Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) looks on in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Which tight end is the right end to go with in a pivotal week in fantasy? The choice between which player you pick to go out there on the field and which you sit on the bench could be the difference between a happy end of the weekend or sorrows rolling into the new week.

Here are the tight ends that need to play in week 12 and the ones you have to keep put for your own good.

Start: George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers)

Rain or shine, Purdy or Jones, it doesn't matter: George Kittle will be there to hold the hand of the closest 49ers fan. Kittle has been amazing this season when the rest of the offense has fallen apart, and it should continue in a must-win game against the Carolina Panthers in a game that could help San Francisco get into the playoffs or watch from home in January. The Panthers, while on the rise, can get beaten in their secondary and second level with the linebackers, so look for Purdy to feed his big man early and often.

Sit: Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys)

Let's keep Ferguson on the bench this week, friends. He is targeted often, even if he is having a so-so season, but the Philadelphia Eagles are eating times alive right now with their defense. The Cowboys were one of the best offensive teams in football earlier in the season, but have fallen off. Right now, Ferguson is walking into a lion's den with the Eagles licking their chops at a middling Cowboys squad.

Start: Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)

The Chiefs need a win against the Indianapolis Colts, and a lot of it will come down to how Kelce can play against a team with one of the softer secondaries in football. While the Colts are having an incredible season at 8-2, their major weakness comes in the secondary, where better teams have exploited their coverage. Look for Patrick Mahomes to target his best friend, who has been improving week by week, for a Chiefs team hanging on in a tough playoff race in the AFC.

Sit: Brock Bowers (Cleveland Browns)

In what will be a dirty, downright possibly unwatchable game between the Raiders and Browns, it might be best to sit Bowers if you have a better option on the bench. Geno Smith is on his last legs in Las Vegas, and though the Browns aren't incredible, they have some of the best linebacker coverage right now in the NFL. If Bowers is your only option, play him, but if you have another promising tight end on the bench, don't be afraid to sit him for a matchup that might frustrate Bowers and anyone who owns him in fantasy.

Start: Tyler Warren (Indianapolis Colts)

On the opposite end of the Colts/Chiefs matchup, throw in Warren! The Chiefs are human this year, and Warren could have a huge day in a game that could put Kansas City's postseason hopes in jeopardy with a defeat. Per Pro Football Focus, the Chiefs have the 30th-best (or third-worst) linebacker coverage group in the NFL and 25th-best cornerback coverage. If that doesn't change, Tyler Warren is going to run rampant all over the Chiefs.

Sit: Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams)

From one Tyler to another, the Rams are the team using the most tight ends this year with their three-tight-end, 13-personnel package strategy, but don't get too caught up in it. Higbee, who was the starting tight end for almost a decade with the Rams, is the primary player at the position, but he is on his way out in Los Angeles. In recent weeks, rookie Terrance Ferguson has risen in the depth chart with his steady hands, and Colby Parkinson has usurped Higbee with his superior blocking. Add an above-average Tampa Bay Buccaneers coverage team, and Higbee shouldn't be the tight end you run with this weekend. If you have to go for a Rams tight end, Ferguson or Parkinson are much safer bets to get you a touchdown.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 12: TE Edition

Reporting by Tyler Erzberger, Touchdown Wire / Touchdown Wire

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