalez remains a low-end starting fantasy tight end, as he is still a huge red-zone target.
Point Projection: 7 points

10. Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints) vs. Atlanta

In a Week 7 comeback victory over the Miami Dolphins, Jeremy Shockey had his best performance of the season. He had four catches for 105 yards, including a 66-yard reception in the second half. He has posted four or more receptions in each of the Saints first six games, giving him 26 receptions for 304 yards with three touchdowns this season. Shockey has re-emerged as a relevant fantasy tight end worth starting most weeks, and he should be used as a low-end starting option this week against an Atlanta Falcons defense that is ranked No. 26 against the pass this season.
Point Projection: 7 points

11. John Carlson (Seattle Seahawks) @ Dallas

Since his week 1 explosion for 21 fantasy points, Carlson has amassed just 17 fantasy points combined in 5 games. So, what happened to the tight end? Is it simply a case of a sophomore slump? Truth be told, Carlson and his owners can blame his lack of production on the Seahawk’s offensive line. As the o-line has struggled, Carlson has been asked to pick up more of the slack when it comes to giving quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, time. While that’s benefited wide receivers TJ Houshmandzadeh and Nate Burleson, it’s not benefiting his fantasy owners.
Point Projection: 6 points

12. Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Denver

While Heap hasn’t surpassed the double digit mark since week 1 when he had 13 fantasy points, the tight end has been consistent since then, finishing each week with 4 to 6 fantasy points. Against the Broncos, we expect him to be in that range again as the Broncos have allowed opposing tight ends to tally 4, 7, and 7 fantasy points over their last three games. Use Heap as a low-end TE1 play in week 8.
Point Projection: 6 points

13. Tony Scheffler (Denver Broncos) @ Baltimore

Scheffler finally broke out in week 6 before the Broncos’ bye when he had 16 fantasy points. The Broncos’ tight end hauled in all 6 passes that Kyle Orton threw his way that day for a total of 101 receiving yards and a score. Scheffler could be in store for another big day against the Broncos, who allowed Visanthe Shiancoe to find pay dirt twice in their last game. If you’re in need of bye week help, Scheffler is definitely worth a look.
Point Projection: 6 points

14. Jermichael Finley (Green Bay Packers) vs. Minnesota **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

A knee sprain that Finley suffered in week 7 could keep him out of action in week 8. His owners are hoping that’s not the case as the last time Finley went against the Vikings, back in week 4, he caught 6 passed for 128 yards and a TD, his best outing of the year. If Finley is good to go, feel free to roll with him in this match-up as the Vikings allow the second most fantasy points to the tight end position in all of football.
Point Projection: 5 points

15. Zach Miller (Oakland Raiders) @ San Diego

Remember that 19 point performance Miller had in week 7? Well, he followed it up with a stinker in week 8 as he caught just 2 balls for 15 yards. Miller, though, can’t take the blame for his stale performance as his lack of production is directly a result of the poor quarterback play going on in Oakland right now. It’s advisable you stay away from Miller until Oakland gets a capable option under center. Sadly, that may not be until the 2010 season.
Point Projection: 5 points