Upgrades For Week 6 Tight End Rankings: George Kittle Bounces Back

Let's get into the Week 6 TE edition of Freedman's Favorites, where I highlight guys I'm upgrading because of …

Favorable betting factors and situational spots
Advantageous defensive matchups (perhaps aided by injury)
Increased usage expectations (again, maybe aided by injury)

For process notes regarding this series, see the end of this piece. Also, check out the rest of my Week 6 favorites and fades.

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Week 6 Tight End Rankings (Top 15)

Rank	Player
1	Brock Bowers
2	Trey McBride
3	George Kittle
4	Isaiah Likely
5	Tyler Warren
6	Tucker Kraft
7	Travis Kelce
8	Dalton Kincaid
9	Juwan Johnson
10	Dallas Goedert
11	Harold Fannin
12	Pat Freiermuth
13	Colston Loveland
14	Mark Andrews
15	Tyler Higbee

Week 6 Matchup Upgrades: Tyler Higbee vs. Cardinals & George Kittle vs. Commanders

There are a few "flow chart" defenses so bad that they provide automatic upgrades to whatever TEs they face. If a guy is playing one of them, I aggressively move him up my ranks. If not, I carry on.

Based on the numbers I see in our Fantasy Life DvP (Defense vs. Position) Matrix as well as RBs Don't Matter and FTN, the Cardinals and Commanders are two of the biggest flow chart defenses for TE.

Cardinals: No. 32 in defensive pass DVOA vs. TEs (42.1%)
Commanders: No. 2 in largest fantasy boost allowed to TEs (+9.3)

Bang a gong.

Tyler Higbee (Rams) vs. Cardinals: TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle, IR) exited Week 3 early with an injury, and in his absence Higbee over the past three games has been very productive (12.1 fantasy points per game, 18-212-1 receiving, 23 targets) and heavily used (73% route rate, 82 Utilization Score, per our Fantasy Life Utilization Report). I expect that to continue this week against the Cards, who might not have FS Andrew Wingard (knee). Additionally, the Cards are on their third road game in four weeks, while the Rams are on their second straight home game. Finally, HC Sean McVay has historically done well in division (35-23-1 ATS, 16.4% ROI, per Action Network).

George Kittle (49ers) vs. Commanders: Last week, I highlighted Kittle as a fantasy fade, and I gotta say … nailed it (4.9 fantasy points, 5-24-0 receiving, 6 targets), even with him having decent usage (85% route rate, 24% target share, 72 Utilization Score). This week, though, I expect a bounceback. The Commanders have traveled more than almost any other team over the past month (10,944 miles), whereas the 49ers are on their fourth home game in five weeks. Additionally, the Commanders are No. 31 in defensive pass DVOA vs. TEs (40.9%) and could be without S/CB Nick Cross (illness). Plus, Kittle could see extra work this week without No. 2 WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring).

Week 6 Scoring Upgrades: Tucker Kraft vs. Cowboys & Colston Loveland at Falcons

Sometimes upgrades are as simple as: "This team is going to score a lot of points, so I need to bump up the TE."

This week, the Packers are No. 4 in implied team total (27.0 points); the Bears, No. 5 (26.0).

Upgrades warranted.

Tucker Kraft (Packers) vs. Cowboys: The setup isn't perfect. The Packers could be without three OL starters: RT Zach Bako-Bewele (knee, IR), RG Jacob Monk (quadriceps) and LG Aaron Banks (toe). Additionally, the Cowboys have three extra days off after Thursday Night Football. But also … it's the Cowboys, who have traveled more than any team over the past month (11,434 miles) and yield an amplified home-field advantage to the Packers because they're outside division, on grass (vs. turf) and outdoors (vs. indoors). It's just a bonus that the Cowboys could be without LB DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring), SS Jalen Thompson (hamstring, IR) and No. 3 S P.J. Locke (foot, IR). Plus, they're No. 29 in defensive pass DVOA vs. TEs (34.0%). Since Week 3, Kraft without WR Jayden Reed (neck, IR) has been serviceable (9.1 fantasy points per game, 15-132-1 receiving, 20 targets, 72% route rate, 74 Utilization Score with 2-5-0 rushing).

Colston Loveland (Bears) at Falcons: I wish I were joking … but I'm not. He has been truly and hilariously abysmal this year (3.5 fantasy points per game, 13-110-0 receiving, 23 targets, 56 Utilization Score). His inefficiency is the stuff of nightmares (4.8 yards per target). But I want to (attempt to) contextualize all this. In Week 1, Loveland did nothing (0-0-0, 2 targets), but he had a position-high 89% route rate. In Week 2, he was again terrible (1-3-0, 3), but he faced the Vikings, who are No. 5 in fewest fantasy points allowed to TEs (6.0). And then in Weeks 3-5 he didn't have QB Caleb Williams (hamstring). Williams seems likely to return this week, which should give a boost to the offense, and with his return, HC Ben Johnson might seek to get Loveland more involved. This is speculative, but I still believe that Loveland is likeliest to be the most dynamic pass catcher the Bears have, given what he did as a 21-year-old rookie last year, when he was No. 1 on the team in the regular season in receiving (58-713-6) and then dominant in two playoff games (12-193-0, 96 Utilization Score). The Falcons have a boosted home-field advantage because the Bears are outside division, on turf (vs. grass), and indoors (vs. outdoors), but Williams has been his best outside division (16-7-1 ATS, 32.4% ROI). If you're a sicko (and we both know you are), you might be able to get away with starting Loveland in Guillotine Leagues^TM this week.

Week 6 Offensive Injury Upgrades: Dallas Goedert vs. Panthers & Pat Freiermuth at Buccaneers

Here are a couple TEs who get upgrades because of offensive injuries.

Dallas Goedert (Eagles) vs. Panthers: The Eagles are coming off the London game and have traveled a lot over the past month (9,098 miles), whereas the Panthers are off the bye and have traveled little (1,547 miles). But the Eagles are now at home, where they have a boosted advantage because the Panthers are outside division and on grass (vs. turf). On top of that, the Panthers are No. 5 in largest fantasy boost allowed to TEs (+4.3). If No. 1 RB Saquon Barkley (hamstring) and No. 1 WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) are both out once again, Goedert could have an enhanced workload, as he did last week (9 targets, 73 Utilization Score).

Pat Freiermuth (Steelers) at Buccaneers: The setup is terrible. The Bucs have a three-day edge coming off Thursday Night Football, and this is their fourth game in five weeks at home, where they have an amplified advantage because the Steelers are outside division and conference. But last week, with No. 2 WR Michael Pittman (foot, IR) already out, both WRs Roman Wilson (finger) and Ben Skowronek (leg) exited early with injury, and in their absence Freiermuth had his best game of the year, both in production (19.0 fantasy points, 5-44-2 receiving, 7 targets with 1-1-0 rushing) and utilization (79% route rate, 21% target share, 42% air yard share, 100% end zone target share, 91 Utilization Score). With Wilson doubtful and Skowronek uncertain, he could once again be a primary pass catcher for QB Aaron Rodgers. Freiermuth's now a fringe TE1.

Week 6 Defensive Injury Upgrades: Isaiah Likely vs. Saints & Juwan Johnson at Giants

Here are a couple TEs who get upgrades because of defensive injuries.

Isaiah Likely (Giants) vs. Saints: Over the past two weeks, Likely has displayed some real chemistry with backup-turned-starting YOLO QB Jameis Winston (18.5 fantasy points per game, 18-160-2 receiving, 25 targets, 86% route rate, 32% target share, 99 Utilization Score). This is the third home game in four weeks for the Giants, and the Saints could be without LB Kaden Elliss (calf). Likely has entered high-end TE1 territory.

Juwan Johnson (Saints) at Giants: I successfully called out Johnson last week as a fade (3.6 fantasy points, 4-16-0 receiving, 5 targets), but he had a consistent 8+ fantasy points in every prior game this year, and I expect him to return to form this week. No. 2 WR Jordyn Tyson (hamstring, IR) doesn't seem quite ready to make his NFL debut, and the Giants could be without SS Tyler Nubin (neck) and No. 3 S Jason Pinnock (concussion).

Notes

Week 6 Favorites & Fades: Here's the full series.

Introduction
QB Favorites
QB Fades
RB Favorites
RB Fades
WR Favorites
WR Fades
TE Favorites
TE Fades

Byes: This week, the Lions, Bengals, Vikings and Dolphins are off.

Market Odds: As of Monday afternoon.

Injuries: Since I write Freedman's Favorites on Monday and Tuesday, I have incomplete injury information. After I submit this article, any updated thoughts I have regarding injuries will manifest in my rankings. For our quick fantasy thoughts every day, subscribe to the Fantasy Life newsletter.

Schedule: This season, I have the following rankings schedule.