Guest of the League
Legends of the Fall Est. 2021
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

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

Top 3 Busts

Player Notes
Tommy DeVito Aug 9 5:30am CT
Tommy DeVito

New York Giants third-string quarterback Tommy Devito was thrown into the fire in the team's preseason opener against the Lions after Drew Lock (hip) exited early with an injury. While he didn't light up the stat sheet, he managed to steady the ship. DeVito went 8-for-15 with 92 passing yards, showing flashes of composure but failing to find the end zone. The young quarterback also chipped in two yards on four rushes, but his legs weren't much of a factor. DeVito's performance was far from fantasy-relevant, but he did what backup quarterbacks are supposed to do: keep the offense moving without making costly mistakes. While his yards per attempt won't supplant Daniel Jones, DeVito's ability to avoid turnovers is a positive takeaway. If Lock's injury lingers, DeVito may see more snaps in training camp and the final two games.

From RotoBaller

Dante Miller Aug 9 5:30am CT
Dante Miller

New York Giants rookie sensation Dante Miller made his presence known in the team's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night. The undrafted free agent out of South Carolina showcased his elite burst, tallying 57 yards on just 11 carries. While the stat line might not jump off the page, Miller's performance was a clear indicator of his potential value as a change-of-pace back in the Giants' offense. Miller's 5.2 yards per carry highlighted his ability to find seams and turn the corner with ease, a skill set the Giants have sorely lacked. His combination of speed and vision was on full display, especially during a 19-yard scamper that electrified the Giants' sideline and gave fantasy managers a glimpse of his upside. With Devin Singletary locked in as the starter, Miller is carving out a role that could see him make this team.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Aug 9 5:30am CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants first-round pick Malik Nabers made his highly anticipated NFL debut on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. The rookie wide receiver, who has been a camp standout, saw limited action, playing just 12 snaps with the second-team offense. Despite running eight routes, Drew Lock didn't target Nabers, leaving fantasy managers with a goose egg in the stat column. However, don't let this quiet night fool you. Nabers was open on several occasions, showcasing the route-running prowess that has coaches buzzing. While the box score may be barren, his ability to create separation is undeniable. Keep a close eye on Nabers as he earns more playing time; his breakout potential remains sky-high in this Giants' offense. This is a classic "don't chase the points, trust the process" situation for savvy managers.

From RotoBaller

Eric Gray Aug 9 5:20am CT
Eric Gray

Eric Gray showed the New York Giants that their investment in him is starting to pay dividends in Thursday's 14-3 win over the Detroit Lions. The second-year back had a breakout performance, totaling 98 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice. Gray's night was highlighted by a stunning 48-yard touchdown run that had echoes of his college days and reminded fantasy managers why the Giants took a flier on him in the fifth round last year. But it wasn't just the flashy run; Gray also showed versatility by adding 46 receiving yards on top of his 52 rushing yards, making him a dual-threat weapon. His second score, a gritty 1-yard plunge, sealed the victory and might have sealed his spot as a serious fantasy option moving forward. With Devin Singletary as the starter for now, Gray's emerging role could make him a sneaky pickup in deeper leagues, especially if the Giants look to lighten Singletary's workload.

From RotoBaller

Nate Sudfeld Aug 9 2:40am CT
Nate Sudfeld

Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld completed just 13 of 24 passes for 96 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He also rushed three times for an additional 14 yards on the ground. The 30-year-old played most of the game, only ceding reps to Hendon Hooker (head) in the third quarter. (Hooker departed after two drives and entered concussion protocol, bringing Sudfeld back into the game.) Neither player led a touchdown drive, and while Hooker was quite impressive on the ground, his new injury could give Sudfeld the early advantage in the fight to be Jared Goff's backup. If Hooker is expected to miss time, Detroit could add another quarterback to compete with Sudfeld ahead of the 2024 campaign.

From RotoBaller

Sione Vaki Aug 9 2:40am CT
Sione Vaki

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki rushed four times for 29 yards during Thursday's preseason loss to the New York Giants. He broke off a solid 15-yard run in the effort, but perhaps his best play was a fumble recovery after a Giants defender lost the football on an interception return. A fourth-round pick out of Utah, Vaki projects to make the 53-man roster, slotting in behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs on the running back depth chart. He's an appealing option in deep dynasty leagues (and even deeper redraft formats) given that he could earn a handful of opportunities if Montgomery or Gibbs miss any time in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Williams Aug 9 2:30am CT
Isaiah Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaiah Williams caught all four of his targets for a total of 35 yards during Thursday's preseason loss against the New York Giants. Undrafted out of Illinois, Williams is now firmly in the mix for a depth role after a solid showing in Week 1 of the preseason. He showcased considerable quickness and change of direction skills in the loss, even earning a shoutout from head coach Dan Campbell following the game. Williams has less than one month (and two more games) to show the coaching staff why he's worthy of a coveted 53-man roster spot.

From RotoBaller

Hendon Hooker Aug 9 2:30am CT
Hendon Hooker

Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (head) completed five of nine passes for 36 yards during Thursday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He was also productive on the ground, rushing four times for a team-leading 34 yards on the ground. Nearly half of his yardage came on a 16-yard run, which was the Lions' biggest gain on the ground in their loss to New York. On a more negative note, Hooker departed the game in the second half and has since entered concussion protocol. It remains to be seen if he'll miss additional time and whether an extended absence could spoil his chance of winning the backup quarterback job over Nate Sudfeld.

From RotoBaller

Kayshon Boutte Aug 9 2:20am CT
Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught three of his six targets for a total of 53 yards during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. The former LSU receiver saw his snaps alongside quarterbacks Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe, who are competing for the third-string role ahead of the 2024 season. Boutte himself is competing for a roster spot after an uninspiring rookie campaign in which he was active for just five games, catching two of the seven passes thrown his way. A misdemeanor underage gambling charge and felony computer fraud charge also made his status a bit murky, but he's been cleared of those charges as of mid-July. Boutte has one month (and two more preseason games) to show the new Patriots coaching staff why he's worthy of a roster spot. Even if he does make the team, he'll be buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most formats.

From RotoBaller

Joe Milton III Aug 9 2:10am CT
Joe Milton III

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton completed four of six passes for 54 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. He was also effective on the ground, rushing five times for 22 additional yards. The Tennessee product is believed to be competing for the No. 3 quarterback job given that it would take an enormous turn of events for him to surpass Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye on the depth chart. New England should carry three quarterbacks into the season, though, and a strong preseason could give him the edge over Bailey Zappe. Nevertheless, he remains off the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

Jack Plummer Aug 9 12:20am CT
Jack Plummer

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer completed 11 of his 21 passes for 86 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots. Plummer played the first three-quarters of the game and was eventually relieved by Jake Luton. The 24-year-old signed with the Panthers after going undrafted in this year's draft and looks to be locked into the QB3 position behind Bryce Young and Andy Dalton. He remains off the fantasy radar for the upcoming season.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Matthews Aug 9 12:00am CT
Jordan Matthews

Carolina Panthers tight end Jordan Matthews caught all three of his targets for 48 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots, leading all pass-catchers in yards on the night. The bulk of his yardage came from a 28-yard pass from Jack Plummer in the second quarter. The 31-year-old spent the majority of last season on Carolina's practice squad. With the addition of rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, Matthews will likely remain on the practice squad this season and is off the radar from a fantasy perspective.

From RotoBaller

Mike Boone Aug 8 11:50pm CT
Mike Boone

Carolina Panthers running back Mike Boone rushed the ball eight times for 34 yards in the team's loss to the New England Patriots, leading the team in touches and yards on the night. Boone also reeled in three catches for 13 yards through the air. The 29-year-old signed with Carolina in January of last season but remained on the practice squad for the entirety of the 2023 season. Boone will look to find his way onto the 53-man roster while rookie Jonathan Brooks remains on the PUP list but is firmly off the fantasy radar heading into the 2024 season.

From RotoBaller

Kevin Harris Aug 8 9:50pm CT
Kevin Harris

New England Patriots running back Kevin Harris rushed eight times for 22 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. In the passing game, he hauled in one of three targets for an additional six yards through the air. Harris is heading into his third pro season, but he's still just 23 years old. Rumors out of Patriots training camp suggest that Harris has out-performed JaMycal Hasty, putting him in line to open 2024 as the No. 3 running back. Nevertheless, he won't be a reliable contributor during the regular season. He can be avoided in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Mason Tipton Aug 8 9:40pm CT
Mason Tipton

New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Mason Tipton (hamstring) left Wednesday's practice early with a hamstring injury. The severity of the injury is unknown, but this certainly puts his chances of playing in the Saints preseason opener in jeopardy. Tipton has been a standout at camp thus far and is making his case for a roster spot. The Yale product is smaller in stature (5-foot-9) and never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season during his tenure as a Bulldog. However, he did run a 4.33 40-yard dash, and New Orleans does not boast impressive depth at wide receiver. In fact, behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed (hamstring), this WR room is ripe for the taking. Tipton is nothing more than a late-round dart throw (NFFC ADP 331) or deep-league stash, but someone to monitor, considering the hype.

From RotoBaller

Hendon Hooker Aug 8 9:20pm CT
Hendon Hooker

Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (undisclosed) was removed from Thursday night's game against the New York Giants to be evaluated in the locker room. Hooker scrambled on a play-action boot and truck-sticked a Giants defender for an impressive 16-yard gain. The drive would stall, though, after his pass was later batted down at the line of scrimmage. After the possession, the second-year quarterback was getting looked at in the medical tent, and he then made his way to the locker room. There have been no further updates from the team, though it is possible he was getting checked for a concussion. He completed five of nine pass attempts for 36 yards and rushed for 34 yards on four attempts in Thursday's win. Hooker is listed as the third-string quarterback on the Lions unofficial depth chart behind Nate Sudfeld and Jared Goff.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Aug 8 9:00pm CT
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason is making the most of his opportunities in camp in the absence of superstar running back Christian McCaffrey (calf). San Francisco is hurting right now with Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) and rookie Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) also dinged up. Mason has been running with the first team recently, and while others have rotated in his stead, he has impressed his coaches thus far. Most notably, the third-year running back has made it a point to improve his pass-blocking prowess -- previously his kryptonite. During one rep, Mason was 1-on-1 with a blitzing Fred Warner and delivered a blow that sent the All-Pro linebacker flying off his feet. With McCaffrey unlikely to play during the pre-season and other critical depth pieces injured, there is a path to playing time here for the former undrafted free agent if he can continue his momentum. RotoBaller has Mason ranked 73rd among all running backs, but that would change if he became the one to handcuff behind CMC.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Aug 8 8:50pm CT
CeeDee Lamb

When asked about contract talks regarding star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on Thursday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he doesn't "have any urgency to get it done." This standoffish stance paints a drastically different picture than Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones did just two weeks back when he said a new offer had been sent and conversations were good. It's an interesting development for Dallas, as Lamb has missed voluntary workouts and mandatory minicamp and is yet to attend training camp despite being subject to fines. Jones' comments swiftly made their way to the Cowboys' fifth-year wideout, and his response was a wry "lol." Even Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said, "I got urgency for it to happen." It would appear there is some turmoil in Dallas -- at least for the time being -- and while it is likely that Lamb ends his holdout at some point before the season, there is some risk here as he has yet to participate in any football action. The University of Oklahoma alum is currently the second pick off the boards in NFFC ADP as the 1.02 behind running back Christian McCaffrey.

From RotoBaller

Drew Lock Aug 8 7:40pm CT
Drew Lock

New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (hip) suffered a hip injury in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions and is considered questionable to return. Given that this is a preseason contest, we highly doubt that Lock will return to this game. The 27-year-old made the start for the G-Men with the Giants sitting starting QB Daniel Jones. Before leaving with a hip ailment, Lock went 4-for-10 for 17 yards and an interception while running for 12 yards on two carries. He was replaced by Tommy Devito under center. We should have a better idea of the severity of Lock's hip injury on Friday. The former Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks signal-caller will open the 2024 season in the Big Apple as the Giants' backup to Daniel Jones, leaving him with virtually no fantasy appeal.

From RotoBaller

Ladd McConkey Aug 8 7:30pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey (lower body) returned to training camp practice on Thursday and was seen in a helmet and in uniform. McConkey returned to the practice field for the first time since getting injured on Saturday. Because of the injury, it seems unlikely that the Chargers will run the 22-year-old out there for the preseason opener on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams no longer in town, McConkey, a second-round pick in this year's draft, is fully expected to start in three-receiver sets right away alongside Joshua Palmer and DJ Chark. McConkey's route-running skills could help him excel at the next level, but there are concerns about target volume in an offense that's expected to be much more run-heavy under new head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

From RotoBaller