TE Strength of Schedule
Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
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.
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The Paur Report
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 5
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney caught nine of 16 targets for 105 yards and two touchdowns during Thursday's overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was Kirk Cousins' most-targeted teammate as the quarterback attempted 58 passes for a franchise-record 509 yards through the air. Mooney delivered one of the best fantasy performances of his career, and he would've added even more points had he been able to catch a fourth-quarter pass that ultimately went through his hands and hit his chest. The 26-year-old seems to be enjoying a resurgence after leaving the Chicago Bears in free agency. Over his last four contests as a Falcon, Mooney is averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game. He ranks as an appealing WR3/FLEX for Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts converted eight targets into seven catches for 88 yards during Thursday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The young tight end still hasn't blossomed into a consistent fantasy option, but his productive showing in Week 5 was a step in the right direction. Of course, it was aided by a historic performance by Kirk Cousins, who attempted a whopping 58 passes and tallied a franchise-record 509 yards through the air. This type of yardage likely isn't sustainable for Cousins, but it's possible that his rapport with Pitts will hold strong moving forward. He remains a mid-to-low fantasy TE1 for Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver caught 12 of 13 targets for 154 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. London was one of the main benefactors as quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for a franchise-record 509 yards in Week 5. He's now averaging 20.5 fantasy points (PPR) per game over the last four weeks, vaulting him into the high-end WR2 territory with WR1 upside. The 23-year-old can finally be trusted in fantasy lineups week after week. He's a must-start option heading into Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (head) was diagnosed with a concussion on Thursday night and did not return. He finished the Falcons' Week 5 game against the Buccaneers with three tackles, bringing his season total up to 28. Typically, players who enter concussion protocol miss at least one game. However, since the Falcons have 10 full days until their next contest, there's still a slight chance we could see Alford suit up for Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. On the other hand, if he can't play, Antonio Hamilton would earn more snaps in the secondary.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cousins was truly dominant, setting a single-game franchise record for passing yards while leading his team to a come-from-behind victory. The veteran quarterback seems to have adapted quite well ever since a shaky Week 1 showing at home. It was a historic fantasy performance for Cousins, and while we can't count on him to throw for 509 yards and four touchdowns every week, he certainly inspired much-needed confidence in managers. Equally important was his impact on Atlanta's pass-catchers. Drake London had one of the best games of his career, catching 12 of 13 targets for a whopping 154 yards and one touchdown. Kyle Pitts found his groove with seven catches for 88 yards. Darnell Mooney turned 16 targets into nine catches, 105 yards, and two touchdowns, and he would've likely scored a third had he not dropped a pass that hit him in the chest in the final quarter. The Falcons' offense is trending upward with one quarterback, two running backs, three receivers, and a tight end all on the fantasy radar heading into Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens rookie running back Rasheen Ali (neck) was set to return to practice on Thursday, which opened his 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve. The fifth-round selection made the 53-man roster out of training camp but was moved to IR due to a neck injury in Week 1. Ali wasn't exactly wowing the coaches in training camp in August with his play, so we wouldn't be surprised if the Ravens took the whole 21 days to evaluate him in practices before adding him to the active roster as RB depth behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. The Marshall product also dealt with some injuries in college and primarily relies on speed in open space. Unless Henry or Hill miss time with an injury later in the year, Ali is probably going to primarily one to stash in dynasty/keeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) missed practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday, and head coach Sean Payton said on Wednesday that could "possibly" be a candidate to go on Injured Reserve, which would cost him at least four games. Badie injured his back in the Week 4 win over the New York Jets and was carted off the field. The 24-year-old will almost certainly miss the Week 5 game against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, with the Broncos likely officially ruling him out on Friday. Badie had nine carries for 70 yards in the Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and might have been in line for a bigger workload before his back injury. For now with Badie likely out for multiple weeks, Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin should have safer roles as the 1A and 1B in Denver's low-scoring offense. Badie should stay on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Receiver K.J. Osborn (shoulder) missed his second straight day of practice. Bourne, who is still on the Physically Unable to Perform list, said he "feels good" and that his knee has responded well to being back at practice this week. The Patriots aren't rushing the 29-year-old pass-catcher back, so it feels unlikely that he'll be activated from the PUP list in time to make his 2024 debut this Sunday in the divisional contest versus the Miami Dolphins. When Bourne does return, he'll be battling for targets with Demario Douglas and rookie Ja'Lynn Polk mostly in a pretty punchless offense led by veteran QB Jacoby Brissett. Bourne's best year came in 2021, when he had a 55-800-5 line in 17 games. He's currently rostered in just 1% of Yahoo fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers are not opening the practice window for rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) this week, but it won't be long until they do. "I know he is really close," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters. "When he's good to go, we'll be pumped to have him back. Ricky is a hell of a player." Pearsall missed a bunch of valuable time in training camp due to a recurring hamstring issue and was then shot in the chest during a burglary right before the start of his rookie season. The 24-year-old remains on the Non-Football Injury list. The good news is it sounds as though he's close to getting on the practice field to work his way back. However, Pearsall has a lot of ground to cover and might need the full 21-day window before the Niners decide to put him on the active roster. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues probably shouldn't expect much, if anything, in 2024. Pearsall is currently rostered in only 8% of Yahoo fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) was able to get through a limited practice session on Thursday. This is back-to-back limited practices for Wilson as he ramps up his football activities. The organization is hopeful that Wilson will be cleared to return to game action soon. Justin Fields has already been named the starter for the Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Fields has been a viable option for the Steelers, so it seems unlikely Wilson would take over even if he's healthy. Fantasy managers can leave Wilson on the waiver wire until further notice.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) were both unable to suit up for Thursday's practice. Warren is on the verge of missing his second straight week due to a lingering knee issue. There's still a chance he practices on Friday, but Warren is trending in the wrong direction. Patterson has also missed both practices to open the week and seems unlikely to go in Week 5. It's looking like Aaron Shampklin is in line to be the primary backup to Najee Harris for the upcoming matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. This is now back-to-back limited practice sessions for Mostert who looks to get back on the field for the first time since Week 1. It seems like the veteran back is trending in the right direction ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the New England Patriots. Fellow back Jeff Wilson Jr. (knee) was a full participant on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. He appears to be ready to go and could have a bigger role if Mostert is forced to miss another game.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running backs Ezekiel Elliott (dehydration) and Rico Dowdle (wrist) both popped up on the injury report on Thursday. Elliott was limited due to dehydration, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect that to be an issue heading into Week 5 on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dowdle is dealing with a wrist issue but was a full participant during Thursday's practice. That being said, Dowdle should be fine heading into their matchup against the Steelers. The two backs have been splitting the backfield, but Dowdle has been pulling away with an increase in carries lately. Despite that, Dowdle remains a low-end flex play heading into a tough matchup against the Steelers defense.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (head) is back on the field following a brief absence during Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The young wideout was forced to exit early in the second quarter due to a head injury. London went to the locker room, but it appears he was cleared of a concussion or any injuries as he's back on the field ahead of halftime. Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh a relief as head injuries can always be scary. London figures to resume his role as the No. 1 receiver in this offense.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) is expected to get back on the field and suit up for the Week 6 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Levis suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder during the Week 4 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Luckily, the injury is not considered long term and Levis should be ready to play following the team's bye week. Head coach Brian Callahan has already confirmed that Levis is 100 percent the starter, so now it's just about getting him healthy. The young signal-caller has struggled early on with four touchdowns and six interceptions through four games. However, it appears the Titans are going to stick with Levis and he should be ready to go next week.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (head) is currently considered questionable to return for Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The young wideout is being evaluated for a head injury that he suffered during the second quarter of Thursday's game. The Falcons will likely test to see if London has a concussion. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if they decide to hold him out for the rest of this game. If so, Ray-Ray McCloud III and Darnell Mooney are likely to see increased usage in the passing game.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent DE Shaq Lawson (Bills), DE Al-Quadin Muhammad (Cowboys) and LB Cam Gill (Panthers) recently worked out for the Miami Dolphins.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) said that his surgically repaired left knee is feeling good after his first practice in more than a year on Wednesday in which he was limited. Chubb was limited again on Thursday, but he's unsure when he'll come off the Physically Unable to Perform list to make his 2024 debut. He is unlikely to play in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders. Chubb had surgeries to fix his medial capsule, meniscus and MCL in late September last year and another surgery to repair damage to his ACL in November. The 28-year-old is worth stashing in all fantasy formats, but it would be a mistake to expect him to return to his pre-injury form right away whenever he debuts. Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowler, also tore his MCL, PCL and LCL in his left knee at Georgia in 2015. Nyheim Hines (knee) and Pierre Strong Jr. (hamstring) were also limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) did not take part in practice on Thursday, but it was part of a planned day off. Njoku suffered an ankle injury in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and hasn't played since, but he was limited in Wednesday's session and figures to return to the practice field on Friday. The 28-year-old will likely be questionable on the final injury report on Friday, but Njoku is trending in the right direction and seems to be on the right side of questionable. If he is able to get the green light to play this weekend, he'll at least be in play as a low-end TE1 for fantasy managers. Before getting hurt in the season opener, Njoku caught four of his five targets for 44 yards. In the three games that Njoku has missed, Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart have been splitting TE duties in Cleveland, with Akins catching six of his 10 targets for 49 yards and no touchdowns. If Njoku misses another game, fantasy managers should be avoiding both Akins and Whiteheart.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams WR Demarcus Robinson (hip) fully participated in practice Thursday, Oct. 3.
Fantasy Spin: Robinson has not been a big part of the passing game even though the team is without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. He likely will see a few targets against the Green Bay Packers but can be avoided in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
