Fantasy Football: Week 6 Tight End Rankings

MIAMI, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The New England Patriots showed just how valuable tight ends can be in a Week 5 thumping of the Cleveland Browns.

But there are options beyond superstar Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett when it comes to your fantasy football squad. If you are a Kyle Rudolph owner, you should have already had a bye-week contingency plan. But if you didn't, you can pick a guy off of the waiver wire or look at my top 20 tight ends for Week 6. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

TOP SHELF

Delanie Walker and the Tennessee Titans face a Cleveland Browns secondary allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends. The Browns have allowed a league-high 46 receptions, 510 yards, and five scores to the position through five games. Walker is my top tight end this week and I see the Titans improving to 3-3 by beating the struggling Browns. Jimmy Graham excited fans in Weeks 3 and 4, accumulating 100 yards and 113 yards, respectively. He scored in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers and had six receptions in both contests. Russell Wilson appears to be building chemistry with Graham and I expect that to continue against an Atlanta Falcons defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends. The Falcons are tied with the Browns for allowing the most touchdowns to the position through five games. Before shutting out Denver Broncos tight ends in Week 5, the Falcons had allowed five touchdowns in its previous four contests to the position. Graham is a top-5 play.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is typically a top-10 play and this week is no different. He will face an Oakland Raiders defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to the position. Kelce has at least five receptions in every game so far and scored touchdowns in his previous two contests leading into his Week 5 bye. Green Bay Packers tight end Richard Rodgers definitely gets a bump with Jared Cook out due to an ankle injury. Despite not eclipsing two receptions in his previous four games, I expect Cook to be heavily involved in a matchup against a Dallas Cowboys secondary allowing the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.

LONGSHOTS

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James has a plus matchup on the road against the Miami Dolphins in Week 6. The Steelers should absolutely obliterate the Dolphins in this contest and I expect Ben Roethlisberger to throw more than four touchdowns for the third consecutive week. Roethlisberger has thrown at least three touchdown passes in four of his five starts. He has eclipsed the 300-yard plateau in three of those matchups. Jesse James has been a big benefactor of Roethlisberger's success, catching three touchdowns in his previous four games. I expect another connection against a Dolphins defense allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Buffalo Bills veteran tight end Charles Clay is worth a look if you waited to fill in for your starter's bye week. I have Clay as a fringe TE1 in very deep leagues. He gets a matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Clay's appeal doesn't come from facing a horrible defense, but from the perspective that the 49ers will likely lock down Tyrod Taylor's top receiving options. With those receiving options already being watered down, I expect Clay to find some room on short routes. He is a better option in PPR formats, as he has had five receptions in three of his last four contests.