Fantasy Football: Week 5 Tight End Rankings

MIAMI, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Own Julius Thomas, Coby Fleener, Jimmy Graham, or Travis Kelce on your fantasy team?

If you do, you need to get them out of your lineup immediately. With the foursome hitting the Week 5 bye week slate, look for other options on the waiver wire or try to make a trade.

Here are my top 20 tight ends this week. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

TOP SHELF

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is returning from a rib injury to take on the Detroit Lions. I expect Ertz to be heavily involved in the passing game and becoming a favorite target for rookie Carson Wentz. Ertz was cleared by doctors and is 100 percent healthy for the game. In Week 1, Ertz had six catches for 58 yards. The Lions have allowed the most touchdowns and second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. Ertz is a top-five play. Martellus Bennett could be the New England Patriots' most reliable target this weekend in Tom Brady's return from a DeflateGate suspension. With Rob Gronkowski still ailing, I expect Brady and Bennett to build rapport against a Cleveland Browns defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate should do well Monday against the struggling Carolina Panthers secondary. The Panthers have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game and second-most touchdowns to tight ends this season. Brate has 18 targets and two touchdowns in his last two games. Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James is facing a New York Jets squad also struggling against the position this season. The Jets have allowed just one touchdown to the position, but the fourth-most yards to tight ends this season. James is somewhat touchdown-dependent, which makes for added risk. I still rank him as a starter in deeper leagues because he remains a red zone target for Ben Roethlisberger.

LONGSHOTS

Oakland Raiders tight end Clive Walford is worth a look in deeper leagues. The Walford will battle the San Diego Chargers this weekend. The Chargers have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. Walford has yet to eclipse 50 yards receiving in a game so far this season, but could work his way into starter territory if he gains more targets from budding star quarterback Derek Carr.