Oct 13, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) prepares to take the field prior to a game Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are on a bye in Week 11, meaning fantasy managers of tight ends like Tyler Warren and Juwan Johnson will have to look elsewhere for production.

Fantasy players who invested in the position early in their drafts were mainly disappointed through the first half of this season. Still, some big-name tight ends – Sam LaPorta, George Kittle and Mark Andrews – have righted the ship after slow starts. Brock Bowers will aim to bounce back following a tough matchup against the Broncos while Jake Ferguson and Travis Kelce will return from their byes.

The fantasy football playoffs are right around the corner, and your team could be relying on a late-season push to get into the dance.

Fantasy managers face difficult start-sit decisions for their tight ends almost every week. Week 11 brings the playoff push. Here is who you should start and who you should sit at tight end in Week 11 of the fantasy football season.

Fantasy football start 'em: Week 11 TEs

Mason Taylor, Jets at Patriots (Thursday Night Football)

The Jets offense is tough to trust with Justin Fields throwing the ball, but Mason Taylor is in a position to excel this week in what projects to be a negative game script for "Gang Green" when they play the AFC East-leading Patriots on the road on "Thursday Night Football." Taylor is a fine streamer for those rostering Tyler Warren on a bye.

The Jets rookie was the third tight end off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft and finds himself in a full-time role. He faces little target competition with Garrett Wilson expected to be sidelined again. Justin Fields has struggled but New England's defense has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. The Jets had a positive game script in their win over the Browns on Sunday, which led to fewer pass attempts. They are the largest underdog of the week, which suggests Taylor could see double-digit targets. Remember, garbage time production still counts for fantasy football managers.

Zach Ertz, Commanders vs. Dolphins (Madrid game)

Jayden Daniels will miss time with the arm injury that he suffered at the end of Week 9. As a result, Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback again for the Commanders. Ertz has averaged 6.05 fantasy points per game with Mariota this season and 10.2 with Daniels.

Ertz hasn't finished with double-digit fantasy points in six of his last eight games, but he did snatch up four of five targets last week against Detroit's defense, which is top 10 in yards and receptions allowed to the position. Ertz finished with his second-highest yardage total (54) of the season.

Terry McLaurin (quad) has already been ruled out for the matchup with Miami, setting up the veteran to be a top target once again. Miami has allowed the third-most yards, second-most touchdowns, and third-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.

Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Panthers

Pitts is coming off another disappointing showing, but it's not entirely his fault. He did drop a potential 30-yard completion, which could have ended in a touchdown, but he was also underthrown on a potential 25-yard touchdown. He left plenty of meat on the bone in Week 10 but he has another glorious matchup in Week 11 when the Falcons return stateside to host the Panthers.

Carolina has allowed the fourth-most yards and the seventh-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Juwan Johnson just torched them to a TE3 finish last Sunday. Pitts, the former No. 4 overall pick, is finally getting consistent targets. Atlanta is in a must-win situation after dropping four straight. Expect the offense to bounce back and Pitts to be a big reason why.

Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 11 TEs

David Njoku, Browns vs. Ravens

The Browns veteran tight end has scored touchdowns in three straight healthy games, but he's coming off an outing against the Jets in which he received just two targets from rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. has received 15 targets over the last two games as Njoku has taken a backseat to the neophyte.

The Ravens defense is on fire entering this matchup with the Browns, having allowed just 13.5 points per game during their three-game winning streak. Despite Baltimore's early-season struggles, it ranks in the top half of the league in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends.

Cade Otton, Buccaneers at Bills

Otton was a smash start last week at home against the Patriots' pass-funnel defense; however, this week, he is a must-sit on the road against Buffalo. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving remain sidelined, but the Bills' defense has been terrific against tight ends this season.

Buffalo has allowed a league-low 6.16 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Over the last four games, the Bills have allowed just 12 receptions and 129 receiving yards to the position. Leave Otton on the bench this week.

Mark Andrews, Ravens at Browns

Baltimore hits the road again and will play the Browns. Andrews had been frustrating for fantasy managers, managing just one top-12 finish through the first eight weeks, but he's bounced back over the last two games, which coincided with the return of two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.

The entire offense has benefited from Jackson's return to the lineup, but the matchup for Andrews against Cleveland's defense is brutal. The Browns have allowed the fifth-fewest receptions to opposing tight ends, and Andrews is touchdown dependent, having failed to top five targets over his last three games. He has topped 35 receiving yards just once all season.

Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em, Week 11

Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:

→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 11.

→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here's who to start and who to sit in Week 11.

→ The wide receiver position is one of the deepest each season. Set yourself up for success in Week 11 with start 'em, sit 'em advice for wideouts.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em tight ends: Week 11 fantasy football

Reporting by Tom Viera, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect