Week 1 of fantasy football is finally here, and lineup decisions will make or break early matchups. Some players have dream matchups you can’t afford to miss, while others face brutal spots.
Start ’Em and Sit ’Em calls are the key to gaining that early-season edge. Let’s break down the tight ends you should trust and the ones to bench.
Start ‘Em Picks for Week 1
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (vs. CIN)
David Njoku remains Cleveland’s primary tight end despite the team drafting Harold Fannin Jr. earlier this year. Joe Flacco’s gunslinger mentality favors a high-volume passing attack. Njoku averaged 13.5 PPR points per game in 2024. Cincinnati’s defense was historically bad against tight ends, allowing the most fantasy points in the league to the position.
The Bengals’ linebacker coverage remains a glaring weakness, particularly against athletic tight ends who can threaten the seam. Njoku should run a route on at least two-thirds of Flacco’s pass attempts, giving him plenty of chances at earning targets.
The game script favors passing volume, and Cincinnati’s offense can move the ball, meaning Cleveland will need to keep pace through the air rather than grinding out the clock. This creates additional opportunities for Njoku in a game where Flacco may push 40 attempts.
DAVID NJOKU YAC
: #CHIvsCLE on FOX
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kw7mays4qU pic.twitter.com/KJROYbWQkz— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2023
Njoku offers a high floor with a legitimate ceiling. Bank on six-to-eight targets, red zone equity, and a strong chance at double-digit fantasy points. He’s a must-start TE1 in a matchup that couldn’t be more favorable for his skill set and usage patterns.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. CAR)
Brenton Strange enters Week 1 as Jacksonville’s starting tight end with Evan Engram now in Denver. Carolina’s defense was bottom-five against tight ends in 2024, routinely allowing big performances to athletic pass-catchers who could exploit their linebacker coverage.
Trevor Lawrence has shown consistent trust in his tight ends, particularly in short-yardage and red zone situations where Strange’s size creates mismatches. The Panthers’ defensive scheme leaves the middle of the field vulnerable, exactly where Strange operates most effectively.
Jacksonville should move the ball efficiently against Carolina’s porous defense, creating multiple scoring opportunities and extended drives. Strange will benefit from increased snaps and should see consistent targets as Lawrence’s safety valve when downfield options are covered.
This is the premium streaming option at tight end for Week 1. Strange offers five-to-seven target upside with legitimate red zone equity in a game where Jacksonville should control offensive tempo. He’s a high TE2 play for now, but we could be looking at Strange as an every-week back-end TE1 by the end of the month.
Sit ‘Em Picks for Week 1
Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers (at NYJ)
Jonnu Smith’s ascendance last season felt more situational than his talent dictating opportunities. The Dolphins needed to get the ball out of QB Tua Tagovailoa’s hands quickly, and Smith provided that underneath target.
Now in Pittsburgh, Smith finds himself in a low-volume passing attack with a slow quarterback. He is also not the clear TE1, competing for snaps with Pat Freiermuth and, to a lesser extent, Darnell Washington.
The Jets allowed the 10th fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends last season. Their linebacker coverage remains elite at eliminating underneath routes.
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Pittsburgh’s offensive approach will likely emphasize running the ball and short passes to receivers rather than feeding tight ends in a hostile environment. Smith lacks the target share needed to overcome such a brutal matchup, and his role isn’t significant enough to guarantee meaningful opportunities.
The Jets’ defensive scheme specifically targets tight ends with physical coverage and eliminates the seam routes where Smith operates most effectively. New York’s secondary depth allows them to bracket tight ends without sacrificing coverage elsewhere.
Smith is an obvious fade in all formats. His combination of a limited role and a horrific matchup creates a scenario where even his ceiling is unacceptably low for fantasy purposes. Stream any tight end facing a more favorable defense rather than chasing hope in what should be an ugly, low-scoring, slow-paced contest.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (vs. NYG)
Zach Ertz enters 2025 as a depth piece behind younger options on Washington’s depth chart. The Giants’ defense was excellent against tight ends in 2024, allowing just 9.3 fantasy points per game to the position, fourth-fewest in the league.
Washington’s offensive evolution focuses on developing younger players, meaning Ertz’s snaps and targets will be limited to specific packages rather than consistent usage. He only saw a 69.5% snap share in 2024.
Outside of an injured 2020 season, Zach Ertz has NEVER finished below TE10.
He’s been TE5 or better in 4 of the last 5 seasons.
After joining the Cardinals, he saw the 4th-most targets per game.
He’s younger than Travis Kelce.
Fade at your own risk.pic.twitter.com/yVnscY7WNF
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) August 26, 2022
Ertz’s physical decline is evident. Look for QB Jayden Daniels to focus more on targeting Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. than his slow, plodding tight end.
New York’s linebacker corps excels at covering tight ends in both man and zone coverage, eliminating the short routes where Ertz operates exclusively. The Giants’ defensive scheme creates the exact kind of coverage problems that aging tight ends can’t overcome.
Ertz offers no upside in this matchup and role combination. His floor is essentially zero, and his ceiling barely reaches the level needed for roster consideration. This is an automatic fade for a player whose fantasy relevance is on life support.
