ClutchPoints
If you’ve survived the tight end rollercoaster this far into the 2025 fantasy football season, congratulations. Between injuries, bye weeks, and baffling usage patterns, the position has once again lived up to its reputation as fantasy’s biggest weekly puzzle. In Week 9, several fantasy staples are either banged up or stuck in low-scoring offenses. Meanwhile a few underrated names have begun to separate themselves as consistent contributors.
The challenge this week is balancing faith in elite players with the courage to pivot toward high-upside matchups. Whether you’re streaming to survive or looking for that breakout performance to gain an edge, here’s a breakdown of which tight ends to start and which ones to sit in Week 9.
Note that several interesting TE names are on bye for Week 9. These include David Njoku, Harold Fannin Jr, Mason Taylor, Dallas Goedert, and Cade Otton.
Yes, Washington’s offense has been sputtering. That said, don’t let that scare you off Zach Ertz in Week 9. Against Kansas City, Ertz caught four of six targets for 16 yards. That kind of volume still matters. This is especially true at a position where consistent targets are a luxury.
Seattle’s defense has struggled to contain tight ends. They have allowed an average of 54.8 yards per game to the position. With the Commanders likely playing from behind, Ertz should see enough looks in the middle of the field to rack up PPR points. He’s not flashy, but he’s a reliable floor play in a week where stability is scarce.
Colston Loveland emerged as a sneaky streaming gem in Week 8. That’s when Cole Kmet sat out with a back injury. Loveland should have another productive game in Cincinnati. He played over 80 percent of offensive snaps and ran routes on 78 percent of pass plays, per PFF. That’s elite usage for any tight end, let alone a fill-in.
The Bengals are giving up the most schedule-adjusted fantasy football points to tight ends this season. That makes this matchup gold. Even if his three-catch, 38-yard line from last week didn’t wow fantasy managers, the underlying usage suggests a bigger breakout is coming.
Kyle Pitts continues to defy expectations. That’s both good and bad. After a frustrating start to the season, Pitts rebounded in Week 8. He caught nine passes for 59 yards and tied his career-high for receptions in a single game. He’s now sitting comfortably inside the top 10 for fantasy tight ends in PPR formats.
With Drake London sidelined and the Falcons desperate for a playmaker, Pitts has become the centerpiece of Atlanta’s passing attack. The Patriots, meanwhile, have struggled against tight ends. They have allowed five touchdowns to the position over their last six games. Expect another solid outing from Pitts. He should continue to see heavy volume in a high-usage role.
Even when Travis Kelce isn’t...
