Fantasy Football Week 6 Tight End Preview: T.J. Hockenson's return helps at shallow position

As shallow as the tight end position is we'll take any positive news we can get. And the return of T.J. Hockenson certainly counts as positive news. 

Hockenson left Week 4 with a concussion and a shoulder injury but he was a full go on Thursday so we anticipate he'll return on Monday night against the Packers. Boy do we need him. 

So far this season Hockenson has had two good Fantasy games (at least for a tight end) and two games where he did more blocking than anything else. 

Don't anticipate the Lions being in a run-heavy situation like they were in Week 2 and Week 3, which certainly helps Hockenson. I also don't expect they'll throw it 45 times like they did in Week 1 against the Cardinals. That means Hockenson will likely have to reach the end zone to have a day you feel great about in fantasy. Just like almost every other tight end. 

I project him for three catches and 43 yards on five targets this week. I give him a 40% chance to reach the end zone. That's good enough to make him a top-10 tight end and rank him above anyone you may have picked up off waivers this week.

Don't have Hockenson or one of the few good starting options available? I have options for you below. 

Week 6 TE Preview

The following players are not being projected to play Week 6 at this time. Here's what it means:

James O'Shaughnessy TE MIN Minnesota • #80 Age: 32 • Experience: 8 yrs. O'Shaughnessy is out for the year with a torn ACL. Geoff Swaim will pick up the slack in the short term, but Josh Oliver should be ready soon and could actually be relevant in Fantasy.

• 0 - Touchdowns (still) for Darren Waller. The fact that he still ranks in the top eight at the position is a very good sign.
• 14 - Targets for O.J. Howard this season. He caught one pass in Week 5. I'd really like to bet on his talent but we've been given nothing the past two weeks to suggest he's about to bust out of his slump. 
• 8 - Targets for Foster Moreau the past two weeks. This is the other side of the coin for Waller. Moreau has been cutting into his volume. 
• 10.9 - Average targeted air yards for T.J. Hockenson this year. That's very good for a tight end. 
• 5 - Receiving yards for Greg Olsen the past two games. If it wasn't for a great matchup against Tampa Bay, I'd be considering dropping Olsen. 
• 10.5 - Yards per target for Will Dissly in nine career games. Russell Wilson makes everyone efficient, and he may just make Dissly a star. 

Greg Olsen TE SEA Seattle • #88 Age: 39 • Experience: 14 yrs. Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP @ TB CAR -2 O/U 48 OPP VS TE 31st PROJ PTS 11.3 TE RNK 7th YTD Stats REC 18 TAR 31 REYDS 226 TD 2 FPTS/G 10.2

Austin Hooper TE NE New England • #81 Age: 30 • Experience: 9 yrs. Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP @ ARI ATL -2.5 O/U 51.5 OPP VS TE 32nd PROJ PTS 12 TE RNK 3rd YTD Stats REC 34 TAR 42 REYDS 363 TD 2 FPTS/G 16.4

Week 6 Streamer

Hunter Henry TE NE New England • #85 Age: 29 • Experience: 9 yrs. Ownership 59% We're expecting Henry to return in Week 6 after a full practice on Friday. He immediately becomes a top-10 option this week and a top-6 option rest of season. I'd start him unless we hear negative news over the weekend. But even if you don't start him you should absolutely add him.

Geoff Swaim TE CLE Cleveland • #87 Age: 31 • Experience: 10 yrs. Ownership 3% If Gerald Everett is still out there you need to get him, but he's not in most leagues. O'Shaughnessy and Swaim have combined for 13 targets over the past two weeks and there's hope a larger share of those targets go to Swaim now that he's the only show in town. He has a very high catch rate this season, which would help him to be better in PPR.

Top Plays

Travis Kelce TE KC Kansas City • #87 Age: 35 • Experience: 12 yrs. Week 6 Prices FanDuel $7,500 DraftKings $7,000 It's been a disappointing start to the season for Kelce, but after the embarrassment on national TV in Week 5 I expect a bounceback. He's still on pace for almost 90 catches and more than 1,400 yards, but he's just had rotten touchdown luck. He has at least 11 Fantasy points in every game this year and has two-touchdown upside every week.

Contrarian Play

Geoff Swaim TE CLE Cleveland • #87 Age: 31 • Experience: 10 yrs. Week 6 Prices FanDuel $4,200 DraftKings $2,900 He's dirt cheap and should get four to five targets. No one is going to play him and if he scores that could give you a huge edge over some of the more expensive tight ends. This is a tournament-only play.