Week 11 vs. Washington
Coby Fleener was targeted just once in the Saints' Week 10 victory over the Bills. He dropped that lone target and wound up playing only 22% of New Orleans' offensive plays. Fleener also hasn't caught more than two passes since Week 2 and is not a fantasy option. Ranked as our No. 23 for Week 11, avoid him at all costs.
Week 8 vs. Chicago Bears
Coby Fleener caught 2-of-3 targets for 22 yards in the Saints' Week 7 win over the Packers. Ranked as our No. 26 tight end for Week 8, you can ignore Fleener. He's not a fantasy option.
Week 7 at Green Bay Packers
Coby Fleener was only targeted once in the Saints’ Week 6 win over the Lions. He failed to catch that lone target. Ranked as our No. 25 TE for Week 7, avoid Fleener when the Saints take on a Packers team ranked first against fantasy tight ends this season.
Week 6 vs. Detroit Lions
Coby Fleener caught 2-of-4 targets for 21 yards in the Saints’ Week 4 win over the Dolphins in London. Despite Willie Snead sidelined with a hamstring injury and Josh Hill forced out of the game due to a concussion, Fleener still wasn’t a big part of the game. Ranked as our TE12 for Week 6, Fleener is a risky, low-end TE2 for Sunday’s matchup with the Lions. At least the matchup is good on paper, as Detroit ranks as fantasy’s No. 26 defense against tight ends.
Week 4 at Miami Dolphins (game in London)
Coby Fleener caught just 1 pass for 21 yards in the Saints' Week 3 win over the Panthers. Just like last year, Fleener will show signs of life one week only to disappoint the next. He does have a great matchup on Sunday when the Saints take on a Dolphins team ranked as fantasy's No. 31 defense against tight ends. Still, Fleener is a risky TE1 in deeper leagues. He ranks as our TE14 for Week 4.
Week 3 at Carolina Panthers
Coby Fleener caught 3-of-4 targets for 33 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ Week 2 loss to the Patriots. He failed to record a catch in the first half but scored a short touchdown in garbage time to help owners who rolled the dice on him against New England.
With Willie Snead still suspended, Fleener remains a low-end TE1 for Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Carolina ranks as fantasy’s No. 29 defense against tight ends, so the matchup is favorable for Fleener.
Week 2 vs. New England Patriots
Coby Fleener caught 5-of-6 targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ Week 1 loss to the Vikings. Fleener owners a year ago would have died for that sort of production. He looked like one of New Orleans’ best players on a night where the Saints couldn’t get much done offensively against Minnesota’s stacked defense.
Ranked as our TE9 for Week 2, Fleener is a low-end TE1 and a legitimate streaming option in the Saints’ matchup with the Patriots on Sunday. The over/under for Sunday’s game is sitting at 56.5, which is the highest total on the board in Vegas. Expect a shootout.
Week 1 at Minnesota Vikings
Coby Fleener was a fantasy bust in his first season with the Saints. After signing a free agent deal during the 2016 offseason, Fleener finished with just 50 receptions for 631 yards and three touchdowns on 81 targets. He finished as fantasy’s TE12, which isn’t horrible, but Fleener certainly didn’t live up to his pre-season hype.
The Saints face the Vikings in Minnesota on Monday night, so they’ll have their work cut out for them against Mike Zimmer’s defense. Fleener ranks as our TE12 for Week 1, so consider him a low-end TE1 in deeper leagues against the Vikings’ No. 16 ranked defense against tight ends.
Fantasy Upside
On paper, Coby Fleener is perfect for Sean Payton’s offense. He has the speed and route-running ability to thrive in New Orleans, plus Drew Brees loves to work the middle of the field. If Fleener can eliminate the drops, then he has the size and quickness to give linebackers and defensive backs fits. Given how shallow the tight end position is in fantasy, Fleener still offers plenty of upside despite his rough first season in New Orleans.
Fantasy Downside
Fleener finished as fantasy’s TE12 last year, so he wasn’t a complete bust. That said, considering he ranked as fantasy’s TE6 heading into the season, he certainly didn’t live up to his preseason hype either. Fleener caught just 50 passes for 631 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus lost playing time to Josh Hill late last year before Hill broke his leg in December. Yes, on paper, Fleener is the perfect fit for this offense. In reality, drops and frequent mistakes killed his on-field and fantasy production.
2017 Bottom Line
Now heading into his second season in New Orleans, Fleener could be ready for a rebound. That said, if drops continue to be a problem, both Payton and Brees could lose patience with Fleener and turn to Hill. Ranked as our TE14, Fleener is a low-end TE1 in deeper leagues. He’s probably a fantasy starter, but a borderline one at best.
Week 17 at Atlanta
Coby Fleener caught two-of-three targets for 30 yards in the Saints' Week 16 win over the Bucs. That's a typical stat line for Fleener, who has been a huge bust in his first season with the Saints. Ranked as our TE19 for Week 17, don't expect much from Fleener when the Saints visit the Falcons on Sunday.
