Fantasy Football: Week 12 tight end rankings

Nov. 21 (UPI) -- George Kittle tops my Week 12 fantasy football tight end rankings.

Zach Ertz, Greg Olsen, Jack Doyle and Rob Gronkowski are also included in the top five of my Week 12 rankings.

Trey Burton, David Njoku, Jared Cook, Austin Hooper and Jordan Reed land in the top 10.

If you have any tight ends from the Kansas City Chiefs or Los Angeles Rams, make sure to remove them from your lineup, as those teams have Week 12 byes.

If you are needy at the position -- or are looking for a streaming option -- check out my top waiver wire add/drops for Week 12.

Here are my top 20 options at the position this week.

TOP 20 WEEK 12 RANKINGS BELOW

TOP SHELF

Kittle is my top tight end for Week 12 as the San Francisco 49ers battle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a unit allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Kittle has an average of more than five receptions per game in his last four games. He also has two scores during that stretch. I love him this week in a game that I think lacks defense.

Njoku is my No. 7 option at the position for Week 12. The Cleveland Browns pass-catcher is going up against the Cincinnati Bengals, a unit allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. While Njoku hasn't scored since Week 7, I expect a rebound here against the Bengals.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate is my No. 11 option for Week 12. With O.J. Howard on injured reserve, I expect Brate's targets to increase. He is a boom-or-bust options in deeper leagues that require starting a tight end.

Pittsburgh Steelers pass-catcher Vance McDonald is my No. 12 tight end for Week 12. McDonald has scored in back-to-back games entering this matchup against the Denver Broncos, a unit tied for allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. McDonald has a good chance at scoring once again against this beatable unit.

LONGSHOTS

New York Jets pass-catcher Chris Herndon IV is my No. 15 option at tight end this week. The Jets are facing the New England Patriots, a unit allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. I expect the Jets to be throwing the ball a ton this week as they try to keep up with New England and Herndon should benefit from that game script.

Nick Vannett is my No. 16 option at tight end in Week 12. The Seattle Seahawks pass-catcher has scored in two of his last three games and should be a good bet once again against the Carolina Panthers, a unit allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.