Heading into this weekend, Washington has had almost nothing but positive contribution from their tight ends, and fantasy football owners are reaping all the benefits. With Jordan Reed out this weekend, and Vernon Davis set to start in his place, the situation seems tempting to keep rolling, as Washington has landed on their tight ends as Kirk Cousins has tossed 22 targets Jordan Reed’s way and 11 to Davis over the last three games. The eleven targets per game to the position seems tempting, but that may be a situation you want to stay away from this weekend.
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The last time Davis was called upon to start in Reed’s place was in weeks six and seven, as Washington took on Philadelphia and Detroit. Davis ended those games with ten targets for a combined 129 yards and a touchdown. Not bad production, especially from as position that has been as gross on the backend as tight end has been. However, the production Davis enjoyed came against the Eagles, who are riding games from TE duds like Jesse James, Jared Cook and Austin Hooper (and a zilch from Gary Barnidge week one).
Still, it took a touchdown on one of Davis’ two touches that week to get him his production, so we aren’t talking about him lighting up the Philly defense. Detroit, for their part, allows literally the most fantasy points to tight ends this season, so that explains that one away.
This weekend is a completely different story for Davis, as Washington travels to Arizona to take on a stout Cardinals pass defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends this year. No tight end has found the end zone against them, and no tight end has gone over 53 yards, and only two have gotten above 50.
They’ve demolished the tight ends that have played against them this year, and Vernon Davis won’t be an exception to that. The only thing that will salvage a usable week from Davis is that he will get the volume from Cousins that a touchdown is a distinct possibility. However, the Cardinals are so strong defensively that he may not even get the opportunity.
Vernon Davis will step in for Jordan Reed, who is not going to play this weekend, but it wouldn’t be smart to expect the same kind of production from him that you got from him earlier this season. He will get the volume to have a potentially useful day, but the volume won’t necessarily lead to production. There are plenty of other tight end options out there, so look somewhere other than Davis this weekend.