DFS: Week 8 Tight End Value Rankings
Here are theScore's tight end value rankings for Week 8 (Thursday night and Sunday morning games excluded):
Value Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE
Top 3
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ladarius Green (SD) | at BAL | Low |
| 2 | Delanie Walker (TEN) | at HOU | Low |
| 3 | Tyler Eifert (CIN) | at PIT | Low |
Green is the value play of the week at the position; Gates will likely miss the game, and the Ravens' pass defense is Madden rookie-level bad. Walker gets a plus matchup of his own against a Texans defense that has allowed the most passing scores in the NFL, while Eifert is on the elite TE radar in what should be a high-scoring affair in Pittsburgh.
Next 3
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Jimmy Graham (SEA) | at DAL | Low |
| 5 | Martellus Bennett (CHI) | vs. MIN | Low |
| 6 | Gary Barnidge (CLE) | vs. ARI | Low |
Graham has been difficult to trust, but a solid matchup and a depressed salary make for a combination that may be too good to pass up. Bennett should see a boatload of targets in the Bears' home encounter with the Vikings, while Barnidge has become as close to matchup-proof as possible heading into a home date with the Cardinals.
Best of the Rest
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Greg Olsen (CAR) | vs. IND | Medium |
| 8 | Jason Witten (DAL) | vs. SEA | Medium |
| 9 | Larry Donnell (NYG) | at NO | Medium |
| 10 | Kyle Rudolph (MIN) | at CHI | Medium |
| 11 | Jared Cook (STL) | vs. SF | Medium |
| 12 | Heath Miller (PIT) | vs. CIN | Medium |
| 13 | Benjamin Watson (NO) | vs. NYG | Medium |
Olsen's high salary and maddening inconsistency keep him out of the top tier this week; the matchup is favorable, but the Panthers may decide a ground-heavy approach is best against an awful Colts run defense. Cook is due for a breakout - or at the very least, a strong return on value - versus San Francisco, while Miller and Watson are low-floor plays.
Nothing to See Here
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Crockett Gillmore (BAL) | vs. SD | High |
| 15 | Vernon Davis (SF) | at STL | High |
| 16 | Jacob Tamme (ATL) | vs. TB | High |
| 17 | Richard Rodgers (GB) | at DEN | High |
| 18 | Coby Fleener (IND) | at CAR | High |
| 19 | Owen Daniels (DEN) | vs. GB | High |
| 20 | Anthony Fasano (TEN) | at HOU | High |
Gillmore is the best of the bunch, looking at a potential shootout with the visiting Chargers and seeing the majority of the work with rookie Maxx Williams sidelined. There isn't much else to be found this low in the pecking order; the Colts' tight ends have become afterthoughts in the passing game, while Daniels settles for scraps in the Broncos offense.