Fantasy football managers know that every lineup decision can make or break a week, and choosing the right players to start or sit is where championships are won. With the 2026 NFL season underway, matchups, stats, and trends are more important than ever. From favorable matchups and scoring trends to players you should avoid in tough spots, my weekly positional start and sit guide is built to give you an edge.
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Tight Ends to Start
Mike Gesicki CIN
Mike Gesicki has made the most of his opportunities in Cincinnati’s passing offense, catching 11 of 15 targets for 155 yards and three touchdowns through four games. He’s averaging 14.1 yards per reception and 10.3 yards per target, demonstrating his ability to generate meaningful production without commanding substantial volume. However, fewer than four targets per game typically isn’t enough to provide a dependable fantasy floor. Cincinnati’s injury situation could change that, with Ja’Marr Chase dealing with a concussion and Tee Higgins battling an adductor injury. Gesicki has historically produced at a top-12 tight end pace in PPR points per game when either receiver has been unavailable, making him particularly interesting if the Bengals need to redistribute targets.
Miami presents an appealing opportunity for Gesicki, having allowed 19.3 PPR fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends through four weeks. The Dolphins have also surrendered the most yards per target and fifth-most fantasy points per opportunity to the position, highlighting how efficiently opposing tight ends have produced against this defense. Those weaknesses align well with Gesicki’s ability to generate yardage downfield and capitalize on scoring opportunities. Cincinnati could also be forced to feature him more frequently if Chase or Higgins is unavailable, creating a path toward increased receiving volume. I’m not expecting Gesicki to suddenly become the focal point of the passing game, but his efficiency, touchdown involvement and favorable matchup make him a strong streaming option with top-12 upside.
Greg Dulcich MIA
Greg Dulcich hasn’t established himself as a dependable fantasy starter, but his limited receiving production doesn’t completely eliminate him from consideration entering Week 5. Through three appearances, Dulcich has caught nine passes for 90 yards, averaging three receptions and 30 receiving yards per game. He hasn’t found the end zone, and Miami’s inconsistent passing offense has made it difficult for him to establish a reliable fantasy role. The lack of substantial target volume is particularly concerning because Dulcich hasn’t demonstrated that he can produce efficiently enough to overcome limited opportunities. Under ordinary circumstances, I’d be hesitant to recommend him, but his upcoming matchup creates an opportunity for a better performance.
Cincinnati has been one of the more favorable matchups for tight ends, surrendering approximately 18.0 PPR fantasy points per game to the position. The Bengals allowed 299 receiving yards on 23 receptions to tight ends during their first three games before Brenton Strange added seven catches for 95 yards in Week 4. That consistent vulnerability creates an opportunity for Dulcich to become more involved, particularly if Miami looks to attack the middle of the field. The Dolphins haven’t demonstrated that they’ll consistently prioritize him in the passing game, so there’s considerable risk attached to this recommendation. However, the defensive matchup is favorable enough that I’m willing to consider Dulcich in deeper leagues or when streaming the position. He’s a risky TE2 with a realistic path toward outperforming his season averages.
Hunter Henry NE
Hunter Henry has remained a useful receiving option in New England’s offense, although his production through the opening month hasn’t consistently translated into strong fantasy performances. His most encouraging outing came against Buffalo in Week 4, when he caught all five of his targets for 62 yards. That performance demonstrated Henry’s ability to generate meaningful receiving production when Drake Maye looks in his direction, particularly in the intermediate passing game. The Patriots haven’t consistently given him enough opportunities to deliver that level of production every week, making his fantasy outlook difficult to project. However, Henry has maintained a role in New England’s offense, and his recent performance provides some encouragement entering a favorable Week 5 matchup.
Las Vegas has struggled considerably defending tight ends, allowing 20 receptions for 152 yards and five touchdowns through its first three games. The Raiders have surrendered 21.4 PPR fantasy points per game to the position during that stretch, with their inability to prevent receiving touchdowns creating particularly appealing scoring opportunities. That’s an encouraging matchup for Henry because New England doesn’t necessarily need to dramatically increase his target volume for him to deliver a productive fantasy performance. The primary concern is whether the Patriots can consistently sustain drives and create opportunities near the goal line. Still, Henry’s involvement against Buffalo provides a reason for optimism, and Las Vegas’ defensive struggles give him a realistic opportunity to build on that performance. I’m comfortable treating him as a streaming TE1 in Week 5.
Tight Ends to Sit
Dalton Kincaid BUF
Dalton Kincaid opened the season looking like one of fantasy football’s most promising tight ends, but his recent usage has created legitimate concerns entering Week 5. Kincaid caught five passes for 130 yards in Week 1 before adding seven receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown against Detroit. However, his opportunities have declined considerably since then. After receiving eight targets in Week 2, Kincaid saw just three against the Chargers and two against New England, producing only three receptions for 45 yards over those two games. Through four weeks, he’s accumulated 15 receptions for 270 yards and one touchdown, but the majority of that production came during his first two appearances. The early-season upside is encouraging, although his declining involvement makes it difficult to project a dependable workload moving forward.
The Rams have been one of the most difficult defenses for opposing tight ends, allowing only 85 receiving yards to the position through four games. That’s an average of just 21.3 yards per contest, making this a particularly unfavorable matchup for a player whose opportunities have recently become inconsistent. Josh Allen has multiple receiving options available, and Buffalo hasn’t demonstrated the same willingness to feature Kincaid that made him so productive early in the season. His ability to generate explosive receiving performances means he could certainly outperform this recommendation, but I’m hesitant to rely on that happening against a defense that has consistently limited tight end production. Until Kincaid begins commanding a more dependable share of Buffalo’s targets, I’d prefer another option in Week 5.
Brenton Strange JAX
Brenton Strange demonstrated his upside against Cincinnati in Week 4, catching seven of eight targets for 95 yards in his most productive performance of the season. That outing brought his four-game totals to 14 receptions for 167 yards and one touchdown, averaging 3.5 catches and 41.8 receiving yards per contest. His recent increase in opportunities is encouraging, with Strange receiving three targets in Week 1, two in Week 2, five in Week 3 and eight against the Bengals. However, Jacksonville hasn’t consistently featured him enough to establish a dependable fantasy floor, and much of his production has come in favorable matchups. The increased involvement is worth monitoring, but I’m hesitant to assume his Week 4 workload will automatically continue against a more difficult opponent.
Philadelphia presents a considerably tougher matchup than Cincinnati, having allowed just 89 receiving yards to tight ends through its first three games and no touchdowns to the position through four weeks. That’s a significant difference from a Bengals defense surrendering approximately 18.0 PPR fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Jacksonville also has several receiving options competing for opportunities, making it difficult to assume Strange will continue commanding eight targets every week. His recent involvement suggests he could be developing into a more important part of the Jaguars’ passing offense, but the Eagles have been effective enough against the position that I’m not willing to chase one breakout performance. I like Strange’s long-term potential, although I’m treating him as a matchup-dependent TE2 rather than a dependable Week 5 starter.
Mark Andrews BAL
Mark Andrews has remained an important part of Baltimore’s passing offense, but his fantasy production hasn’t fully reflected that involvement through four games. Andrews has caught 18 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown, averaging 4.5 receptions and 37.3 receiving yards per contest. His Week 4 performance against Tennessee included five receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown, continuing a trend of limited yardage despite consistent opportunities. However, his underlying receiving metrics are considerably more encouraging. Andrews has commanded a 22.9% target share and 26% first-read share while averaging 1.80 yards per route run, demonstrating that Baltimore still considers him a significant part of its passing attack. The opportunities are there, but the Ravens haven’t consistently generated enough passing production for those numbers to translate into dependable fantasy performances.
Atlanta isn’t an especially difficult matchup, allowing approximately 15.9 PPR fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends through four weeks. The Falcons have also surrendered multiple receiving touchdowns to the position, providing an opportunity for Andrews to capitalize near the goal line. However, my biggest concern is Baltimore’s quarterback situation. Lamar Jackson is dealing with an ankle injury, and Tyler Huntley could start if Jackson is unavailable, creating uncertainty surrounding the Ravens’ passing volume and offensive efficiency. Andrews’ target share suggests he could remain involved regardless of who’s under center, but a potential quarterback change introduces additional risk for an offense that has already struggled to generate consistent receiving production. If Jackson is healthy enough to start without significant limitations, I’d be more comfortable trusting Andrews. Otherwise, I’d prefer another tight end with a more predictable offensive environment in Week 5.
