Unless Rob Gronkowski decides to come out of retirement and suit up for the New England Patriots this coming week -- and really, even if the future Hall of Famer does -- fantasy managers are going to find it difficult to fill the tight end position in Week 12.
After all, consider the following facts:
Travis Kelce, acknowledged by most as the top tight end in fantasy, will enjoy a Week 12 bye with his Kansas City Chiefs teammates, even as his fantasy investors grumble. The Los Angeles Chargers, who face the Chiefs in Week 11's Monday night clash in Mexico City, will also earn their bye week, taking with them Hunter Henry. The Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings will also be off. This is, by the way, the final week of byes -- just in time for the trade deadline in most fantasy leagues.
The fact that the Cardinals are on bye is actually a related problem in fantasy, but not because we will so deeply miss TEs Charles Clay and Maxx Williams. Rather, we'll be sad because Arizona's defense has been so notoriously porous against tight ends this season. Detroit Lions rookie T.J. Hockenson had a monster Week 1 against them, and has done little since. Carolina Panthers legend Greg Olsen has two touchdowns all season -- both in a Week 3 win at Arizona. Tampa Bay Buccaneers disappointment O.J. Howard even scored a touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 10 before returning to obscurity on Sunday ... and by the way, who is Ross Dwelley? No offense gets a chance to enjoy this significant advantage in Week 12.
San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle failed to reap the benefits of his team's Week 11 matchup against the Cardinals as he missed his second consecutive game with knee and ankle injuries. He might not return for Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers, either. Kittle, the No. 5 tight end entering Week 11, has been a tad disappointing this season, as he might not sniff 1,000 receiving yards just one season after breaking the TE yardage record. His Sunday replacement, the aforementioned Dwelley -- a second-year player with 12 catches in his short career -- took advantage of Arizona's linebackers and, naturally, scored two touchdowns. Of course he did.
Speaking of injuries, Atlanta Falcons breakout star Austin Hooper, who entered Week 11 leading all tight ends in PPR points (both for the season and per game), missed Sunday's action with an MCL sprain in his left knee. It seems unlikely he will play for a few more weeks. The same could prove true for Evan Engram of the New York Giants, as he last played in Week 9 due to a foot sprain. Injuries are often the great equalizer in fantasy, but at tight end, with so little depth, they are a bigger issue.
OK, so what does that really leave us with in Week 12? Well, the Seattle Seahawks should become the latest defense to double-team Philadelphia Eagles star Zach Ertz. Still, no Ertz investor would sit him, even in a rather disappointing season. Darren Waller and the Oakland Raiders should enjoy a Sunday meeting in New Jersey against the New York Jets, though he has caught only 12 passes over his past four games. Baltimore Ravens leading receiver Mark Andrews could be the No. 1 TE option for Monday Night Football in Los Angeles against the Rams. After these three ... well, how do you feel about Dwelley?
Fantasy managers would have laughed at considering the likes of Darren Fells (Houston Texans), Ryan Griffin (Jets) and Dwelley a few weeks ago, but might need to in Week 12. Fells had a quiet performance on Sunday at Baltimore, but nobody at the position has scored more touchdowns. Griffin scored another touchdown on Sunday -- his fourth in six weeks -- and because Chris Herndon is now on injured reserve, he has some job security. Dwelley is the Kittle replacement, and perhaps worth adding as a handcuff for a Sunday night decision. Anyway, good luck! Perhaps Gronk will save us all.
Here are more fantasy themes to watch in Week 12:
Colts need a hand
The undistinguished Jonathan Williams handled most of the Indianapolis Colts' RB duties after starter Marlon Mack broke his right hand in Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Williams figures to be a popular pickup for Week 12, as the Colts travel to Houston for the Thursday night game. Williams, a fourth-year player who entered Sunday with just two rushing attempts this season, should be a popular free-agent pickup by eager fantasy managers who presume his 147 total yards (15.7 PPR points) against Jacksonville will happen again.
Perhaps it will, but then again, Jordan Wilkins -- the clear backup when healthy who missed Sunday with an ankle injury -- could heal up quickly and play more snaps on Thursday. Pass-catcher Nyheim Hines should be involved as well. It seems unlikely, though, that any Colts running back will boast a RB2 ranking for Week 12.
The bigger concern, of course, is Mack, who entered Week 11 as a secure RB2 option. If he needs surgery, he could miss considerable time. That would make him droppable in many leagues, since the fantasy playoffs begin in a few weeks. Clarity should come soon, but let's hope it doesn't come to this.
More injured running backs
Mack is hardly the only running back dealing with a physical ailment or two. Among those fantasy-relevant backs who sat out Week 11 were Atlanta's Devonta Freeman, Philadelphia's Jordan Howard and San Francisco's Matt Breida. Pittsburgh's James Conner returned from a shoulder ailment Thursday, but quickly reinjured it in the Steelers' loss to Cleveland. None of these players offers assurance of playing -- let alone playing well -- in Week 12, and as a result, neither do the replacements on those clubs.
For example, the Falcons turned to Brian Hill on Sunday. While the team dominated the Panthers, the most-added player in ESPN Fantasy leagues over the past week managed all of 38 total yards and a tepid 4.8 PPR points on 16 touches. He could end up being dropped in many leagues this week ahead of an appealing Week 12 game versus Tampa Bay. Eagles rookie Miles Sanders was just a little bit better (6.7 PPR points) in a home loss to the Patriots and remains far from consistent ahead of a key home game with Seattle. The 49ers' Tevin Coleman should have really enjoyed running on the Arizona defense. Instead, his 12 rushing attempts went for only 14 yards, though he did buoy his performance in the passing game.
In other words, sometimes opportunity is simply not enough.
Monday night mayhem
The league's likely MVP at this point is on display in the final game of Week 12. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson continues to amaze with his legs while also looking more than competent with his arm. He comes off impressive victories over the Patriots and Texans and, according to my colleague Tristan H. Cockcroft, his 271.1 PPR points represents the third most through a team's first 10 games, even topping what Patrick Mahomes achieved in his MVP campaign last season. As with Mahomes, we are well past the point in which Jackson needs to prove himself. Jackson is a must-start, along with Andrews, RB Mark Ingram II and the Ravens D/ST, which has averaged a league-leading 17 PPR points per game over its most recent four contests.
The defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams will host the streaking Ravens, and expectations should be measured for Jared Goff, Todd Gurley II and their pals. Goff continued to struggle on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears, as his offensive line -- injuries and a lack of experience are problems here -- simply does not allot him as much time, on a consistent basis, as it did a season ago. In addition, we await word on whether WRs Robert Woods (personal) and Brandin Cooks (concussion) will play in Week 12. Sans their presence, Cooper Kupp has suddenly struggled. Gurley actually looked bouncy and terrific on Sunday, for the first time perhaps all season, though he remains on pace for under 1,000 rushing yards and remains mostly a nonfactor in the passing game. Chances are that Gurley investors have to and want to play him, but the Ravens score lots of points, often forcing opposing offenses to pass.