MIAMI, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Travis Kelce, T.J. Hockenson, Mark Andrews, George Kittle and Rob Gronkowski lead my Week 2 fantasy football tight end rankings for 2021.
Darren Waller, Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert, Noah Fant and Tyler Higbee round out my top 10 options for Week 2. Juwan Johnson and Pharaoh Brown are among my top tight end streamers.
The top-tier tight ends should not leave your lineup if you are in a league that requires starting the position.
Look for players with great matchups on a weekly basis if you didn't draft an elite option. I recommend starting a tight end who will be the first or second target in their respective offense.
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Here are some of my favorite players in this week's top 20 rankings:
TOP SHELF
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs was the second-highest scoring fantasy football tight end in Week 1. He remains my top season-long option and the best player at his position for Week 2.
The Chiefs face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Baltimore. The Ravens allowed 10 catches for 105 yards and a score to Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller in Week 1.
Look for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to find his top target with regularity this week in a blowout victory. Kelce is a great bet to reach the end zone at least once and haul in at least 10 catches.
Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson was the second-most targeted player at his position in Week 1. He turned those looks into eight catches for 97 yards and a score in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
This week, the Lions face the Green Bay Packers. The Packers allowed two touchdowns to tight ends in Week 1 to New Orleans Saints.
Hockenson is by far the top target in Detroit and should see at least 10 targets this week. He is my No. 2 option at the position and a top 5 play for the rest of the season.
SNEAKY PLAYS
Rob Gronkowski of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the top-scoring tight end in Week 1, with eight catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Buccaneers face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. The Falcons own one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL and allowed six catches for 76 yards and a score to Philadelphia Eagles tight ends in Week 1.
Gronkowski is my No. 5 option for Week 2. I expect at least 75 yards and a score from the veteran.
Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant is expected to see more targets in Week 2, due to a Week 1 injury to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Fant hauled in six catches for 62 yards in Week 1 against the New York Giants. This week, he faces a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that allowed four catches for 67 yards to Houston Texans tight end Pharaoh Brown in Week 1.
Look for Fant to bring in at least seven catches and score a touchdown this week in what should be a shootout. Fant is my No. 9 option.
LONGSHOTS
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson is my No. 13 option at the position this week. Johnson was the fifth-highest scoring tight end in Week 1. He scored twice in the Saints' Week 1 blowout of the Green Bay Packers.
This week, the Saints face the Carolina Panthers, who allowed 48 yards to New York Jets tight ends in Week 1. I expect Saints quarterback Jameis Winston to continue his hot start to the season and throw at least three touchdown passes Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.
Johnson should grab one of those scores and is a worthy TE1 streamer in leagues with at least 14 teams.
The Houston Texans offense played better than many expected in Week 1. Tight end Pharaoh Brown was the second-most successful pass catcher in the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This week, the Texans face the Cleveland Browns, who struggled to contain Travis Kelce in Week 1 and were among the worst defenses at defending tight ends in 2020.
Look for Brown to get a ton of looks from Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor in this matchup. He should eclipse 50 yards and has a great chance to score a touchdown.
Brown is my No. 15 option, but should only be used if you are in a league with at least 14 teams that requires starting a tight end.
Week 2 fantasy football tight end rankings
1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs at BAL
2. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions at GB
3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. KC
4. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers at PHI
5. Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. ATL
6. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders at PIT
7. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons at TB
8. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs. SF
9. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos at JAX
10. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams at IND
11. Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team vs. NYG
12. Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots at NYJ
13. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints at CAR
14. Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins vs. BUF
15. Pharaoh Brown, Houston Texans at CLE
16. Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks vs. TEN
17. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers vs. DET
18. Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers vs. DAL
19. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears vs. CIN
20. Blake Jarwin, Dallas Cowboys at LAC
