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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- Dolphins QB Tyler Huntley to start Monday vs. Titans
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- Titans put CB Chidobe Awuzie (groin) on IR
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- Raiders WR Davante Adams, DE Maxx Crosby ruled out for Week 4
- Bills LB Terrel Bernard, CB Taron Johnson out vs. Ravens
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The Paur Report
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 4
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (illness) is listed as doubtful for the Week 4 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Branch was on the injury report earlier this week with a concussion after taking a shot to the helmet in Week 3. However, he was removed on Saturday, but Branch was added again now due to an illness. The loss of Branch would be a significant hit to this defensive unit. He has 22 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one interception through three games. Loren Strickland would be the next man up, assuming Branch is unable to play.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) has been ruled out for the Week 4 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It sounds like Mixon is feeling better, but the team decided to take the cautious approach here. Mixon tested out his hamstring and feels good, so hopefully he'll be able to return next week. In the meantime, Cam Akers figures to be tasked with making another start in the backfield. Akers rushed for 21 yards last week on nine attempts, but salvaged his fantasy value with a touchdown through the air. He'll be worth a look as a low-end flex option for Week 4.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (hamstring) and running back Alvin Kamara (hips, ribs) are both active ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. As expected, both players will suit up and will resume their roles as focal points on this offense. Kamara has been nearly unstoppable through the first three games and remains an elite RB1 for Week 4. Olave has 12 receptions for 178 yards and one touchdown through the first three weeks. He's coming off back-to-back 80-yard performances and needs to be in fantasy leagues in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb (knee), who is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list, will have his practice window opened Wednesday, Oct. 2, according to multiple sources.
Fantasy Spin: Chubb is not expected to play in Week 5's game versus the Washington Commanders but this news is a good sign that he will likely be able to return to action by midseason. He should continue to remain stashed in all fantasy formats.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (hamstring) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The star wideout was a late addition to the injury report after suffering a hamstring injury during Friday's practice. Despite that, the Saints are confident that Olave will suit up for this game. He plans to test out his hamstring during pre-game warmups before the team makes a final decision. Rashid Shaheed would be more involved if Olave sits out, but it sounds like Olave is trending in the right direction. There is always risk of re-injury, especially with a hamstring issue, but fantasy managers need to play Olave if he's active.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki was able to stay involved during last week's loss to the Washington Commanders. Gesicki hauled in four of his five targets for 47 yards in the loss. The veteran tight end has seen four or more targets in every game this season. He's not going to see a huge volume of work considering the Bengals have plenty of weapons at wide receiver. However, Gesicki should remain involved enough that he holds TE2 value against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (illness, toe) is "likely" to play in Week 4 versus the New England Patriots, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Williams will still undergo pregame testing to ensure he's good to go, but it sounds like he's trending in the right direction. San Francisco would benefit from having Williams on the field in a huge way. He's widely regarded as the NFL's best offensive lineman, setting up numerous opportunities for Brock Purdy, Jordan Mason, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel Sr., Brandon Aiyuk, and others to make plays. A healthy Williams truly does bump Purdy and Mason up a spot or two in the weekly fantasy football rankings.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers WR DJ Chark Jr. (hip), who is currently on the Reserve/Injured list, is expected to resume practicing during the upcoming week, according to multiple sources.
From TheHuddle
Dallas Cowboys defensive ends Micah Parsons (ankle) and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) are expected to miss multiple games after suffering injuries during Thursday's win over the New York Giants. The Cowboys have already ruled out Parsons for Week 5 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a high-ankle sprain. The superstar pass rusher could be sidelined as long as Week 8. Lawrence is expected to miss four games due to a foot sprain. The loss of both players is going to be a significant hit to this defensive unit. Chauncey Golston and Marshawn Kneeland are expected to fill in, but they aren't going to be able to give the same production as Parsons or Lawrence.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson is coming off his best performance of the season during last week's win over the Tennessee Titans. Wilson rushed 12 times for 50 yards while hauling in two passes for an additional 25 yards with a touchdown as well. It's nice to see Wilson getting more involved after seeing only nine carries through the first two games of the season. Possibly, the Packers will trust him with a bigger role going forward. However, Josh Jacobs will remain the clear lead back in this offense, which is going to limit Wilson's upside. Wilson is worth rostering in deep and dynasty formats but probably not worth starting against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) is considered a game-time decision for Week 4's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to a source. He will test out the injury during pregame warmups to determine if he will be able to play.
Fantasy Spin: Mixon had been listed as questionable on the injury report after logging just one limited practice session during the week. RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has already been ruled out, so if Mixon is also held out of action today, RB Cam Akers would be in line for a heavy workload versus the Jaguars. In this scenario, Akers would be a decent flex option with upside in most fantasy formats. Keep checking back for updates on Mixon's status.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) recently returned from seeing a specialist in Germany. It sounds like the plan is for McCaffrey to continue working on the ground, but he won't be back on the field anytime soon. The earliest McCaffrey can resume practicing with the team will be Week 6. Right now the plan is for McCaffrey to possibly return by early November. That isn't great news for fantasy managers, but at least the superstar back will only miss a handful of more games. In the meantime, Jordan Mason figures to continue being the lead back. Mason should be considered a RB1 in fantasy formats until McCaffrey returns.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara (hip, ribs) is expected to play in Week 4's game against the Atlanta Falcons, according to a source.
Fantasy Spin: Kamara had been listed as questionable on the injury report after participating in two of the team's three practice sessions during the week on a limited basis. When healthy, he should be viewed as a must-start option in all fantasy formats.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is expected to get back on the practice field this week. Chubb began the year on the PUP list while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season. Once Chubb begins practicing, he will get three weeks to get ready before the team must activate him. That being said, Chubb likely isn't going to get back into game action until closer to mid-season. It's uncertain how the team will manage his workload once Chubb is fully back in action. The star back figures to reclaim his role as the lead back in Cleveland, which means Jerome Ford will probably take a backseat here soon.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) is expected to practice in Week 5 as he gets closer to returning from the PUP list, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Beckham has been sidelined since early training camp due to an undisclosed issue, so even if he does practice this week, it could be a while longer before he plays in a game. It's been hard for the Dolphins to extract much production out of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle with Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) sidelined, so Beckham doesn't figure to have much fantasy value when he returns, either. He can be left on waivers in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee) is expected to practice in Week 5 as he gets closer to returning from the PUP list, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Bourne is recovering from an ACL tear that abruptly ended his promising 2023 season. Through just eight games, he had caught 37 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns. That type of production put him on the fantasy radar as a FLEX play, but we're not sure he'll be able to replicate it when he returns this year given the state of New England's run-heavy offense led by Jacoby Brissett. Still, we can't discount the reliable, veteran presence he offers when on the field.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver D.J. Chark (hip) has spent the first four weeks of the season on the PUP list and is expected to resume practicing ahead of Week 5 when the team is on its bye, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Chargers' early bye week is convenient for Chark as it gives him extra time to practice while (potentially) missing no more than the minimum four games. Once activated, Chark figures to command a few looks per game in an offense where the other top wide receivers are Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Josh Palmer. Still, Chark is off the fantasy radar ahead of his eventual return.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) is expected to practice in Week 5 as he prepares to return from the non-football injury list, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Edwards-Helaire was placed on the NFI list coming out of the preseason as he dealt with personal mental health issues, including PTSD. This move forced him to miss the first four games of the 2024 season, at a minimum. After the Chiefs' Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Edwards-Helaire will be eligible to return. He's expected to practice right away as the Chiefs get ready for Week 5, and he could immediately slot into the starting running back role with Isiah Pacheco (fibula) on IR. He would rank as a fantasy RB3 while operating alongside rookie standout Carson Steele and veteran pass-catching specialist Samaje Perine.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is expected to have his practice window opened on Wednesday in Week 5, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Chubb opened 2024 on the PUP list as he continued to recover from two surgeries to repair ligaments in his left knee that were torn against the Steelers on Sept. 18, 2023. Once his practice window is opened, the star running back will be allowed to practice with the team for 21 days without counting toward the 53-man roster. Before those 21 days expire, the Browns must elevate him to the active roster. If they don't, he'll be ineligible to play this season. We don't know an exact timetable for Chubb's return, and while Cleveland has no interest in rushing him back before he's ready, it sounds like he's ahead of schedule in his recovery. Chubb was a solid fantasy RB1 when healthy but will likely drop the low-end RB2 tier when he returns to the mix.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is almost ready for the team to trigger his 21-day practice window, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Hockenson tore his ACL and MCL in Week 16 last year but has made a speedy recovery and hopes to return within the next few weeks. It's important to note that once the Vikings designate Hockenson to practice, he'll have 21 days where he can practice with the team while not counting toward the 53-man roster. Once those 21 days go by, the team must activate him from injured reserve or rule him out for the remainder of the season. Schefter notes that the former is more likely for Hockenson, with Week 7 or 8 being his target for a return. Once he's back on the field, Hockenson will rank as a high-end fantasy TE1.
From RotoBaller
