49ers TE Garrett Celek a sneaky start in fantasy football in Week 10
By Chris Wilson
If you’re playing daily fantasy — or you’re streaming tight ends in season-long fantasy football — get San Francisco 49ers tight end Garrett Celek into your Week-10 lineup.
San Francisco 49ers tight end Garrett Celek may be a bad tight end in a bad offense, but he’s in a perfect position to produce for your fantasy football team in Week 10.
Celek is the 12th worst receiving tight end per Pro Football Focus, averages less than 1.5 targets a game and has yet to catch more than a single pass in a game this season. Last season, Celek wasn’t much better, as he led all NFL tight ends in drop rate.
Talent is important in fantasy football, but opportunity is king. Here are the three reasons Celek should be in your fantasy lineup this week:
San Francisco 49ers
1. 49ers’ Injuries
The 49ers’ top tight end — rookie George Kittle — won’t play on Sunday due to an ankle injury. With Kittle fighting through injury last week, Celek played 55 snaps, after playing just 26 and 18 the previous two weeks, and ran a season-high number of pass routes.
The 49ers could have replaced Kittle — who averages 4.7 targets a game — with fellow rookie tight end Cole Hikutini, but Hikutini was also injured during the game, and then was placed on season-ending injured reserve this week. The only remaining tight end on the 49ers’ roster is the run-blocking Logan Paulsen, who dropped his lone pass target this season.
Adding to Celek’s opportunity is the absence of 49ers slot receiver Trent Taylor, as Celek will likely receive a portion of Taylor’s 4.1 targets per game. And with tackle Joe Staley returning to the lineup, Celek will have less blocking responsibilities and more chances to get downfield.
2. Giants Defense
To put it simply, the New York Giants are the worst team in the NFL at covering tight ends. In 2017, the Giants’ defense has allowed nearly 20 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.
The Giants have also allowed at least one touchdown reception to an opposing tight end in every game this season; for six of those tight ends, it was their first touchdown of the year, and for three of those tight ends, it remains their lone touchdown this season.
3. Availability/Cost
Since Celek is owned in less than one percent of ESPN fantasy football leagues, unless you play in Celek’s family league, the 49ers’ tight end is available on your season-long waiver wire. With top tight ends Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz on bye, and Charles Clay and Jordan Reed questionable for Sunday, Celek could be your solution to an otherwise bare waiver wire.
If you play daily fantasy football, every player is available, but Celek can be obtained at a discount; on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Celek will cost you the site minimum this week.
Add Celek to your DFS lineup and reach for the expensive stud who’s likely to blow up in Week 10.
Next: 49ers vs. Giants Week-10 Preview
This may be your first — and last — time to roster “the other Celek brother.” May he bring victory to your fantasy football team this week.