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TE Strength of Schedule

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

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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Kyler Murray Oct 6 9:00pm ET
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray delivered an impressive performance in Sunday's 24-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. He completed 19 of 30 pass attempts for 195 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 83 yards and another touchdown. From the first drive, it was clear Murray was ready for a bounce-back game, highlighted by a spectacular 50-yard rushing touchdown. He showed composure in the pocket, effectively taking what the defense offered, even though he fell short of 200 yards passing. He nearly added another touchdown through the air but was thwarted by a dropped pass from tight end Trey McBride. Fantasy managers should be optimistic, as it appears the Cardinals will focus on more designed runs for Murray moving forward. Next week, the Cardinals will face the Green Bay Packers, making Murray a must-start option in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Oct 6 8:50pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love had a solid game as the Packers bested the Rams 24-19 in Week 5. On the road against a game Rams defense, Love was 15-of-26 passing for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Both touchdowns went to tight end Tucker Kraft in the third quarter; the first being on a 66-yard catch and run and the second coming on a more conventional seven-yard catch on a developed screen pass. Love also added 10 yards rushing in the win. With the Arizona Cardinals coming to Lambeau Field in Week 6, Love should be considered a near-universal start in fantasy football with the Packers' offense having the potential for a ton of fantasy scoring.

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Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 6 8:50pm ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was fantastic in a 37-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The rookie receiver finished with 122 yards on five receptions and an 85 yard touchdown reception. BTJ continues to show off his big-play ability, showing why he is such a high upside fantasy asset. Against the poor Colts secondary, BTJ was the primary receiving option for Trevor Lawrence, leading the team in targets with eight. While Christian Kirk has also been great the past few games, the rookie out of LSU has been the standout player for Jacksonville's offense. Just five games into his career, BTJ has shown he is capable of being the focal point of the offense. Despite being a first-round pick, he has somehow managed to exceed expectations so far. In Week 6, BTJ and the Jaguars face off with the Chicago Bears, who have a much better passing defense than the Colts.

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Josh Jacobs Oct 6 8:40pm ET
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was solid, yet unspectacular in the Packers' 24-19 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5. Jacobs paced the team with 19 carries for 73 yards including a first-quarter rushing score from two yards out to kick off the scoring for the Packers. In addition to Jacobs' rushing prowess, he also added a 21-yard catch on his only target for a final total of 94 yards from scrimmage. Week 5's performance was Jacobs' best game of the season in terms of fantasy and now that he got his first touchdown of the season, Jacobs will head back home in Week 6 to host the Cardinals as a low-end RB1 for fantasy purposes.

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Travis Etienne Oct 6 8:40pm ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. struggled on the ground but produced well in the passing game in a 37-34 win against the Indianapolis Colts. Etienne Jr. finished with just 17 yards on six carries, but also added 43 yards on six receptions. In PPR leagues, fantasy managers were relatively happy with this performance, but beyond that, the Clemson product didn't have the best day fantasy-wise despite the team putting up 37 points. The 25-year-old back seems in danger of losing his starting job to backup Tank Bigsby, who put up 101 yards on 13 carries, giving him five more yards per carry. Etienne Jr.'s production in the passing game gives him a solid floor, but his ceiling just isn't there without much more volume. The Jaguars face the Chicago Bears in Week 6 in London, where Etienne Jr. will try to be more efficient on the ground for the sake of his starting job.

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Tucker Kraft Oct 6 8:30pm ET
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft was the star of the Packers' passing attack in Green Bay's 24-19 victory on the road against the Rams. Kraft caught both of Jordan Love's touchdown passes on the day for four receptions and 88 yards on five targets. 66 of those yards came from a long 66-yard touchdown in the beginning of the third quarter where he stiff-armed a defender on the sideline and then used a blocker to blow by the other en route to the score. Kraft scored his second touchdown later in the quarter on a seven-pass snag. Averaging 21.1 fantasy points in his last two games, Kraft is now a TE1 lock in your fantasy football lineups and the good times keep rolling as the Packers return home to host the Cardinals in a solid matchup.

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Geno Smith Oct 6 8:20pm ET
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith logged his second consecutive 20-point fantasy outing in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Smith finished 28/40 for 284 yards and continued his trend of throwing one touchdown pass per game. Smith also recorded 72 rushing yards to boost his overall fantasy output. Smith has now scored at least 17.88 fantasy points in every game this season. He continues to be a solid streaming option and could end up being a regular starter given how poor many quarterbacks have played this season. Smith enters a Week 6 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on the heels of four straight games with at least 284 passing yards. The game projects to be a potential high-scoring affair in which Smith should continue his trend of throwing around 300 yards. Hopefully Smith can finally break into a multiple touchdown game as well.

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Devin Singletary Oct 6 8:10pm ET
Devin Singletary

The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams scored a long fumble-recovery touchdown on a goal-line stand in the first quarter in Week 5. However, the unit was unable to stop the Giants the rest of the way and ended up allowing 29 points. To add insult to injury, the Seahawks had a chance to tie the game on a last-second field goal that was blocked and ultimately returned for a touchdown icing any chance for a comeback. The Seahawks D/ST allowed 420 yards which was the most they have allowed all season. Given that the Giants were without wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Devin Singletary, it is not encouraging to see the Seahawks D/ST perform so poorly in this game. They will look to bounce back in Week 6.

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Deshaun Watson Oct 6 8:10pm ET
Deshaun Watson

According to Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, quarterback Deshaun Watson will remain the team's starter. The signal-caller has struggled this season, most recently throwing for 125 yards and one touchdown off 15-for-28 passing in the Week 5 loss to the Commanders. Jameis Winston took over near the end of the contest, leading many to believe he will take over under center moving ahead. However, that's not the case. With that in mind, the Browns offensive line has allowed 26 sacks this season, more than any team in the league. But no matter what the cause of Watson's struggles is, he isn't an ideal fantasy option for Week 6 against the Eagles.

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Trevor Lawrence Oct 6 8:10pm ET
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a great fantasy outing in a 37-34 win against the Indianapolis Colts. Lawrence finished with 371 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and an interception. The former top pick had by far his best fantasy outing of the season, with his previous high in passing yards coming in Week 2 with 220 yards. Lawrence led a balanced Jaguars offensive attack, taking advantage of the poor Colts defense. He was able to spread the ball around to nine different receivers on his 28 completions. He also had some big plays in the passing game, including an 85 yard touchdown to Brian Thomas Jr. and a 61 yard passing play to Christian Kirk. Lawrence and the Jaguars offense will look to continue this upward trajectory in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears, who have been one of the top defenses in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks so far this season.

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D.K. Metcalf Oct 6 8:00pm ET
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf fumbled again in Week 5. Metcalf's total statistical output was modest by his standards. After surpassing 100 receiving yards in three straight games, Metcalf finished with four catches for 55 yards and no touchdowns. The Seahawks offense as a whole was held in check by a scrappy Giants defense. If it weren't for the fumble, Metcalf would have had a semi-productive outing. However, he ended up falling well short of his WR1 expectations. Fantasy managers should be unconcerned with Metcalf's performance. While it is disappointing that he has fumbled in two straight games, it is unlikely to be a regular occurrence. Metcalf will look to bounce back in Week 6 in a huge divisional game against the San Francisco 49ers.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba Oct 6 8:00pm ET
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba scored his first touchdown of the season on Sunday. He found himself wide open in the back of the end zone for an important score that put the Seahawks within striking distance of the New York Giants. However, if it weren't for the score, Smith-Njigba likely would have had another disappointing fantasy outing. He only finished with four receptions for 31 yards and the touchdown. Smith-Njigba continues to be a perplexing player in fantasy. He has not been consistent by any means. Still, he has scored double-digit fantasy points in three of five games. When Smith-Njigba earns at least six targets he has been a usable fantasy asset. Fantasy managers can only hope that Smith-Njigba's volume becomes consistent as the season wears on.

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Tyler Lockett Oct 6 8:00pm ET
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett has become a consistent flex option this season. He has not risen to the ranks of WR2, but he has scored at least 9.6 fantasy points in four of five games this season. Lockett has been an important safety valve for quarterback Geno Smith in 2024. He has earned at least six targets in every game but one in 2024. Lockett has yet to find the end zone this season, but his consistent target, reception, and yardage floor have made him a solid asset for fantasy football. As bye weeks continue to arrive and injuries mount around the league, Lockett will be a solid fill-in for players you may have missing from your lineup.

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Kenneth Walker III Oct 6 8:00pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is not known for his receiving prowess. However, he ended up leading the Seahawks in targets with eight in Week 5. Walker would finish the game with seven receptions for 57 yards on top of a lackluster rushing line of five carries for 19 yards. Walker was set up to succeed in this game, but the Seahawks offense was largely ineffective. The Seahawks puzzlingly abandoned the run as well. They only had 11 total rushing attempts. This should only be a bump in the road for Walker. However, it does signal that he could be prone to poor games if the Seahawks find themselves in negative game scripts. Still, it was encouraging to see the receiving work that Walker received in this game. Backup running back Zach Charbonnet is generally the receiving running back. Walker has a chance to bounce back on the ground in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football.

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Jason Myers Oct 6 8:00pm ET
Jason Myers

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers had a game-tying kick blocked and returned for a touchdown in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Despite the "missed" kick, Myers still ended up with nine fantasy points for another respectful outing as a kicker. Myers has only missed two field goals on the season, and one could say that neither was his fault. The first miss was a 62-yard career-long attempt at the end of the first half in Week 4. Myers should continue his excellent season in both fantasy and real-life production against a reeling San Francisco 49ers team in Week 6.

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Joe Flacco Oct 6 7:55pm ET
Joe Flacco

Dynasty | Colts quarterback Joe Flacco completed 33-of-44 passes for 359 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss to the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: It was just another day at the office for Flacco, who has made a habit of coming out of the bullpen and putting up huge games. Flacco made Deshaun Watson look pretty bad last year and his performance today didn't exactly make Anthony Richardson's early season struggles look any better. Still, it was against the Jaguars and they aren't exactly employing the Legion of Boom. Flacco will be under consideration to play again as long as Richardson sits out.

Alec Pierce Oct 6 7:55pm ET
Alec Pierce

Dynasty | Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had three catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: Pierce could have easily had two scores, but was ruled down inside the five yard line on a deep catch from Joe Flacco. Pierce has turned into a bit of a one-trick pony with the deep ball being his most effective weapon, but he certainly made the most of it today. With Joe Flacco at the helm, Pierce looks to have more fantasy appeal. We'll see what happens moving forward but Pierce looks like he's at least solidified his spot on dynasty rosters this season.

Josh Downs Oct 6 7:54pm ET
Josh Downs

Dynasty | Colts wide receiver Josh Downs had nine catches for 69 receiving yards in a loss against Jacksonville. Dynasty Analysis: Downs was solid again this week and had 12 total targets to lead the Colts. While Michael Pittman is the clear WR1 in the offense, Downs has started to finally fulfill his potential. With Joe Flacco at the helm, it seems all the Colts pass catchers simply have more value. We'll see what happens with this group when Anthony Richardson comes back but this is very positive for Downs after being very up and down throughout his career.

Jayden Daniels Oct 6 7:54pm ET
Jayden Daniels

Dynasty | Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels completed 14-of-25 passes for 238 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while adding 82 rushing yards in a blowout win against Cleveland. Dynasty Analysis: Daniels is the real deal and may be the closest thing we've seen to Lamar Jackson since, well, Lamar Jackson. While this wasn't his best game, it may also represent a fantasy floor that's insanely high on a weekly basis. Daniels makes every routine play but also has a flair for the dramatic and looks like a true long-term QB1. If you took the plunge on Daniels this off-season, congratulations.

D.J. Moore Oct 6 7:53pm ET
D.J. Moore

Chicago Bears WR DJ Moore ended up with five receptions for a game-high 105 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, his former team.

Fantasy Spin: Ouch. The Panthers traded Moore and several draft picks, including the 2024 No. 1 overall for QB Caleb Williams, and that combination was lethal against Carolina. After going without a score in the first three games, Moore has three touchdowns in the past two games. He is back as a solid WR3 or flex fantasy option in leagues of 12 or more teams in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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