Fantasy Football TE Rankings Week 4: Who should start, the best insider tips for tight ends

Another week has come and gone, and it was another disappointing week for the so-called elite tight ends. Sam LaPorta (in one half) and Trey McBride both scored just over five PPR points. Mark Andrews once again turned into a phantom and was completely absent from the game report.

Some of the mediocre starters at the tight end position had strong weeks. Dallas Goedert took advantage of the absence of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith (who left early in the 4th quarter) and turned 11 attempts into 10 pass catches for 170 yards. Jake Ferguson played a key role in the Cowboys' comeback, finishing with 15.5 PPR points.

If your “elite TE” didn't live up to your expectations, take a deep breath and collect yourself because a new week is upon us. The slate is wiped clean and Week 4 brings with it a whole new set of circumstances.

Be sure to check back here often as our rankings will be updated regularly as we prepare for Week 4!

Fantasy TE Rankings Week 4: Who should start and who should stay at tight end?

Rankings based on PPR rating. These rankings are updated throughout the week, so check back often..

Who are the best fantasy TEs for Week 4?

It's the usual suspects at the top of our Week 4 tight end rankings. Sixty percent of our top five is made up of young, up-and-coming tight end talent. Trey McBride is an offensive focal point in Arizona and should have a strong outing against a pathetic Washington defense (he was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth inning, so check back later for status updates). Sam LaPorta has had a rocky start this season, but the lack of productivity at other positions makes it hard to lower him any further (he was out at halftime with an ankle injury, so we'll keep an eye on his status as well). And finally, Brock Bowers has lived up to expectations, moving like a wide receiver who lines up as a tight end (sometimes). This trio will have the position in good hands for the foreseeable future.

George Kittle and Travis Kelce have been at the position for years now. The changing of the guard is coming soon, but both are still high-level fantasy options in 2024. Kittle should fill a major role in Deebo Samuel's absence and is ready for a big week against New England if he can return from his hamstring injury. Kelce is in a similar boat to LaPorta – neither has produced at a high level so far this year, but it's hard to move on just yet. Kelce should be a starter in every league this week.

Who are the best fantasy TE waiver pickups for Week 4?

Cole Kmet has finally escaped the clutches of Shane Waldron. Kmet was involved in a hideous time-splitting spree with Gerald Everett earlier in the year. Last week, the tide finally turned in Kmet's favor and he played 81 percent of the snaps, resulting in 11 targets. Caleb Williams also proved he can keep fantasy-relevant pass catchers in check by throwing for 363 yards on Sunday. If Kmet maintains that role and Williams finds his rhythm, Kmet could be a legitimate fantasy option going forward.

Tyler Conklin is another player who emerged in Week 3 after being relatively quiet for the first few weeks of the year. Conklin caught five of his six passes for a team-leading 93 yards. Aaron Rodgers has breathed life into the Jets' offense and is capable of getting players other than Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall going. Conklin will be that third option in a few weeks, making him an option for teams in desperate need of TE power.

Who are the best fantasy TE sleepers for Week 4?

Zach Ertz has played a solid role in Washington's offense to begin the year. Before Monday Night Football, Ertz was the Commanders' leading receiver, running a route on 72 percent of Jayden Daniels' dropbacks. No matter how much you want Ertz to pass the torch to Benn Sinnott, this is Ertz's job he can lose. Ertz is the TE8 through the first two weeks and will likely continue to deliver top-12 performances until something changes in Washington's TE rotation.

The aforementioned Tyler Conklin is a strong underdog this week. He's been a full-time player all season and proved last week that he can deliver when his name is called. There's a good chance Conklin and New York's other complementary pass catchers will be used in Week 4. Garrett Wilson will be covered by lockdown corner Pat Surtain. We just saw Cade Otton score a respectable 11.7 PPR points against the Broncos after Surtain took out Mike Evans. If Wilson suffers a similar fate, Conklin could get a steady dose of offense from Rodgers.

What are the biggest TE injuries in Week 4?

The last few weeks have been brutal for the tight end. Starting with the injuries of the last few weeks, David Njoku has now missed two games in a row with an ankle injury. It's possible he'll return in Week 4 – Njoku managers should keep an eye on practice reports.

Evan Engram is dealing with a hamstring injury that has also resulted in a two-week absence, so keep an eye on practice reports in this situation as well.

Week 3 saw two pretty serious injuries. Sam LaPorta left the Lions game with an ankle injury; Dan Campbell confirmed in his postgame press conference that it was an ankle sprain. This injury could affect his availability in Week 4.

Trey McBride left the field against the Lions in the Cardinals' Week 3 loss after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit. There is no confirmation if it is a concussion. Watch for a report from Arizona in the next few days.