The 2025-26 NFL season is underway which means we are in the thick of fantasy football season! The fantasy landscape has already changed since the preseason due to breakout players and major injuries across the league. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that tight ends like Dallas Goedert and David Njoku will be out this week. It would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one that is ranked or projected to perform similarly. Here are fantasy football Week 9 tight end rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting TE1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a solid floor.
Touchdown Dependent Starter- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not because of depth at the position. Their production is based on whether they can get in the end zone or not. It can be the difference between a top 10 performance or a top 25 performance
Deep League Starter- a player whose ceiling isn’t high but should put up enough production to be started in deep leagues. When a player like this is started it is because their production though it will likely be low, will be better than a few options.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must Start | Trey McBride | vs Dallas Cowboys | TE1 |
| Must Start | Tyler Warren | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | TE2 |
| Starting TE1 | George Kittle | vs New York Giants | TE3 |
| Starting TE1 | Brock Bowers | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | TE4 |
| Starting TE1 | Travis Kelce | vs Buffalo Bills | TE5 |
| Starting TE1 | Tucker Kraft | vs Carolina Panthers | TE6 |
| Starting TE1 | Jake Ferguson | vs Arizona Cardinals | TE7 |
| Starting TE1 | Sam LaPorta | vs Minnesota Vikings | TE8 |
| Starting TE1 | Orande Gadsden II | vs Tennessee Titans | TE9 |
| Starting TE1 | Kyle Pitts* | vs New England Patriots | TE10 |
| Touchdown Dependent Starter | Zach Ertz | vs Seattle Seahawks | TE11 |
| Touchdown Dependent Starter | T.J. Hockenson | vs Detorit Lions | TE12 |
| Touchdown Dependent Starter | Mark Andrews | vs Miami Dolphins | TE13 |
| Touchdown Dependent Starter | Evan Engram | vs Houston Texans | TE14 |
| Touchdown Dependent Starter | Dalton Kincaid | vs Kansas City Chiefs | TE15 |
| Touchdown Dependent Starter | Theo Johnson | vs San Francisco 49ers | TE16 |
| Touchdown Dependent Starter | Hunter Henry | vs Atlanta Falcons | TE17 |
| Touchdown Dependent Starter | Dalton Schultz* | vs Denver Broncos | TE18 |
| Deep League Starter | Juwan Johnson | vs Los Angeles Rams | TE19 |
| Deep League Starter | Noah Fant | vs Chicagago Bears | TE20 |
| Deep League Starter | Jonnu Smith | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE21 |
| Deep League Starter | Chigoziem Okonkwo* | vs Los Angeles Chargers | TE22 |
| Deep League Starter | AJ Barner | vs Wsahington Commanders | TE23 |
| Deep League Starter | Colston Loveland | vs Cincinnati Bengals | TE24 |
| Leave on the Bench | Gunnar Helm | vs Los Angeles Chargers | TE25 |
| Leave on the Bench | Pat Freiermuth* | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE26 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Higbee | vs New Orleans Saints | TE27 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ja’Tavion Sanders | vs Green Bay Packers | TE28 |
| Leave on the Bench | Isaiah Likely | vs Miami Dolphins | TE29 |
| Leave on the Bench | Darnell Washington | vs Indianapolis Colts | TE30 |
| Leave on the Bench | Elijah Arroyo | vs Washington Commanders | TE31 |
| Leave on the Bench | Taysom Hill | vs Los Angeles Rams | TE32 |
Players that could miss this week’s game
TE10 Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. It is unclear if this injury could cause Pitts to miss time. If Pitts misses Week 9 against the New England Patriots Charlie Woerner will start at tight end for the Atlanta Falcons.
TE18 Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Dalton Schultz missed practice on Wednesday because of knee and shoulder injuries. It is unclear if these injuries could cause Schultz to miss any time. If Schultz misses Week 9 against the Denver Broncos Harrison Bryant will become TE30 between Darnell Washington and Elijah Arroyo.
TE22 Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Chigoziem Okonkwo was limited in practice on Wednesday with a foot injury. It is unclearr if this injury could cause Okonkwo to miss any time. If Okonkwo misses Week 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers Gunnar Helm moves up to TE22 between Jonnu Smith and AJ Barner.
TE26 Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth missed practice on Wednesday because of a quad injury. It is believed that he suffered this injury last week against the Green Bay Packers. If Freiermuth misses Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts Darnell Washington becomes TE26 between Gunnar Helm and Tyler Higbee.
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