The tight ends did not disappoint on National Tight End Day. Tucker Kraft led the way with 33.3 Fantasy points, and Travis Kelce turned back the clock with 21.9 points. Four rookies also scored in double digits. Notably, George Kittle enjoyed his best game of the season.

However, the early projections for Week 9 suggest momentum might not carry over. A third of the players who excelled in Week 8 are on bye this week. There’s hope Brock Bowers can return to fill the gap, but projections for TE10 are particularly concerning, especially with Kelce facing Dalton Kincaid.

The Chiefs and Bills are projected for a high-scoring matchup, but tight end production remains uncertain. Kincaid encounters a Chiefs defense that has allowed only one tight end to exceed 10 PPR Fantasy points, while Kelce faces a Bills defense yet to allow any tight end to reach that mark.

For those searching for a tight end on the waiver wire, options appear scarce. Oronde Gadsden is a recommended start over both. Here’s everything else you should know about tight end for Week 9:

Numbers to Know

• 3.85 – The Atlanta Falcons permit only this number of PPR Fantasy points per game to tight ends, making Dawson Knox a poor option this week.
• 309 – Oronde Gadsden leads tight ends with 309 receiving yards in the past three weeks, making him a must-start.
• 11.2 – Tucker Kraft averages 11.2 yards after the catch per reception.
• 4 – George Kittle tied his season high with four catches last week. If he doesn’t improve against the Giants, his volume will be a concern.
• 29.6% – Brock Bowers enjoyed this target share during the initial three quarters of the season before his knee injury; if he returns to form post-bye, he could significantly impact leagues.
• 18.8% – Juwan Johnson was targeted on a high percentage of throws by Tyler Shough; if this trend continues, he could be a low-end starter.
• 21.25 – The Bengals yield the highest Fantasy points per game to tight ends at 21.25; this could be Colston Loveland’s breakout opportunity.

Week 9 TE Streaming Options: Check the detailed breakdowns for insights on matchups, projected points, and YTD stats for tight ends entering this week.