Week 13 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Making Tough TE Decisions Easy

Don't expect a lot of production out of these tight ends for the week. Pack them safely away on the bench and save them for another week.

Houston Texans TE Owen Daniels

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Sit

Opponent: Falcons

Daniels has a couple of things working against him in this contest. The Falcons are very good at guarding tight ends, and he has T.J. Yates trying to get him the ball.

A tight end can often be a young QB's best friend. However, on the Texans a large part of that role is going to Arian Foster.

Last week, Foster had nine targets to Daniels' seven. Seven targets is still a good amount for a game, however, that number is likely to drop this week.

Football Outsiders ranks Atlanta third in guarding opposing tight ends.

The Texans will run the ball as much as possible against Atlanta, and when they do have to pass they will try and give Yates easy reads against the weaknesses of the Falcons defense, and that is not passes to the tight end.

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Heath Miller

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Sit

Opponent: Bengals

Heath Miller will bring very little to the table this week. His first meeting against the Bengals Miller caught just three passes for 31 yards.

There is a good reason for that. The Bengals have done an excellent job of defending opposing tight ends. Football Outsiders ranks them sixth defending that position.

The Bengals' weakness on pass defense is on the outside. FO ranks them 20th against No. 1 receivers and 30th against No. 2 receivers.

Roethlisberger typically does a fine job of finding the open guys and the opposing defense's weakness. That means the passes will be going to his wideouts in this one.

Tennessee Titans TE Jared Cook

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Sit

Opponent: Bills

Cook is not in a position to put up big numbers this week. He has had a decent season, and he is one of Hasselbeck's favorite options.

However, he is coming off of a concussion, and you combine that with a Bills team that defends tight ends much better than they do receivers and Cook is not likely to be a big part of the game plan.

Football Outsiders ranks the Bills 12th against opposing TEs. They are 27th against both No. 1 and 2 receivers.

This will result in Cook being little more than a decoy in this game.