Who Should I Start? George Kittle or Cole Kmet

Friday, November 22, 5:52 PM

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) was removed from the final injury report on Friday and will be active for the Week 12 game on Sunday against the hosting Green Bay Packers. Hamstring irritation caused Kittle to miss the Week 11 loss to the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, but he'll end his absence at just one game and return this weekend at Lambeau Field. Fantasy managers' excitement will be tempered for the 31-year-old, though, with quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder) being ruled out for Week 12. While Kittle remains a must-start in all fantasy lineups, DFS managers will probably want to avoid him with Brandon Allen throwing him passes this weekend on the road. Despite missing two games due to injury in 2024, Kittle is the TE2 in overall fantasy points, trailing only rookie Brock Bowers of the Raiders.

Saturday, November 23, 5:41 AM

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet is a risky fantasy start in Week 12, as he faces a tough Minnesota Vikings defense and continues to be a secondary option in the Bears' inconsistent offense. While Kmet had a slight uptick in usage following the offensive coordinator change last week, finishing with just three receptions for 42 yards, he remains a volatile fantasy play. The fact that he's no longer splitting tight-end duties with Gerald Everett is a positive, but it hasn't yet translated into consistent fantasy production. Kmet has shown the ability to have spike weeks, but more often than not, he's been a disappointment, especially in tough matchups. The Vikings' defense is one of the stingiest in the league, ranking 4th in points per game allowed and 5th in EPA per pass, making it difficult for any passing game to thrive. With several teams on bye, Kmet could be a desperation streaming option if you need a tight end but expect volatility. He carries significant risk in a matchup that limits his upside.