ClutchPoints
Week 16 is where fantasy football legacies are made. For many leagues, this is the championship round, and even in formats that play into Week 17, this is the week where margins shrink and every decision carries weight. No position embodies that volatility quite like tight end. A single red-zone target can be the difference between hoisting a trophy and settling for second place.
The good news is that the tight end position has quietly stabilized late in the season. A handful of elite options are providing wide-receiver-like volume, while a second tier of streamable plays offers real touchdown upside in favorable matchups. With no bye weeks remaining, availability isn’t the issue—health, role security, and game environment are.
Below is a breakdown of the top tight ends to trust in Week 16, followed by sleepers who could deliver championship-altering performances.
Trey McBride continues to redefine what elite tight end production looks like in modern fantasy football. In Arizona’s 40–20 loss to Houston, McBride caught 12 of 13 targets for 134 yards and a touchdown, overwhelming a Texans defense that had been strong against the position all season. The Cardinals may have fallen behind early, but McBride’s role was never in doubt.
McBride has become the centerpiece of Arizona’s passing game, operating as a true chain-mover and red-zone threat. His target share rivals that of top wide receivers, and his weekly floor is among the safest at the position. Against an Atlanta defense that has struggled to contain tight ends in space, McBride is as close to automatic as it gets in Week 16. He’s the clear TE1 in championship lineups.
George Kittle delivered a vintage performance in Week 15, hauling in eight of nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 37-24 win over Tennessee. Kittle led the 49ers in both targets and receptions, reminding fantasy managers of his unique ability to dominate games when the offense runs through him.
Kittle has now scored four touchdowns over his past five games, bringing his season total to six. His chemistry with Brock Purdy remains elite, particularly near the goal line, where Kittle’s physicality creates consistent scoring opportunities. The Colts present a beatable matchup for tight ends, and Kittle’s blend of volume and explosiveness keeps him firmly entrenched as a high-end TE1 in Week 16.
Kyle Pitts Sr. authored one of the greatest tight end performances in recent memory on Thursday night, catching 11 of 12 targets for 166 yards and three touchdowns in Atlanta’s stunning 29–28 win over Tampa Bay. Pitts set career highs across the board, accounting for all three of the Falcons’ passing touchdowns in a truly historic outing.
While it’s important to acknowledge that this was an outlier performance, the underlying takeaway is encouraging: Pitts was heavily featured, targeted at all levels of the field, and trusted in...
