Guest of the League
Best Ball SCOUT 99
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
Michael Penix Jr. Aug 10 6:30am CT
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Chris Blair caught two passes for 45 receiving yards in Friday's 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The 26-year-old did lead the team in receiving on only three targets. He reeled in a gorgeous 41-yard long ball from Michael Penix Jr., the first-round draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons. The 26-year-old former XFL player looks to be nothing more than a depth piece for this season, but it was a great showing from him nonetheless on Friday.

From RotoBaller

Casey Washington Aug 10 6:30am CT
Casey Washington

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington caught three passes on nine targets for 27 yards in a 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins Friday night. Despite the heavy volume for the 23-year-old receiver, he wasn't able to do much with it. The rookie out of the University of Illinois was able to log an impressive 12.4 yards per reception in the limited time he received in college on 122 receptions in 55 total games. Although, he was only able to find the end zone four times during his five years in college. There are no expectations for Washington to be used on the offense as the team's fifth wideout on the depth chart, but the early heavy volume is a positive side for the rookie receiver.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Aug 10 6:30am CT
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo kicked off his preseason on a positive note, going 2-for-2 in field goal attempts, and added one extra point in a 20-13 loss against the Miami Dolphins Friday night. He nailed his first field goal from 39 yards and followed suit with his second field goal from 53 yards out. After finishing the 2020 and 2021 seasons with more than a 90% field goal percentage, Koo took a step back in 2022 and 2023, finishing at precisely 86.5% in both seasons. Younghoe Koo should get plenty more field goal opportunities this season with a much-improved offense with Kirk Cousins at the helm. With the excellent start to the preseason and the new offense in Atlanta, fantasy managers should feel good about drafting Koo as a top-10 kicker this season.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Aug 10 6:20am CT
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Carlos Washington Jr. ran for 25 yards on 16 attempts and found the end zone in a 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins Friday night. The average yards per attempt at 1.6 yards was underwhelming for the second-year running back, but he made up for it by finding the end zone on a strong one-yard rush in the first quarter. With Bijan Robinson as the clear RB1 and Tyler Allgeier as the clear RB2, along with Jase McClellan and Avery Williams ahead of him on the depth chart. A lot would have to happen for the 25-year-old to get anywhere near the field this season. The fact he led the team in rushing attempts should be a positive sign moving forward for Washington.

From RotoBaller

Michael Penix Jr. Aug 10 6:10am CT
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 104 yards in his professional preseason debut Friday night in a 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Penix was efficient in tossing the pigskin, going 9-for-16 in pass attempts while completing a game-long 41-yard dime to Chris Blair in-stride. The 2024 first-rounder isn't expected to play much this season, or possibly the next few seasons, with the Falcons signing Kirk Cousins (Achilles) to a four-year $180 million deal this offseason. Penix should see a ton of playing time throughout the preseason, with Cousins not expected to suit up until Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Taylor Heinicke Aug 10 6:10am CT
Taylor Heinicke

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke was 4-for-11 in pass attempts Friday night in a 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The veteran quarterback was the second to enter the game after rookie sensation Michael Penix Jr., with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter. The veteran signal-caller was partly victimized by playing with second and third-string offensive linemen and skill players, making his poor passing line slightly more understandable. Nevertheless, Heinicke still has a clear lead in his battle with recent signee Nathan Rourke for the No. 3 quarterback job.

From RotoBaller

Jeff Wilson Aug 10 12:00am CT
Jeff Wilson

Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. rushed five times for seven yards in the Miami Dolphins' 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Friday. He added three receptions for 18 yards and a touchdown on four targets. Wilson was the first running back in for the Dolphins and was featured heavily over the first few drives. In the opening seconds of the second quarter, Miami was down in Atlanta's red zone. He caught a Skylar Thompson pass in the left flat and swiftly made his way to the end zone, diving for the pylon. 2024 will be the eight-year veteran's third season with Miami after spending the first five seasons of his career in a similar Kyle Shanahan-esque offense. He's been a solid contributor in this scheme before when health permits but presents as no more than a depth piece for now. The 27-year-old is a solid deep-league handcuff for now, but can be safely avoided in redraft circles unless injuries force him into action.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Austin III Aug 10 12:00am CT
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III managed two receptions for 49 yards on three targets in a preseason loss to the Houston Texans. All of Austin's opportunities came with Kyle Allen at quarterback. The pair nearly connected for a touchdown in the second quarter, but the ball was poorly thrown and Austin failed to haul it in. The 25-year-old wideout was much sharper in the second half, creating plenty of separation for deep completions of 24 and 25 yards. Although veteran Van Jefferson has reportedly had an excellent training camp, Austin could carve out a role for himself in a receiver room that is highly suspect outside of George Pickens. Austin will hope to stand out again in next Saturday's contest against the Buffalo Bills.

From RotoBaller

Daijun Edwards Aug 9 11:40pm CT
Daijun Edwards

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Daijun Edwards turned three carries into 28 yards and a rushing touchdown while adding a reception for nine yards in the team's 20-12 preseason loss to the Houston Texans. He also picked up 27 yards on his lone kick return. The undrafted rookie made an impact immediately upon checking in at the start of the fourth quarter, exploding for a 24-yard gain on his second attempt. He capped off the drive with a one-yard score on the very next play. The Georgia product tallied 1078 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns in his final collegiate season and could certainly push for a roster spot in Pittsburgh, especially given his usage on special teams. Edwards will look to make the most of his opportunities once again next week when the Steelers face the Buffalo Bills.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Aug 9 11:20pm CT
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris handled three carries for nine yards and turned his lone target into a 16-yard reception in a preseason loss to the Houston Texans. Harris had his number called immediately on Friday with a screen pass from quarterback Justin Fields on Pittsburgh's first play from scrimmage. As expected, he split reps with the first-team offense fairly evenly with backfield mate Jaylen Warren. Harris, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, reportedly dropped weight this offseason and looked explosive throughout training camp. He'll look to be a focal point early again next week against the Buffalo Bills.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Aug 9 11:10pm CT
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens hauled in both of his two targets for 25 receiving yards in Friday's preseason loss to the Houston Texans. Pickens played on just three offensive series but showed early signs of chemistry with quarterback Justin Fields. The third-year pro was dynamic after the catch, turning short completions into gains of 15 and 10 yards. It's no secret that the Steelers are interested in adding to their receiving corps, but for the time being, Pickens is entrenched as the team's top target. He should see additional opportunities next Saturday in a preseason bout with the Buffalo Bills.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Aug 9 10:50pm CT
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed five of his six attempts for 67 scoreless yards in a 20-12 preseason loss to the Houston Texans. Fields added just two rushing yards on three attempts and took two sacks. He was also charged with two fumbles, both resulting from botched exchanges with guard Nate Herbig at center. Although Fields wasn't given many opportunities, he did manage to impress on a handful of completions to wideouts George Pickens and Van Jefferson. With Russell Wilson expected to suit up next Saturday against the Buffalo Bills, the quarterback competition in Pittsburgh should continue to heat up as the regular season approaches.

From RotoBaller

Tanner Conner Aug 9 10:30pm CT
Tanner Conner

Miami Dolphins tight end Tanner Conner caught three of four targets for 70 yards and a touchdown during Friday's 20-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons. His longest catch of the day was a 43-yarder where he came streaking off the line on a third and five, blowing right by a Falcons defender. Conner leaped to catch a slightly off-target Skylar Thompson pass in the soft spot of the zone and then showed off his yard-after-catch skills as he scampered down the field for a significant gain. He racked up 37 yards on his other two receptions. He had just four targets, but the third-year TE showed enough to be at least intriguing going into the second week of the preseason. He still has quite a bit of work to do, though. He sits behind Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe, Julian Hill, and Jody Fortson Jr. on Miami's unofficial depth chart. It remains to be seen how much work Conner will get next weekend when the Dolphins take on the Commanders in Miami.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Aug 9 10:30pm CT
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he anticipates quarterback Russell Wilson being available for the second preseason game next Saturday against the visiting Buffalo Bills. Wilson missed some time recently in training camp with a minor calf injury, which allowed backup Justin Fields to get some run with the first-team offense. The Steelers held Wilson out of Friday's preseason opener against the Houston Texans, while Fields proceeded to go 5-for-6 for 67 yards while also fumbling the ball twice. Fields may have more big-play ability because of his legs, but Wilson remains in pole position to start under center for the Steelers in the Week 1 regular-season opener versus the Atlanta Falcons on the road. With little to work with in the passing game, Wilson, who looked washed up in his two seasons in Denver, will open 2024 as a low-end QB2 for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Skylar Thompson Aug 9 10:10pm CT
Skylar Thompson

Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson completed eight of 19 passes for 95 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Friday night's win against the Atlanta Falcons. He added two rushes for six yards. Thompson fared much better than fellow quarterback Mike White, who went 3-for-13 with a paltry 28 yards but still made a few head-scratching throws of his own. The second-year signal-caller is behind White on Miami's unofficial depth chart as the Dolphins' QB3, but after a few more performances like this, that might not be the case. The highlight of Thompson's night came on a third and five when he hit Tanner Connerstreaking down the sideline for a 43-yard gain. Thompson hit Conner with a well-placed ball that he layered between the corner and safety, though he did not hit him in stride. It is likely the Kansas State product will see a bunch more work next Saturday when Miami takes on the Washington Commanders at home.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Wright Aug 9 10:10pm CT
Jaylen Wright

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright rushed for 55 yards and scored one touchdown on 10 carries in Miami's 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Friday. He failed to haul in his lone target. The former Tennessee Volunteer had a long gain of 14 yards on the night and was overall efficient, as he rushed for 5.5 yards per carry. Wright showed off his agility and quickness on Friday, displaying the tools that made him such an enticing selection for head coach Mike McDaniel in this year's draft. He is decisive and explosive and fights through arm tackles with a rugged toughness. The rookie RB is comfortably third on the Dolphins' depth chart behind incumbent co-starters Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane for now. He's highly athletic, but significant volume could be tough to come by this season unless one of the two players mentioned above misses time on the field.

From RotoBaller

Grant Calcaterra Aug 9 9:50pm CT
Grant Calcaterra

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra caught both of his targets for 14 yards during the team's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday night. The 25-year-old was a part of the starting offense, which was the second-string unit, alongside backup quarterback Kenny Pickett. Calcaterra was targeted early but was quickly subbed out for Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. The depth chart behind starting tight end Dallas Goedert has been thin for years now, However, Jack Stoll, who was last year's No. 2 tight end for the Eagles, is now playing for the rival New York Giants, leaving the role wide-open for Calcaterra to take. He seems to be set in that role currently, but he will need to stave off Okwuegbunam Jr. and the rest of the room heading into September.

From RotoBaller

Will Shipley Aug 9 9:40pm CT
Will Shipley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley took seven carries for 23 yards and caught his lone target, taking it for a seven-yard score at the end of the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens. Veteran Kenneth Gainwell got the start ahead of the rookie Friday night and was more efficient with his carries. However, Shipley was put into the game early, indicating that the No. 2 role going to Gainwell is not a foregone conclusion. The 21-year-old also saw work as a returner on the kickoff team, a role that Gainwell also occupies. The rookie has been on the veteran's heels so far this summer and could carve out a passing downs role if he can continue to impress in practice.

From RotoBaller

John Ross Aug 9 9:40pm CT
John Ross

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver John Ross caught three of five targets for a team-leading 28 yards receiving in the preseason opener against Baltimore Friday night. The 28-year-old was a part of the starting group, which was the second-string, to open the game and played into the second half with backup quarterback Kenny Pickett. Ross led the starting offense in the receiving game and saw five targets alongside Britain Covey. The former first-rounder has been receiving praise throughout the offseason and seems to have an inside track on the No. 3 job in the Eagles receiving room. The speedster will look to have a late-career rebirth after being one of the more glaring first-round busts of the past decade.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Gould Aug 9 9:30pm CT
Anthony Gould

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Anthony Gould has been used in the slot at times with the first-team offense during training camp. The rookie wideout is also competing for the punt-returner job. With Josh Downs (ankle) missing time, the Colts are giving all of their receivers a look in different spots to see who might fit where in case they're needed. Gould will notably compete with fellow rookie Adonai Mitchell and returning veterans Alec Pierce, Kylen Granson, and Jonathan Taylor for targets. It's worth noting that Pierce and Mitchell ran with the first team almost exclusively in Indianapolis' most recent practice. Still, Downs' injury certainly opens opportunities for others on this roster. He's going unselected in drafts right now.

From RotoBaller