Week 4 at Kansas City Chiefs
Jordan Reed is limited in practice this week. One problem. He doesn't play until Monday night. If Jordan Reed is ruled out on Saturday, Reed can be handcuffed with Vernon Davis. Reed owners should roster both if possible. If Reed is a game-time decision again, gauge the reports. If it's completely iffy, find another option on Sunday.
Week 3 vs. Oakland Raiders
Jordan Reed always seems to have some type of injury. This week is no different, but he has practiced on a limited basis and is on track to play Sunday night. Oakland-Washington is projected to be the highest scoring game of Week 3 on Sunday night, with a total of 54.5 points. Washington is the home underdog, which could lead to negative game script and more passing for Cousins, coupled with an implied team total of 25.75 points. That makes Reed a top-five tight end option in Week 3, but it might be best to roster Vernon Davis as a handcuff in case Reed doesn't play with a Sunday night kickoff.
Week 2 at Los Angeles Rams
Reed had a quiet Week 1, but he should return to top-five tight end status in Week 2 against the Rams on the road. Don't forget, Reed is the only tight end who has come close to Rob Gronkowski in fantasy points per over the past two seasons. The weekly touchdown upside is too much to even consider putting him on your bench, even if the Rams are ninth in our aFPA vs. TEs.
Week 1 vs. Philadephia Eagles
Jordan Reed (toe) is not listed on the injury report for Week 1. Fire him up in your starting lineups for Week 1 against the Eagles. Reed was first last season in PPR points per game among tight ends. No reason to bench him, especially after Washington lost 200+ targets with the departures of DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon.
Fantasy Upside
No fantasy tight end has averaged more fantasy points per game each of the past two seasons than Jordan Reed. When he's on the field, he's the only tight end that has approached Rob Gronkowski's upside.
Fantasy Downside
Key words: when he's on the field. Reed has missed 18 games in his four-year career with multiple concussions and various other injuries. This year, he was a surprise addition to the PUP list to start training camp (toe) and was given special orthotics to wear in his cleat. Training camp hadn't even begun, and Reed was already casting doubt in the minds of would-be fantasy owners.
2017 Bottom Line
The best ability in fantasy football is availability. How lucky do you feel spending up to a third-round pick on Jordan Reed? We are projecting Reed to play 12 games this season. He's obviously a top-5 tight end, but he's one of the biggest risk-reward picks in the early rounds.
Week 16 at Chicago
Jordan Reed was clearly in pain last week with a shoulder injury and wasn't a factor in the team's loss on Monday night. To make things worse, he got ejected and recorded just once catch.
Reed can't be trusted this week and that reflects in our rankings this week, as he's just 12th on our TE list. That's still a low-end TE1 rank, but the Bears are ninth in allowing fantasy points to the TE, so it's not a great matchup on top of Reed's status. Start Reed with caution, and owners may want to think about a better option if rostered or even if there's one on your wire.
Week 15 vs. Carolina
Jordan Reed had just one catch for 10 yards on one target last week. Reed is battling a shoulder injury, but returned last week after missing Week 13. Obviously Reed wasn't 100-percent, so the question is what can we expect this week.
The good news is it's a real nice matchup as the Panthers, who are just 29th in allowing fantasy points to TEs. Reed takes a bit of a hit in our rankings, coming in sixth, as opposed to his usual top-three spot. There's obviously some risk involved with playing Reed this week, but owners should be able to count on more than a 1-10-0 line. Vernon Davis should take some targets away, but we think Reed is still a guy to have in lineups, especially given the friendly matchup.
Week 12 at Dallas
Jordan Reed caught six balls for 79 yards last week. He continues to be a solid TE option, although arguably a bit disappointing compared to what he did last year for fantasy owners. He was targeted six times.
A big rushing day by Rob Kelley likely limited some passing numbers, but it was still a pretty lopsided victory last week. This week, Reed gets the Cowboys in which should be a much closer game. Reed is ranked third on our TE list and Dallas is 16th in allowing fantasy points to tight ends. Reed should always be in lineups. But one thing to keep in mind is Dallas has been pretty tough on Reed over the last two years. In that span, Reed is averaging a line of 5.25-54.5-0.
Week 11 vs. Green Bay
Jordan Reed had two catches for 41 yards last week, which was a season-low in both categories. Reed owners watched as Vernon Davis put up a 3-66-1 line last week against the Vikings.
We don't seem concerned about Davis taking up too much of Reed's targets, at least this week. With DeSean Jackson out, the 'Skins used more two-TE sets as both Reed and Davis played on over half of the snaps. Reed is back to his usual spot - second on our TE list this week in what looks to be a nice matchup, because the Packers are 24th in allowing fantasy points to TEs. Reed should be fully involved even with Davis playing as well. Consider Reed a must-start this week, but maybe keep an eye on how things are progressing with Davis being more involved.
Week 10 vs. Minnesota
Jordan Reed exploded back on the scene back in Week 8 before the team's bye. Reed caught nine balls for 99 yards and a TD on 13 targets. The targets and yards for a season high for Reed.
This week Reed gets the Vikings who are 10th in allowing fantasy points to TEs. Reed is third on our TE list behind only Gronk and Greg Olsen so he still think he's a good play for lineups, as he is every week. Last year read caught just one ball for 17 yards against Minnesota but in 2013 had a line of 6-62-1 (9).
