Week 18 Start 'Em Sit 'Em TEs feat. Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, Jake Ferguson

Week 18 of the fantasy football season will include the final slate of games for this year. It also represents the final week of the fantasy playoffs, so managers still participating in their league's playoffs will be competing for the championship. This means that they must make sure to optimize their tight end position this week, including referencing the following targets and fades.

Week 18 Fantasy Football TEs Start 'Em picks

Week 18 starts (image credit: Getty)

Sam LaPorta has been on a scorching hot streak in fantasy football during recent weeks for the Detroit Lions. He has finished among the top 12 weekly tight ends in seven of his past nine games, including finishes of TE5 or better in each of the past three weeks. His overall ranking has now improved all the way to the TE7 this year, making him a strong lineup option when he takes on the Minnesota Vikings this week.

He is joined by Trey McBride, who has been one of the best overall tight ends all season long, as demonstrated by his overall TE3 ranking. He has also been incredibly consistent for the Arizona Cardinals in recent weeks, finishing eight of his past nine games ranked among the top 10 weekly tight ends. This includes a TE1 finish last week when he finally scored his first receiving touchdown of the season, so he is an elite pick for fantasy lineups against the San Francisco 49ers.

Must Starts

• Trey McBride
• Sam LaPorta
• Brock Bowers
• George Kittle
• Mark Andrews
• Jonnu Smith

DFS Picks

• Chig Okonkwo
• Tucker Kraft
• TJ Hockenson

Week 18 Fantasy Football TEs Sit 'Em picks

Week 18 sits (image credit: Getty)

Jake Ferguson has struggled in recent weeks for the Dallas Cowboys since the team was forced to make a quarterback change. He has finished outside of the top 20 weekly tight ends in each of his past six games after finishing among the top 10 in four of his first seven games. His recent skid makes him a clear fade when he faces off against the Washington Commanders this week.

Another tight end to avoid this week is Cole Kmet, who has been far too inconsistent for the Chicago Bears to trust in lineups for the championship round of the playoffs. He has finished among the top 12 weekly tight ends four times this year, but he has also been held to two or fewer receptions eight times. He should be left on the bench for his matchup against the Green Bay Packers this week.

Must Sits

• Jake Ferguson
• Cole Kmet
• Noah Fant

DFS Fades

• Hunter Henry
• Kyle Pitts
• Brenton Strange