Tight end is one of the most difficult positions to play every week. It's a position where you can spend all the way up, pay all the way down, or look somewhere in between. Tight ends derive much of their value from scoring touchdowns, which can be difficult to predict on a weekly basis.

In this article, I highlight tight ends that stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, particularly our FantasyLabs player models. Although the models were developed for DFS competitions, this is a general purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.

As news emerges throughout the week and we adjust our forecasts (assisted by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our player models will change as forecasts change. For updates visit the models directly.

And don't forget about the tools FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer, which allows you to easily create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to build your lineups by hand.

Finally, be sure to check out all of the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybons are included with the FantasyLabs subscription) in the FantasyLabs models. Subscribers now have the opportunity to purchase Derek Carty's THE BLITZ on our marketplace. Predictions from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you are a subscriber to these specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).

You can also combine them to create your own aggregate forecasts:

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Jake Ferguson ($5,000 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel)

Ferguson may not have started the year as a top fantasy tight end, but he has quickly inserted himself into that conversation. He has a 21% target share in his four games played, which is a really strong number at a weak position. There are only seven players with a target percentage above 19% at tight end this season, and none are above 26%.

Ferguson also benefits from playing for a fast-paced Cowboys offense. They have played at least 70 games in two of their last three games, so they have plenty of opportunities to score fantasy points. That has allowed Ferguson to score at least seven goals in three consecutive games, and he has posted a positive plus/minus in each game. He did that despite failing to catch a touchdown, which is easier said than done when it comes to tight end.

This week's game against the Lions is another solid pitch for Ferguson. This game leads the league with a total score of 52.5, and the Lions' pass defense was exploitable: They rank just 21st in dropback EPA.

Overall, Ferguson has the highest median and maximum forecasts for the position, despite being below the top tier from a pricing perspective. This is a difficult combination that shouldn't be missed.

Cade Otton ($3,500 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel)

If you're looking to get a little cheaper at the position, Otton is someone to consider on DraftKings. At just $3,500, he's very affordable and one of the few tight ends in football who can give it his all. His route participation rate of 85% is the third best mark at the position, just one behind Travis Kelce (87%) and Tyler Conklin (87%).

Early in the season, Otton didn't get much attention in the passing attack, but has seen an upward trend over the last three weeks. He has a target share of 20% during this period and has been at 17% or better in all three appearances.

Like Ferguson, Otton has posted a positive plus/minus in three straight games despite failing to find the end zone. If he can add a touchdown to his typical production, he has the potential to be one of the best values ​​of the week at the position.

Try Our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator, which uses the power of simulation to create advanced DFS lineups.

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Sam LaPorta ($5,500 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel)

LaPorta should send Mark Andrews a thank you basket. If Andrews didn't disappear from the scene, more people would be talking about LaPorta's disastrous start to the season. After putting together one of the best rookie TE seasons in history, he is the No. 20 TE in PPR points per game through the first five weeks. He has yet to break double-digit fantasy points in a single game, which he did 10 times last season.

It's not all LaPorta's fault. The Lions have followed an extremely run-heavy game plan over the last two weeks, which has limited his options. In fact, he had a 21% goal percentage in his last appearance, but the Lions only threw the ball 19 times.

If the Lions do indeed have to hit the air this week, LaPorta should still be one of their top options. The game against the Cowboys is good as the team is missing some key defenders due to injuries. The Cowboys haven't been good defensively even at full strength, so someone from the Lions should be able to put together a strong fantasy performance.

Brock Bowers ($6,000 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel)

Bowers' price continues to rise, but after last week it's hard to argue against it. Against the Broncos he scored twelve times, which he converted into eight catches, 97 yards and a touchdown.

Bowers should continue to benefit from the absence Davante Adams. He had a 34% target share last week without Adams, and there's a chance the team will be even thinner in Week 6. Jakobi Meyers is officially questionable, although he was able to take part in a limited practice on Friday.

Ultimately, Bowers has shown one of the highest levels of success at the position in his rookie season and is expected to reach single-digit ownership shares in the industry.

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Ja'Tavion Sanders ($2,600 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel)

If you're looking for a punting game at the position, Sanders could be your guy. The rookie fourth-rounder started the year as a backup but suffered an injury Tommy Tremble has opened the door to a greater opportunity. He had a strong 74% route participation in Week 5 and had a respectable five targets. He finished the game with just three catches for 13 yards, but the chance for more catches is there.

Working with Sanders at DraftKings opens up a lot of possibilities with the rest of your lineup. This type of lineup can pay dividends, as Sanders appears in Sim Labs' optimal lineup with a lead of about 6.6%. This far exceeds its forecast share of 2.9%.

Dallas Goedert ($5,200 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)

Goedert is essentially unplayable on FanDuel for $7,000, making him the most expensive TE on the list. With AJ Brown And DeVonta Smith Both back in the squad, that's just too much.

But at $5,200 on DraftKings? That's still reasonable enough to consider. Most people will discount Goedert now that the offense is back at full strength, but perhaps Goedert has done enough in the last two weeks to earn a larger role in the future. After all, he has historically been a big part of the offense when healthy, posting a target share of around 20% alongside Brown and Smith last season.

Trey McBride ($5,700 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel)

McBride has been up and down this season, but he is coming off a nine-goal game last week against the 49ers. He was expected to compete for the top overall spot at the position, and while he didn't reach that threshold, he's still the No. 5 TE in PPR points per game.

He's another player that's easily overlooked this week, with shareholders across the industry expected to hover around six percent.