Guest of the League
The Crown League Est. 2020
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Bowers could have big year one


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  TE SOS  
1. Cincinnati Bengals 186.39
2. Miami Dolphins 193.98
3. Philadelphia Eagles 196.38
4. Washington Commanders 197.75
5. Houston Texans 198.15
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 199.18
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 199.68
8. New York Giants 201
9. Dallas Cowboys 201.18
10. Los Angeles Rams 201.38
11. Buffalo Bills 201.39
12. Chicago Bears 201.66
13. Arizona Cardinals 201.76
14. New York Jets 202.56
15. Jacksonville Jaguars 202.86
16. Baltimore Ravens 203.04
17. Denver Broncos 203.95
18. Los Angeles Chargers 204.02
19. Atlanta Falcons 204.25
20. Cleveland Browns 204.59
21. New Orleans Saints 205.62
22. Seattle Seahawks 205.73
23. San Francisco 49ers 206.80
24. Indianapolis Colts 206.89
25. Detroit Lions 207.92
26. New England Patriots 208.23
27. Kansas City Chiefs 210.92
28. Tennessee Titans 211.44
29. Green Bay Packers 212.07
30. Minnesota Vikings 212.23
31. Carolina Panthers 213.66
32. Las Vegas Raiders 213.81


A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.

Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.

The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.

Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.

Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.

The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.

Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.

There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.

Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last. 

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.

  TE PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Atlanta Falcons 175
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 182.37
3. Philadelphia Eagles 184.73
4. Arizona Cardinals 187.67
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 187.77
6. New England Patriots 189.83
7. Miami Dolphins 190.37
8. New Orleans Saints 191.3
9. Los Angeles Rams 192.17
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 192.43
11. Cincinnati Bengals 196.1
12. Detroit Lions 196.12
13. Houston Texans 196.2
14. Indianapolis Colts 198.97
15. Buffalo Bills 199.63
16. Kansas City Chiefs 203.03
17. New York Jets 204.13
18. Carolina Panthers 205.7
19. Baltimore Ravens 205.9
20. Green Bay Packers 207.7
21. Chicago Bears 213.73
22. New York Giants 214.27
23. Seattle Seahawks 214.72
24. Cleveland Browns 214.97
25. Dallas Cowboys 215.8
26. Las Vegas Raiders 219.4
27. Washington Commanders 220.13
28. Denver Broncos 220.8
29. Minnesota Vikings 221.72
30. Tennessee Titans 223.73
31. San Francisco 49ers 225.53
32. Los Angeles Chargers 228.53


The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.

Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.

The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.

George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.

The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.

The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.

Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 4

Player Notes
George Kittle Sep 27 9:10am CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is expected to make his return to the field this week against the New England Patriots according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Kittle says he is "very excited to play football" and is "feeling fantastic" according to Wagoner's report. In two games this season, the talented tight end has 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown and missed the 49ers' loss to the Rams in Week 4. Kittle remains one of the top tight ends in a relatively limited tight-end landscape for fantasy. If he is back this week, he should be started with confidence against New England.

From RotoBaller

Tommy Tremble Sep 27 9:00am CT
Tommy Tremble

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble is sharing time with Ja'Tavion Sanders but emerged as the primary tight end on the team in Week 3 seeing more snaps and out-targeting Sanders. Tremble finished Week 3's win over the Raiders with three catches for 29 yards on three targets. The Notre Dame product is fully recovered from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss Week 1. However, with Chuba Hubbard garnering a large workload in the backfield and Diontae Johnson commanding a big target share, Tremble isn't a big piece of the offensive pie at the moment. That makes him touchdown-dependent for fantasy purposes and thus a risky play in Week 4 at the position. Until he shows more, Tremble should be left on the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Sep 27 8:40am CT
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (groin) popped up on Thursday's injury report after not practicing but he is expected to return to Friday's practice. Barring a setback with the groin injury, Johnson looks like a great fantasy play in Week 4 against the Bengals. The Toledo product had a resurgent performance with Andy Dalton under center in Week 3 with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets against the Raiders. Expect more of the same this week from Johnson and the Panthers offense. Adam Thielen (hamstring) is on the IR, further solidifying Johnson as the top option and he should be peppered with targets again against a beatable Bengals' secondary.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Sep 27 8:40am CT
Xavier Legette

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette should be more involved in the offense this week with Adam Thielen (hamstring) on IR. The rookie out of South Carolina has 10 targets on the season but is expected to slot into the No. 2 receiver role with Thielen sidelined. The talented receiver should be a nice secondary target for Dalton this week against the Bengals with Diontae Johnson (groin) serving as the top option. Johnson missed practice Thursday and is questionable but is expected to practice Friday. If he is out, Legette would have a much larger role in the offense. The Panthers offense suddenly looks viable for fantasy purposes with Dalton as the QB and Legette could benefit from that in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Sep 27 8:20am CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) took to Instagram to reassure fans that he was alright after suffering a concussion on Thursday night against the Cowboys. Nabers wrote "All Good. Thanks for all the prayers" in his Instagram story. He had a huge game with 12 catches for 115 yards on 15 targets before getting the concussion in the fourth quarter. It's a good sign that Nabers is feeling good after the injury and hopefully, for fantasy managers, he can have a quick recovery. He is looking like a budding fantasy superstar in his rookie season.

From RotoBaller

Greg Joseph Sep 27 12:50am CT
Greg Joseph

New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph was the team's lone source of offense in Thursday night's 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, nailing all five of his field goal attempts. Joseph was perfect on the night, including a 52-yard strike, accounting for all 15 of the Giants' points. While the Giants' offense struggled to find the end zone, Joseph's consistency kept them within striking distance throughout the game. Fantasy managers relying on Joseph were rewarded with a strong performance, but the lack of offense from the Giants and the eventual return of Graham Gano may limit his opportunities in future matchups.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Sep 27 12:40am CT
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton provided a few big plays in Thursday's 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, catching three of five targets for 56 yards. Slayton averaged an impressive 18.7 yards per reception, with his longest catch going for 28 yards, but he was unable to find the end zone. He was also open deep on one of his missed targets, but Daniel Jones underthrew him, thwarting a potential big gain. While his downfield ability added some spark to the Giants' passing game, the limited volume kept his fantasy output modest, making Slayton a boom-or-bust option reliant on big plays for fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Devin Singletary Sep 27 12:20am CT
Devin Singletary

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary had a quiet night in Thursday's 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, managing just 24 rushing yards on 14 carries for a lackluster 1.7 yards per attempt. Singletary's longest run of the evening went for just five yards, as he struggled to find running lanes against a tough Cowboys defense. He was also a non-factor in the passing game, catching just one pass for 14 yards and failing to score a touchdown. With such limited production, Singletary's fantasy outlook remains concerning, as his volume isn't translating into meaningful fantasy points heading into Week 5, especially against a strong Seattle Seahawks defense.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Sep 27 12:10am CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones put up another efficient performance in Thursday night's 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but failed to throw a touchdown while completing 29 of 40 passes for 203 yards. Jones averaged seven yards per attempt but couldn't find the end zone, and his late interception with 23 seconds left ended the Giants' final chance at a comeback. He added only three rushing yards on the ground and was sacked once, offering little in the way of his usual dual-threat upside. Fantasy managers expecting a bounce-back will need to see improvement from Jones in Week 5, as his (and the Giants) lack of scoring is a concern, especially with a late-game injury to Malik Nabers.

From RotoBaller

Tucker Kraft Sep 26 11:40pm CT
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (shoulder) upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. He had been limited on Wednesday. Kraft has delivered suboptimal production despite being the Packers' top tight end through the first three weeks of the season. So far, he has just six catches for 77 yards and zero touchdowns. This week, the 23-year-old faces off against the Minnesota Vikings. While Minnesota's defense has played exceptionally this season, they've also allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Kraft is a low-end TE2 whose fantasy value is largely dependent on finding the end zone.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Sep 26 11:40pm CT
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. It was somewhat promising to see Mostert, who hasn't played since Week 1, get on the field in some capacity a full four days before Miami's game against the Tennessee Titans. Having Mostert available would be great for a Dolphins offense in need of playmakers amidst injuries to quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) and Skylar Thompson (ribs). All signs point to Tyler Huntley starting under center for Miami, and their best shot at defeating Tennessee might be running their offense through the rushing attack. De'Von Achane still remains atop the Dolphins' backfield, but a healthy Mostert might see enough volume to make him an RB3 in fantasy football. Managers should continue to monitor the injury reports and check to see whether Mostert gets an official designation on Saturday.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Sep 26 11:30pm CT
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) missed a second consecutive practice on Thursday. Now, less than three days until Pittsburgh's Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts, it looks like Warren is trending toward being inactive, though Friday's injury report should provide more context surrounding his status. If he is indeed sidelined, Najee Harris would see a few more opportunities in his existing role as the Steelers' No. 1 running back. Such a situation would also lead to additional volume for veteran Cordarrelle Patterson, who becomes a low-end RB3/FLEX play in leagues with 14 teams or more.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Sep 26 11:30pm CT
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (calf, quad) logged his second consecutive limited practice on Thursday. His status for Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings is still in the air, but perhaps Friday's injury report will be able to provide additional context. Reed has produced mixed results over the last two weeks but will trend upward if quarterback Jordan Love (knee) is able to return on Sunday. When Reed and Love last played together in Week 1, the young receiver broke free for 158 rushing yards, 33 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns. Reed ranks a WR3/FLEX if he plays this weekend, and he would jump to the WR2 tier if Love is also active.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Sep 26 11:20pm CT
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (rest) practiced in a full capacity on Thursday, according to the team. He had missed practice on Wednesday, but it was merely to give him a little rest, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he was back on Thursday. Harris could be headed for an expanded role in Week 4 with Jaylen Warren (knee) trending in the wrong direction. If Warren can't play, Harris, who has already been productive as Pittsburgh's top running back, would likely see extra opportunities. He's a fringe top-24 fantasy running back heading into this week's clash against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Sep 26 11:10pm CT
Micah Parsons

Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons (left foot) was carted to the locker room during the final minutes of Thursday's game against the New York Giants. The defensive standout was in visible pain, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Parsons only had a slight limp when he saw the linebacker in the locker room postgame. Fowler noted that Parsons told a teammate, "Yeah, I'll be good." Fortunately for the Cowboys, they have 10 full days until their next game, giving Parsons a little extra time to get healthy. Assuming his postgame comments are accurate, it doesn't sound like he'll miss much time, if any at all.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Sep 26 10:30pm CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) finished Thursday's NFC East clash with the Cowboys by amassing 12 receptions (15 targets) for 115 yards. The rookie had a stellar showing in the Week 3 meeting with the Cleveland Browns, so expectations were high. While Nabers delivered as advertised, he suffered a concussion late in the fourth quarter. It's certainly not the news fantasy managers want to hear. Fortunately, the Giants have extra time before the Week 5 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. However, if Nabers isn't available, Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton will be the favorites to pick up the slack.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Sep 26 9:30pm CT
Lamar Jackson

The Buffalo Bills defense/special teams, one of the best units in fantasy football through three weeks, draws one of the worst matchups of the Week 4 slate. The Baltimore Ravens average the most yards per game in the NFL. Behind Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, they also average the second-most rush yards per game. With a lack of pass attempts, there are fewer opportunities for the Bills to add sacks and interceptions to their totals. Jackson has only been sacked three times, tied for the second-fewest among quarterbacks who have started all three games. Fantasy managers should look for a better defensive matchup on the waiver wire to start in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Ray Davis Sep 26 9:20pm CT
Ray Davis

Fresh off his first career touchdown, Ray Davis enters Week 4 as one of the best running back bench stashes across the league. The Bills are committed to a dedicated rushing attack, leaning on James Cook early in games as they build their leads. Davis spells Cook on early downs, while Ty Johnson enters the game on third downs. Consecutive blowouts have boosted Davis' opportunities. He's averaging eight carries per game over the last two contests. In Buffalo's one close game (Week 1), he was handed the rock just three times. Should Cook suffer an injury, Davis would be a plug-and-play option. For now, keep the rookie at the end of fantasy football benches.

From RotoBaller

Myles Garrett Sep 26 9:10pm CT
Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (Achilles, foot, thigh) was upgraded to a limited participant during Thursday's practice. Garrett missed practice to open the week, but was a limited during Thursday's session. It sounds like the superstar pass rusher plans to play through his injuries. This might be something the teams needs to maintenance throughout the season and give Garrett rest days. They can't afford for Garrett to miss any games. Garrett has six tackles and two sacks through the first three games of the season. His absence would be a huge blow to this defensive unit.

From RotoBaller

Keon Coleman Sep 26 9:10pm CT
Keon Coleman

Khalil Shakir has emerged as the top wide receiver in the Buffalo offense, so where does that leave Keon Coleman? The rookie caught his first professional touchdown against the Jaguars in Week 3, but that was his only catch of the game. The coaching staff held Coleman out of the first quarter due to showing up late for meetings. Then came a blowout, which brought the rookie back to the bench. Therefore, the route participation number isn't as concerning as it might seem, but there's still a big group clamoring for targets. Despite the plus matchup against the Ravens, Coleman needs to remain on fantasy football benches until he sees a steady, reliable target share.

From RotoBaller