Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II (86) reacts after making a touchdown catch with wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) during the first half at SoFi Stadium.

It's time for Week 13, with all 32 teams in action. Don't forget to set your fantasy football lineups early, as three games are scheduled for Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday.

Only a few tight ends have been a luxury for managers, highlighted by Trey McBride, but some veterans like Travis Kelce and George Kittle have also been consistent in 2025. Still, there are difficult lineup decisions to be made in Week 13.

The fantasy football playoffs are almost here. Whether you have clinched a spot, are fighting to get in or are clawing to stay out of dreaded last place, inserting the right tight end into your lineup this week could make or break your fantasy football season.

Here is a breakdown of who you should start and who you should sit at tight end in Week 13 of the fantasy football season.

Fantasy football start 'em: Week 13 TEs

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Bears (Black Friday game)

The Eagles' veteran tight end is coming off his third consecutive disappointing outing. He's been touchdown dependent in 2025, but he's in a prime spot for a bounce back when the Eagles host the Bears on Black Friday. The Bears' defense has surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position.

A.J. Brown is coming off one of his best games of the season, but DeVonta Smith picked up a pair of injuries in Week 12's loss in Dallas. Goedert has been a tertiary option in the offense at times, but expect Jalen Hurts to lean on his tight end in Week 13. Goedert should post TE1 numbers this week again against a Bears defense that could be without multiple starting linebackers for the second consecutive week; Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell all missed Week 12 and have not yet practiced this week. Get Goedert in your lineups this week.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars at Titans

Trevor Lawrence and Strange connected on five of five targets for 93 yards in his return to the lineup in Week 12. Their next matchup is against the Tennessee Titans, who rank 28th in EPA allowed per dropback.

Tennessee hasn't allowed a ton of production to opposing tight ends, but Strange provides a high floor in PPR formats as long as Brian Thomas Jr. remains sidelined. Even if Thomas returns this week, Strange is a nice fill-in for managers who may have lost Tucker Kraft or Sam LaPorta to injury. The third-year tight end still hasn't scored a touchdown this season, but there's upside in this smashable spot against the Titans as the Jags are 6.5-point favorites.

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints at Dolphins

One of the most popular waiver wire pickups in the early part of 2025 was Juwan Johnson, and managers will be privy to insert him in lineups this week. This could end up being a surprise Taysom Hill game with Alvin Kamara dinged up, so both Saints tight ends are startable this week, but Hill is more of a deep league flier.

Johnson has come on strong since the Saints turned to QB Tyler Shough in Week 8. In his four games since then, the veteran tight end has 18-222-2 receiving on 23 targets. He had the seventh-most targets among all tight ends before the Week 12 bye and in his two games since the Saints traded away Rashid Shaheed, Johnson has served as the No. 2 pass catcher (75% route rate). He's scored double-digit fantasy points in five straight and gets a juicy matchup in Week 13 when the Saints take on the Dolphins. Miami has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants at Patriots ("Monday Night Football")

The Giants' second-year tight end has been a boom-bust option since Malik Nabers went down with a season-ending injury, but there's reason to believe another boom week could be in store in Week 13 in prime time. Jaxson Dart will likely return, and Johnson will continue to be heavily utilized in the red zone. The 24-year-old has finished with double-digit fantasy points in six of the last nine games.

Expect Dart to continue to look for his athletic 6-foot-6, 259-pound tight end with quick throws on Monday night in a challenging road environment when the Giants travel to play in Foxborough. The Giants are road underdogs, which favors a pass-heavy game script for Big Blue. Fantasy managers searching for upside at the position would be wise to start Johnson against the AFC-leading Patriots. New England's defense is tied with the most receptions allowed to opposing tight ends in 2025. Johnson could be in line for his fourth finish inside the top 10 even if the production comes in garbage time.

Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 13 TEs

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears at Eagles (Black Friday game)

Tyler Warren continues to lead the way in production as the top rookie tight end in 2025, but Loveland has enjoyed a strong November thus far. The Bears' rookie finished second on the team in receptions and third in yards last Sunday and appears to have taken over the No. 1 role from veteran Cole Kmet.

However, Chicago's offense remains crowded, so Loveland is still matchup-prone, and the Bears face a difficult opponent in Week 13 when they travel to Lincoln Financial Field to play the defending champions on Black Friday. Philadelphia has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Leave the rookie on your bench this week.

Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Raiders

There are plenty of reasons why you may hesitate to leave the Chargers' rookie tight end on your bench this week against a poor Raiders team, but let's explain. The Chargers will likely have rookie running back Omarion Hampton back in the lineup. They will want to lean on the run more, and with the injuries to the offensive line, Greg Roman and the Chargers will likely have the tight ends in line to block more often than we've seen.

Add on to the fact that Las Vegas has surrendered just the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position, and the 22-year-old isn't the smash start he was becoming earlier this season.

Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em, Week 13

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 13.

→ 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 13.

→ The wide receiver position is one of the deepest each season. Set yourself up for success in Week 13 with start 'em, sit 'em advice for wideouts.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em tight ends: Week 13 fantasy football

Reporting by Tom Viera, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect