Week 17 vs Miami Dolphins
Matt LaCosse had one reception on one target in Week 16, and it made for his best fantasy performance of the 2019 season. Of course, that one catch went for a touchdown and it made him the week's fantasy TE16, making this season's tight end landscape the saddest thing since watching the opening montage of Up. Don't fire him up for fantasy purposes unless continued weeping is your thing.
Week 16 vs Buffalo Bills
Matt LaCosse has seen snap shares of 81% and 75% over the last two games, and his five receptions for 36 yards lead the position for New England. Yikes. The Patriots have stared into the abyss that is their tight end corps and decided to look elsewhere before it stared back at them. If you are in the fantasy finals in a redraft league and have Matt LaCosse as your starting tight end, post a screenshot on Twitter and then delete your account in a blaze of glory, as you've just achieved the impossible and will never reach these fantasy managerial heights again. For DFS purposes, if you're playing a Patriots tight end against the Bills, you should probably quit DFS and donate your money to a cause close to your heart.
Week 15 at Cincinnati Bengals
Matt LaCosse has been the Patriots' number one fantasy tight end over the past three games. Unfortunately, that's the equivalent of being the fastest sloth on earth. LaCosse hasn't had more than two receptions in any game, and his 33 receiving yards in Week 2 are his high-water mark. Don't start a Patriots tight end unless you're frightened of beating your opponent and want to ensure a loss.
Week 6 vs New York Giants
The New England Patriots lined up with a tight end on the field in Week 5 for far more plays than they had all season prior, and Matt LaCosse saw more targets than he had in the previous three weeks combined. The Patriots also declined to activate tight end Ben Watson following his four-game suspension, making him a free agent. That was either a vote of confidence in the growing roles of Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo, or they were simply looking to increase their cap space for a potential trade in the near future.
Either way, LaCosse was on the field for a team-high 94% of the offensive snaps, and that alone makes him a tight end worth keeping an eye on. His target rate of 5.5% was ultimately the lowest among Patriots receivers for the week, but even a modest increase in that percentage could make him a viable pickup in the near future.
Week 3 vs New York Jets
Matt LaCosse is someone to keep an eye on going forward. He missed most of the preseason with an ankle injury, and Week 2 saw his first regular-season snaps. While his final stat line of two receptions on two targets for 33 yards won't blow your hair back, he did flash receiving skills and is likely to rarely find himself the focus of defensive attention. His potential fantasy value could be short-lived with Ben Watson returning to Patriots for Week 5.
Week 16 at Oakland Raiders
Last Saturday versus Cleveland, Matt LaCosse turned six targets into four receptions for 43 yards. Case Keenum threw 48 passes in the loss, helping the TE register his highest yardage total since early November. Look for the Broncos to have a better ground game on Monday night in Oakland, which means fewer pass attempts. LaCosse has been too inconsistent for him to be a part of your starting lineup.
Week 15 vs. Cleveland Browns
Case Keenum threw 42 passes at San Francisco last week, but Matt LaCosse received just one target, resulting in a three-yard grab. There is no reason for LaCosse to be on a fantasy roster.
Week 14 at San Francisco 49ers
In his first game as the Denver starting TE last week at Cincinnati, Matt LaCosse didn’t receive any looks from Case Keenum, who completed only 12 passes in the win. While LaCosse posted three catches for 34 yards and a TD in Week 12, he’s a risky fantasy start, especially during this vital time in your season.
Week 13 at Cincinnati Bengals
With Jeff Heuerman now done for the season, Matt LaCosse takes over as the Broncos starting TE. He is coming off the best game of his career last week versus the Steelers, snagging three passes for 34 yards and his first NFL TD. The third-year pro has good size at 6’ 6” and 255 pounds and could become a favorite target for Case Keenum in the red zone. Even though he’ll be facing a bad Cincinnati D, LaCosse is a TE2 option.
