Fantasy Upside
The Vikings agreed to a contract extension with Kyle Rudolph before the season started, so the team clearly likes what he brings to the table. Rudolph finished as the No. 9 tight end in standard formats and No. 7 in PPR formats last season. He was one of just seven tight ends to score more than 150 PPR points in 2018.
Fantasy Downside
Although Rudolph managed to finish in the top 10 at his position, he was very inconsistent. In fact, 22 percent of his PPR points came in a single game last year. The Vikings also spent a second-round pick on tight end Irv Smith Jr., who finished with 710 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his final season at Alabama.
2019 Bottom Line
Rudolph is a frustrating player to own in fantasy because he’ll provide you with duds several times out of the year. He finished with 28 yards or less seven times in 2018. If he doesn’t score a touchdown, he’s not giving you much, and he only scored in three games last season. Rudolph will play a lot, but it’s hard to advocate drafting him in fantasy.
Week 17 vs. Chicago Bears
Kyle Rudolph came out of nowhere to put up 122 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches last week. That game accounted for 22 percent of his total fantasy football output this season. In other words — don't expect that to happen again. He'll face the Bears this week, a team he went 2-19 against earlier in the year. He's a TD-or-bust option at tight end in Week 17.
Week 16 at Detroit Lions
Kyle Rudolph caught three passes for 23 yards last week as he continues to make a minimal impact in Minnesota's offense. He's averaging 35 yards and hasn't scored since Week 3 this season. He's a lowly option at the TE position.
Week 15 vs. Miami Dolphins
Kyle Rudolph caught two passes for seven yards last week as he continues to be essentially a non-factor in this offense. It's worth pointing out again that he's had three games above 50 yards, two of which BOTH came against the Packers. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 3, and he's a desperate TE play in Week 15.
Week 14 at Seattle Seahawks
As we pointed out last week, Kyle Rudolph has three games above 50 yards this season, and two of them are against the Packers. That trend continued as he finished with just 38 yards on three receptions last week. There's not much that excites us about Rudolph as a fantasy option. He doesn't get many yards, and he hasn't scored since Week 3. He's outside of TE1 territory.
Week 13 at New England Patriots
Kyle Rudolph caught seven passes for 63 yards last week. He now has three games with 50+ receiving yards, with two of them coming against the Packers. Overall, Rudolph has had a poor season, so last week's performance can be viewed as him just doing well against Green Bay. Rudolph is outside of TE1 territory this week against the Patriots.
Week 12 vs. Green Bay Packers
Kyle Rudolph has had less than 30 yards in three of his last four games, and he hasn't scored since Week 3. He's not a big factor in Minnesota's offense as most of the production goes to Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.
Rudolph did have his best game of the year vs. Green Bay earlier in the season (7-72), but it's hard to see him doing that again. He's outside of TE1 territory this week.
Week 11 at Chicago Bears
Kyle Rudolph caught two passes for 28 yards in Week 9 before Minnesota's bye week. Rudolph has now finished below 40 yards in four straight games and hasn't scored since Week 3. He gets a decent matchup vs. the Bears in Week 11, but he hasn't had much value in fantasy this season. He's outside of TE1 territory.
Week 9 vs. Detroit Lions
Kyle Rudolph went 4-39 on seven targets last week. He's now averaging around four receptions and 40 yards per game this season, and has only scored twice. Overall his numbers aren't great, but they're better than most players at his position.
He gets a favorable matchup this week against the Lions who have allowed a TD to a TE in three out of the last four games. Rudolph can be viewed as a lower-end TE1 choice vs. Detroit.
Week 8 vs. New Orleans Saints
Kyle Rudolph caught just one pass for 16 yards last week as he's now finished below 50 yards in three straight games. He also hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 3. Oddly enough, he gets a tough matchup against the Saints this week. New Orleans has allowed the most fantasy points to WRs this year, but the fifth-fewest to tight ends.
Rudolph is a low-end TE1 play at best in Week 8.
