Finding a good tight end is one of the hardest tasks in fantasy football, as there are really only 6-8 players who you can trust on a weekly basis. One of those players, George Kittle, is battling a knee injury and is listed as “doubtful” for Week 10. George Kittle owners need a new pivot, and there are a few widely available options who could give you adequate production in a one-week start.
The biggest issue with pivoting away from Kittle is that he plays on Monday Night Football. There are two clear options here: either plan for Kittle being out and stream someone on Sunday, or hope for the best and play a different tight end on Monday Night Football if Kittle can’t go. Since both options are equally viable, we’ll take a look at the best streams on Sunday and the best handcuffs on Monday.
Fantasy Football: George Kittle Tight End Pivots
Mike Gesicki
If Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki is available on the waiver wire, make sure to pick him up this instant. Gesicki had a great game in Week 9, recording six receptions for 95 yards on six targets. He should see similar targets numbers in Week 10, as starting wide receiver Preston Williams suffered an ACL injury and won’t be back for the rest of the season. DeVante Parker won’t get all of Williams’ targets, so Gesicki should be a reliable weapon in both the short- and long-term.
Gesicki isn’t some random player to come out of nowhere. At 6’-6” and 250 pounds, the Penn State product is an absolute freak of nature. He has the athleticism needed to be a reliable fantasy tight end, and the Dolphins selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft with this exact role in mind. Trusting anyone on the Miami Dolphins in fantasy is risky, but Gesicki has the potential to emerge as a reliable fantasy tight end for the remainder of the season.
Chris Herndon
Chris Herndon looks like he’s finally going to make his 2019 debut. After serving a suspension to start the season, the second-year tight end battled a hamstring injury which delayed his return to the field. However, he’s supposed to be back in action this week and has the potential to be a week-in, week-out starter. Herndon flashed star potential last year when he recorded 39 receptions for 502 yards and four receptions as a rookie. Tight ends notoriously struggle during their first year in the league, so this stat line actually provided hope of great things to come.
The biggest issue with Herndon is actually trusting him to come back and receive most of the work. Soft tissue injuries are notoriously fickle, so there is a risk of re-injury with Herndon. Additionally, Ryan Griffin has played well in Herndon’s absence. There’s a very real possibility that these two split snaps and targets, at least for one or two weeks. Still, Herndon has great upside, even if the floor is a little low. If you’re looking for a high-upside stream and Gesicki isn’t available, Herndon should be your guy.
George Kittle Monday Night Pivots
Jacob Hollister
We are officially into the Monday Night slate of games. Fortunately for fantasy football owners everywhere, there is another pass-catching tight end playing on Monday Night Football. Jacob Hollister doesn’t have the largest track record or the highest upside, but he has a solid skill set and could see an expanded role going forward. Hollister had the game of his life last week, recording four receptions for 37 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.
Hollister only has 14 targets on the season, but his performance last week could inspire Pete Carroll to give him a larger role in the offense. Will Dissly was a solid fantasy tight end before his season-ending injury, and now Hollister is essentially playing his role in the offense. Hollister might not be the most talented tight end, but he should see a handful of targets and has a decent shot of falling into the endzone.
Ross Dwelley
Ross Dwelley is going to be San Francisco’s top tight end if George Kittle cannot suit up on Monday Night Football. However, just because Dwelley is going to see the field doesn’t mean he has any sort of dependable target share. George Kittle is an absolute monster and one of the most dangerous weapons in the league. His dominating presence is the reason Kyle Shanahan revolves his passing attack around the big tight end. Dwelley simply isn’t anywhere close to Kittle (obviously), as the former undrafted free agent has just nine receptions and 42 yards to his name.
If Kittle doesn’t suit up, the San Francisco 49ers are just going to run their passing attack through Emmanuel Sanders and Deebo Samuel. Dwelley might get a few dumpoff passes, but they’re not going to design plays to get the ball in Dwelley’s hands. Hollister is the better play, but you’re probably better off rolling with Gesicki or Herndon.
Honorable Mentions: Jonnu Smith, Eric Ebron, Darren Fells
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