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.
New York Giants quarterback Tommy Devito was called on to go the distance in Saturday's preseason finale. DeVito went 14-for-27 but gained only 103 yards through the air and took five rushes 48 yards in the loss to the Jets. All game long DeVito had to contend with an aggressive pass rush and with all of the Giants' starters sitting, the pocket was quick to break down and the Giants' down roster receivers could not get open. The result was DeVito getting sacked eight times, the last one derailing his two-minute drill at the end of the game. It was a mediocre day for the quarterback trying to prove his worth before rosters are cut to 53 players on Tuesday. Drew Lock's ailing hip might improve DeVito's odds but even if he makes the team he will have no fantasy value behind Lock and starter Daniel Jones.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III made notable plays in the team's final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, recording two catches for 21 yards. However, his numbers were lower than last week when he had six receptions for 68 yards and his first professional touchdown against the New York Giants; Metchie III's performance was still impressive. He is competing with Xavier Hutchinson, Ben Skowronek, and Steven Sims for a roster spot, while injured receiver Noah Brown, when healthy, is also a key contender. With only a few spots likely remaining, Metchie III's strong preseason performance suggests he could secure a place on the main roster or land on the practice squad.
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Houston Texans running back Cam Akers showcased his skills in the team's final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. He led the Texans' rushing attack with 53 yards on seven carries, averaging 7.6 yards per run. Akers also added three receptions for 19 yards, highlighting his versatility. Acquired to provide depth after starter Joe Mixon's preseason injury, Akers seems poised to secure the third-string running back spot, especially since backup Dameon Pierce did not see any action. Having played in a similar offensive system with the Rams, Akers may be well-suited for Bobby Slowik's zone-heavy scheme. Monitoring who becomes the backup if Mixon is sidelined could be crucial, as the starting running back for the Texans will likely hold significant fantasy value.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson stood out in the team's final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, recording four catches for 34 yards. He's among the receivers vying for roster spots alongside John Metchie III, Ben Skowronek, and Steven Sims. Noah Brown, currently sidelined with an injury, is also a key consideration when healthy. Hutchinson has been impressive this preseason, totaling 12 receptions for 114 yards and adding 27 rushing yards. With the Texans' roster featuring several smaller receivers like Dell, Metchie, and Diggs, Hutchinson offers a valuable outside option. Given his strong performances and potential, it will be challenging for the team to leave him off the final roster.
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Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum started the final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams but was injured during the match. Keenum appeared to hurt his arm while following through on a throw. He completed 4 of 8 passes for 32 yards. He narrowly avoided an interception on a misfire with wide receiver John Metchie III, who was open, before being replaced by fourth-string quarterback Tim Boyle. Boyle performed well, completing 9 of 13 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown to fullback Troy Hairston in the first half at NRG Stadium. Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud did not play as he prepares for the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts on September 8. Davis Mills has secured the backup role and is set to be Stroud's primary backup. With Keenum now waiting to see if he or Boyle will be chosen as the third-string quarterback, Keenum may have the edge given his quasi-coach role in C.J. Stroud's development.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback Tim Boyle stepped up effectively in relief during the team's final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. Boyle took over after the starter Case Keenum was injured. He showcased his skills, leading the Texans to a 17-15 victory. Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud was rested for the game as he prepares for the September 8 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Davis Mills has secured the backup role behind Stroud. Boyle, who previously filled in for Zach Wilson with the New York Jets, threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the game. As the Texans finalize their roster, Boyle will be vying with Keenum for the third-string quarterback spot.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard carried the ball three times for 15 yards in the team's preseason win against the Buffalo Bills. Hubbard saw his first preseason action along with all of Carolina's starters, indicating that he has likely locked up the RB1 role for the Panthers this season. While he will serve as the main back to begin this season, Carolina's backfield remains split between him, Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks (knee) who is working his way back from injury. A split backfield in what was a below-average rushing attack last season isn't the most ideal for fantasy purposes, and Hubbard can be viewed as a RB3/4 accordingly.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers tight end Jordan Matthews caught all three of his targets for 21 yards and a touchdown in the team's preseason win over the Buffalo Bills. The 32-year-old started the game with all of Carolina's starters and saw two targets on the initial drive, one of which being an eight-yard touchdown from Bryce Young. While it may be the case that Matthews is the starting tight end, he will continue to compete with Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, and rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders for snaps and touches at the position. The makeup of this tight end room will be worth monitoring for fantasy managers, as whoever the starter is may become a streaming option throughout the season.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 6-of-8 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in Carolina's final preseason game. Dynasty Analysis: Young received a lot of praise from the coaching staff after this one and it seems he's ready to go for year two. It's going to be a critical season for last year's #1 pick as he really struggled last season and was severely outplayed by CJ Stroud. While his sample size is still very small, Young will need to show everyone a lot more to stay in the good graces of our dynasty rankings. At this point, he's a hold but one that should make you pretty nervous, despite a good final performance.
Dynasty | Bills rookie running back Frank Gore Jr rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown in Buffalo's preseason finale. Dynasty Analysis: We'll see if this is enough to secure Gore a roster spot but he certainly did all he could in this one. Gore averaged 5.6 yards per carry on the game and was one of the more impressive players in the contest. Unfortunately, being showcased in week three of the preseason isn't always the greatest thing and Gore was playing against backups. He'd be worthy of a deep dynasty league roster spot should he make the team. Stay tuned.
Dynasty | Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson played one series, completing 2-of-2 passes for 26 yards in Pittsburgh's final preseason game. Dynasty Analysis: What was even more telling was the fact Wilson and the rest of the starters hit the bench after one series. Justin Fields competed 3-of-4 passes for 40 yards in his place but the tea leaves are clearly pointing to Wilson starting the year under center, especially given the fact Fields had yet another fumbled snap in this one. This will be a situation to watch but it would be a surprise to see Wilson not under center in week one. He remains a QB2 this year and Fields remains a potential "buy low" at the moment.
Dynasty | Texans running back Cam Akers had 53 yards on seven carries in Houston's preseason finale. Dynasty Analysis: The story here may not be the fact Akers did this on only seven carries - it may be that Akers played in the game at all. Running backs with roster spots sewn up don't typically play this week and that may not bode well for him in the end. It seems the injury sustained a couple of years ago has really deprived Akers of his potential. He belongs on the waiver wire at the moment until we see how Houston manages their depth chart.
Dynasty | Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance completed 33-of-49 passes for 323 yards with one touchdown, adding 90 rushing yards and another score in the Cowboys preseason finale. Dynasty Analysis: He also threw five interceptions. Yep. FIVE. This was as mixed a bag as you can find with a quarterback line and it matches his performance. Lance made great plays in both the run and pass game but a lot of it was wasted by mistakes. It's clear he has immense talent and also evident he's still reckless at times. Dallas has a decision to make but at this point it seems his roster spot is safe. It's hard to make a case for Lance on a dynasty roster if he gets beat out by Cooper Rush.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed six of his eight throws for 70 yards and a touchdown in the team's preseason win over the Buffalo Bills. Young played just the initial drive, distributing the ball around to five different receivers before eventually finding Jordan Matthews for an eight-yard touchdown to cap it off. This was Young's first and only preseason action, as the Panthers have relied primarily on QBs Jack Plummer and Jake Luton in their previous games. While it's an encouraging performance from Young, his fantasy relevance will be seen mainly in 2QB/Superflex leagues, barring a vast improvement from last season's performances to be considered a QB1 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley was held to one catch on three targets for five yards in Saturday night's preseason win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Corley hardly played in two-receiver sets with the Jets' backups on Saturday against the Giants, but it's also possible that means the team already has an eye toward fairly significant snaps for him in the regular season, as most of the team's starters were inactive altogether in this one. As it stands, the 22-year-old rookie third-rounder is in line to share snaps in the slot in Year 1 with the likes of Xavier Gipson and perhaps Allen Lazard on occasions New York opts for a power slot weapon. Corley has a long way to go to carve out fantasy relevance in most leagues, as he projects to be quarterback Aaron Rodgers' No. 4 or No. 5 target the majority of the time.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Jason Brownlee caught three of his five passes for 29 yards in Saturday night's preseason win over the New York Giants in the Meadowlands. Brownlee produced a long gain of 16 yards through the air in Saturday's victory over the Giants. The 25-year-old former Southern Mississippi standout hardly played for the Jets in his rookie season in 2023, coming down with five of his eight passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in seven appearances, and Brownlee will likely be buried on New York's depth chart once again if he makes the roster in 2024.
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New York Jets running back Xazavian Valladay soaked up plenty of reps in Saturday night's preseason win over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, rushing a team-high 14 times for 28 yards and collecting six of his eight targets for a team-leading 62 yards. Valladay hauled in plenty of checkdowns on Saturday against the Giants, totaling 90 yards on a substantial 20 touches. It was more or less window dressing for the 25-year-old Arizona State product, who is unlikely to be a part of New York's 53-man roster when the regular season begins in what has become a loaded Jets RB room.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns defensive back Denzel Ward (concussion) plans to continue playing football despite suffering the fifth concussion of his career earlier this month in training camp. Ward picked up the injury on Aug. 12 during a 1-on-1 drill after hitting his head on the ground, completing an attempted tackle on wide receiver Elijah Moore. The 27-year-old -- who remains in concussion protocol -- was wearing a protective guardian cap during the drill. If he gets cleared for the Browns' home opener against the Dallas Cowboys in two weeks, it will have been nearly a month on the shelf for him. The veteran cornerback is not taking his injury lightly, nor has he with any of his concussions. "I have looked into a few helmets," Ward said. "I'm going to look into it more. I've been talking to the equipment staff...so definitely got to see about getting sized for one and see if I like it, how I feel out there on the field." Ward's return would be a big boost for a Cleveland defensive unit that is also down starting defensive back Greg Newsome II after he underwent hamstring surgery a week before training camp.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda picked up 83 yards with a touchdown in Saturday night's preseason win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, doing so on only nine carries in the victory. He added a six-yard reception. Abanikanda shed multiple tackles on his way to the end zone in the second quarter, rushing 45 yards down the field for the score. The 21-year-old former fifth-round pick may have locked down a spot on New York's final 53-man roster ahead of the regular season with Saturday's performance against the Giants, but he'll likely slot in as the Jets' No. 4 option in the backfield behind workhorse starter Breece Hall, considering rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis were held out of action in this one.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their preseason Saturday evening 1-2 with a 26-19 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Quarterback Trey Lance played the entire game and was the subject of a post-game interview with Jerry Jones. "I saw some good, and I saw some things you'd like to have back," Jones said of the former third-overall pick. "Certainly, we're planning on him being on our roster for sure." The Cowboys' owner also noted that he does not regret spending a fourth-round pick to acquire the 24-year-old last August from the San Francisco 49ers. Lance finishes his preseason by completing 73-of-113 passes for 662 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also racked up 168 yards rushing and an additional two scores on 24 carries. He'll open the year as Dallas' QB3, as the Cowboys will be one of the only teams to roster a third option. For now, he's a nice stash in dynasty formats but offers little value elsewhere.
From RotoBaller