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.
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner delivered another solid performance in Sunday's 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders, rushing 18 times for 104 yards and a touchdown. After managing just 17 rushing yards in the Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions, Conner quickly put those concerns to rest with a strong bounce-back effort. He ran the ball effectively, showing power to break through tacklers and displaying impressive bursts. Conner should remain a fixture in fantasy lineups, as the Cardinals' offense will likely continue to lean on him while trying to snap their scoring slump. The veteran running back will look to build on Sunday's performance in a tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Browns defense turned in a solid effort in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Cleveland notched two sacks while forcing one turnover while holding the Raiders to 268 yards of total offense in the game. The Browns were led by Myles Garrett, who notched both of the team's sacks, and Isaiah McGuire, who forced a Zamir White fumble in the close loss. Cleveland's defense will have their work cut out for them in Week 5's road matchup against a red-hot Washington Commanders offense.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell caught all four of his targets for 17 yards and a touchdown during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 27-year-old scored on a one-yard grab for the Eagles' first touchdown of the game but did little else in this contest of note. The Eagles wide receiver corps combined for just 34 yards in this game with the absence of A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion). It is tough to say if Campbell will head back to the practice squad after this game with Britain Covey (shoulder, IR) out for the foreseeable future. His touchdown grab could have solidified his roster spot heading into the Eagles bye week, but he is not a name to keep an eye on for waiver purposes in redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson caught two of his four targets for 11 yards during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The former first-round pick had yet another shot to break out or even prove he belongs as the No. 3 receiver in Philadelphia, but again came up short. None of the Eagles' wide receivers did much in this contest, as they combined for just 34 yards while tight end Dallas Goedert nearly doubled their total on his own. The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Eagles, as they should enter Week 6 with their top targets A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) for their game against the Cleveland Browns. Dotson should be ignored in all redraft leagues for the time being.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley took 10 carries for 84 yards and caught two of four targets for 32 yards during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 27-year-old had another slow start in this game but rumbled for 59 yards on the first play of the second half to set up the Eagles for their second touchdown of the day. It was a play that saved him from having a poor fantasy outing, but if this is the floor for Barkley's production as a fantasy player, then these fantasy managers are in good shape. This was a tough matchup where the Buccaneers were able to key in on the Eagles' star back due to the absence of wideouts A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) so being able to extend his 100 or more yards combined streak intact is impressive to say the least. Philadelphia was seemingly blessed with the early bye week, and the team will look to regroup and regain their top two pass catchers before their Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry caught two of his three targets for 12 yards during Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Henry had a huge performance back in Week 2, but if you exclude that contest, he's averaging just two catches, 13 yards, and zero touchdowns per game. The veteran tight end is a talented player, but he simply doesn't command enough volume in the Patriots' subpar offense to justify starting him in most fantasy leagues. In fact, Henry can be dropped to waivers in leagues with 14 or fewer teams. There's always a chance he'll find the end zone in a given week, including next Sunday versus the struggling Miami Dolphins, but the odds are relatively slim and you're better off taking a flier on a different tight end with more upside. Henry falls outside the top 24 tight ends for fantasy football in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught six of his nine targets for 72 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Jeudy wound up leading the Browns in receiving yardage and targets while finishing behind only Jerome Ford in catches in the close loss. The veteran wideout has been a solid addition to the Cleveland offense this season, reaching at least 72 receiving yards in two of his four games while catching one touchdown. Jeudy remains behind Amari Cooper in the receiver pecking order but the Browns have been throwing the ball frequently enough to allow him to produce solid fantasy numbers. Jeudy will be a solid WR3 heading into a plus matchup against the Washington Commanders in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert caught seven of eight targets for 62 yards during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran tight end did not have another massive performance like last week, but was the only pass catcher that was on the same page as quarterback Jalen Hurts in this game and was able to lead the team in receiving yards for the second week in a row. The absence of A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) was felt heavily in this game and while their loss has been Geodert's fantasy gain, the bye week has come at the perfect time to remedy that issue. Fantasy managers will need to find a suitable replacement for the next week before plugging the 29-year-old back in during his Week 6 matchup against the Browns.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye went 2-for-2 on field goals and also converted his lone extra point attempt during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Slye showed off his strong leg, hitting field goals from 54 and 63 yards out. His performance was highly rewarding for managers whose leagues award extra points for successful field goals from beyond 50 yards. Even as the Patriots' offense struggles, there's a clear path for Slye to achieve fantasy relevance. On the year, he's 8-for-9 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points. The stats speak for themselves, and Slye's stats suggest that he's a solid streamer heading into Week 5 versus the Miami Dolphins.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (ankle) was forced from his team's 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings due to an ankle injury near the end of the first quarter. Watson ended the matchup without a catch on one target before his exit. After the game, head coach Matt LaFleur spoke with the 25-year-old wideout, and he said, "he told me he thought it was just a sprain." A sprain would be the best-case scenario for the former Bison, but whether it's of the low or high-ankle sprain variety is unclear. We're sure to get an update on him over the coming days, but you'd have to think he's at least a candidate for limited practice this week after having to get carted off the field. With the former second-round pick on the sideline, wide receivers Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, and tight end Tucker Kraft all racked up at least eight targets. If Watson is forced to miss time, it's likely that quartet would benefit the most from his absence. The Pack will travel to LA next Sunday to face the Rams in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made his lone field goal and made one of his two extra points in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Hopkins drilled a 56-yard field goal in the first quarter but his missed extra point in the fourth quarter was tough as it put the Browns at a four-point deficit as they were attempting to complete the comeback. Hopkins has now made five of his six field goals and five of six extra points through four games this season. He will be a solid fantasy option heading into what could be a high-scoring game against the Washington Commanders in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton was basically invisible to begin the season, but has turned it around over the last few weeks. On Sunday, Otton hauled in six of his nine targets for 52 yards in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Otton now has 13 receptions on 17 targets for 99 yards over the last two games. Otton remains third on the pecking order, but he has found a way to produce over the last two games. He has forced himself into the TE2 discussion heading into next week's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Following Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh commented on running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen and how they might be used in goal-line situations moving forward. Specifically, reporters asked Saleh why he chose not to sub out Hall for Allen when the team was deep in Broncos' territory. "It was still kind of early when that play came about, but definitely something we can look at," said Saleh, "We're always going to lean on Breece, he's our workhorse back... It's definitely something to look at." The comments in question regard a series of plays where New York had a first-and-goal from the one-yard line, and Hall was stuffed on first and second-down handoffs. Braelon Allen was subbed in on third, but the Jets ran a pass play that fell incomplete. Despite intending to go for it on fourth-down, a penalty forced them to settle for a field goal. It's encouraging to see the Jets head coach give his RB1 the vote of confidence. However, one has to wonder if this will affect his decision-making for the remainder of the season. The rookie RB was a far more effective rusher Sunday, averaging 4.3 yards on his eight carries, while the presumed starter finished with four yards on ten attempts. The former Cyclone is unlikely to lose his job as the 1A in New York's backfield, but he may lose out on some valuable touches moving forward. The Jets will be the "home" team in Week 5 when they square off against the Minnesota Vikings in London
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 18 of 30 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown, adding eight carries for 20 yards, an additional score, and lost one of his two fumbles during the team's 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The loss of A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith was felt early and often in this game. Eagles wide receivers combined for just 34 yards, catching seven of their 20 targets. For context, tight end Dallas Goedert nearly doubled that receiving yard total on his own in this game. The lack of pass-catching talent was not the only issue. This was another game where Hurts has started slow and had to play catch up. The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Eagles. It should give them the chance to regroup and regain their top two pass catchers before a showdown with the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball 10 times for 58 yards and added seven catches for 27 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Ford appeared to be on his way to another mediocre rushing day before ripping off a 35-yard run late in the fourth quarter to boost his overall numbers. Despite his struggles on the ground, Ford supplemented his fantasy output with another strong day in the receiving department, catching all seven of his targets in the loss. Ford has now hauled in 17 of 20 targets through four games this season. With Nick Chubb (knee) still at least a few weeks away from being activated from the PUP list, Ford will be a solid RB2 heading into Week 5 against the Washington Commanders.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper caught four of his eight targets for 35 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Cooper could have had a much bigger afternoon but he had an 82-yard touchdown catch wiped away thanks to a holding penalty on center Nick Harris. As has been the case multiple times this season, Cooper also committed another tough drop, this time allowing an on-target pass to slip through his hands into a defender's for an interception. Cooper now has 16 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns through four games. Despite struggling in three of his four games in 2024, Cooper will be a strong fantasy play against a weak Washington Commanders secondary in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker attempted three kicks in a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, making two of them. He made his only extra point try and one of his two field goal attempts. The field goal he made was a first quarter kick from 50 yards out. He missed a later 55 yard try in the third quarter. Dicker has been extremely accurate to start his career since last season, but his only weak spot might be kicks from outside of 50 yards. He and the Bolts head into their bye week and will return for a Week 6 game against the Broncos in Denver.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin surprisingly took a backseat for the first time this season. Fellow wideout Mike Evans did a majority of the damage as he saw 14 targets on the day. However, Godwin was still productive as he hauled in six of his nine targets for 69 yards in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Todd Bowles mentioned earlier in the week that they wanted to get Evans more involved. They've done that and it could mean a dip in value for Godwin going forward. However, Godwin should still get a steady workload as he has proven himself to be a viable option. Fantasy managers should consider Godwin a WR2 for Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Hooper's touchdown came on fourth down as Jacoby Brissett sold the hand-off and found his tight end wide open near the goal line. Although he's the Patriots' No. 2 tight end behind Hunter Henry, Hooper has still put together a solid start to the season, catching six passes for 68 yards and the score. He'll continue to make an impact on offense but can be avoided in most fantasy leagues given the Patriots' subpar offense and his role behind Henry.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (calf/elbow) returned to the field for a Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs and was targeted four times, making three catches for 36 yards. Palmer missed the Week 3 loss to the Steelers and started off Week 4 with a limited practice before being able to practice in full twice at the end of the week, entering the game without an injury designation. He ended up tied for third on the team in targets but second in catches and yards. It was a mostly slow game for the Chargers offense once again, and despite plenty of preseason hype around Palmer as potentially being quarterback Justin Herbert's go-to guy in the passing game, Palmer will go into the Chargers bye week with a total of seven catches for 70 yards. A healthier Herbert after the bye week could start throwing more, but for now Palmer needs to remain on most fantasy benches until he shows something different.
From RotoBaller