Tight ends celebrate their day — with more fantasy football benefits to come

Just successful lawsuit you missed each NFL Week 8 broadcast aliases item reel, this past Sunday was National Tight Ends Day — a “holiday.” 

The moniker was first coined by Jimmy Garoppolo successful 2018. It happened during a triumph complete nan Lions, aft touchdowns by Garrett Celek and George Kittle. According aggregate reports, Kittle recalled nan trio yapping it up connected nan sidelines erstwhile Jimmy G. said, “What is it? National Tight Ends Day?” And thus, a vacation was born. 

Everywhere you looked Sunday, personification brought it up, and successful almost each game, a tight extremity was celebrating successful nan extremity area astatine immoderate point. In total, 14 tight ends scored touchdowns — pinch Kyle Pitts and Cade Otton breaking level twice. 

For those imagination managers who invested heavy successful nan position, it was euphoric. But is this a motion of things to come, aliases a one-off week that happens to coincide pinch a makeshift holiday? 

If you drafted 1 of nan apical tight ends, you were yet rewarded. Pitts’ 2 touchdowns were an enactment of vindication for many, and Kittle’s 128 receiving yards capped disconnected nan time successful style. 

Four of nan preseason apical 5 recovered nan extremity zone, and though Trey McBride didn’t score, 9 catches for 124 yards is simply a beautiful beardown stat-line for a position astir imagination managers for illustration to dismiss. 

But nan existent mobility is really overmuch of this is really sustainable? Players for illustration Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta and now, aft 3 consecutive weeks pinch a touchdown and yet starring Ravens tight ends successful snaps, Mark Andrews are automatic starts each week. But wherever do we guidelines connected nan mid-tier tight ends? 

Otton and David Njoku are astir apt nan 2 champion candidates to support their existent level of play. With nary Mike Evans aliases Chris Godwin, Baker Mayfield needs to fastener onto personification pinch consistency, and Otton surely fills that vacancy. 

T.J. Hockenson #87 of nan Minnesota Vikings warms up anterior to a preseason crippled against nan Cleveland Browns. Getty Images

With Jameis Winston now slinging nan stone successful Cleveland, Njoku is apt to spot much value targets than he saw successful immoderate preceding game. Both were successful highly favorable matchups, but a speedy glimpse astatine nan upcoming schedule shows arsenic soft matchups ahead. Tucker Kraft and Evan Engram besides person sustainability. 

But nan remainder of nan position remains matchup-based, astatine best. Mike Gesicki did well, but only successful nan absence of Tee Higgins. Adam Trautman wishes he could look Carolina each week, and if you had nary thought who Nate Adkins aliases Brock Wright were earlier Sunday, don’t fuss learning. 

Browns tight extremity David Njoku (85) catches a walk for a touchdown. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

But location is further dream connected nan horizon. Both T.J. Hockenson and Dallas Goedert are expected to return successful Week 9. Goedert will spot nan defensively challenged Jaguars, and Hockenson will look nan Colts, who person allowed nan third-most imagination points per crippled to tight ends. Maybe you tin get distant pinch Noah Fant against nan Rams. 

Add them to nan database of aforementioned tight ends and you’ve sewage yourself a apical 12, moreover pinch Kittle connected a bye. Anyone other you roster, commencement those tight extremity prayers now. 

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Howard Bender is nan caput of contented astatine FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him connected X @rotobuzzguy and drawback him connected nan award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” connected nan SiriusXM imagination sports transmission weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for each your imagination shot news and advice.