Guest of the League
AWFFL Texas Est. 2002
FFL: Week 8 | NFL: Week 8

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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 8

Player Notes
Jameis Winston Oct 28 2:20pm ET
Jameis Winston

According to head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Cleveland Browns will continue to roll out quarterback Jameis Winston. Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram reported the news. It's of little surprise, considering the effectiveness Winston displayed in his first start since 2022. The 30-year-old tossed for 334 yards and three touchdowns in Cleveland's 29-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens -- two benchmarks that Deshaun Watson (Achilles) never hit in his Browns tenure. In fact, Watson had not eclipsed even 200 passing yards in any of his 2024 appearances. The former first-overall pick did an excellent job moving the Browns' offense, and he'll get a chance to build on his performance in Week 9 when Cleveland hosts the visiting Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Oct 28 2:10pm ET
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) is out of the hospital and defensive back Denzel Ward (concussion) is currently in concussion protocol according to Kelsey Russo. Koramoah left Sunday's game on a cart after enduring a collision and went to the hospital out of precaution. Thankfully, the 24-year-old was discharged and did not suffer any serious injuries. Ward suffered his second concussion of the 2024 season on Sunday and will likely miss at least one game as he progresses through the league's protocol. The Browns are slated to face the Los Angeles Charges next week. If both players are unable to suit up, the Browns defense should not be considered as a potential streaming option without two of their top starters.

From RotoBaller

Frankie Luvu Oct 28 2:00pm ET
Frankie Luvu

Chicago Bears offensive tackle (knee) avoided a serious injury and may only be sidelined for a week or two according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Jones was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders early. He was replaced by third-round rookie Kiran Amegadjie who struggled to contain Washington edge rusher Frankie Luvu as quarterback Caleb Williams was under pressure all afternoon. In this game, Williams threw for a mere 131 yards and completed just 41.7% of his passes. As a result, the Chicago offense was unable to find much rhythm. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Jones' status throughout the week as his absence would weaken the Chicago line and limit Williams' weekly upside.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Oct 28 1:50pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb finally put together the performance that fantasy managers have been waiting for. The fifth-year receiver was targeted 17 times on Sunday night in the loss to San Francisco. He caught 13 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns with both scores coming late in the fourth quarter. The outing was just Lamb's second WR1 weekly finish of the season but with an astounding 45% target share, fantasy managers can expect more of the same in the future.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Tolbert Oct 28 1:50pm ET
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert was targeted three times in the comeback loss against San Francisco on Sunday night. Tolbert caught all three targets for 44 yards, making minimal fantasy impact. With CeeDee Lamb (45%) taking a massive target share, Tolbert will likely remain a touchdown-dependent deep flex option going forward.

From RotoBaller

Jake Ferguson Oct 28 1:50pm ET
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson worked in the short field on Sunday night in the loss to San Francisco. The 25-year-old averaged just 3.8 yards per reception despite being targeted eight times. He caught six passes for 23 yards, failing to make much of an impact in the box score. The receptions were encouraging for PPR formats and the 21% target share remains encouraging, but Ferguson has still failed to find the end zone in 2024 after leading all tight ends in red zone targets in 2023. He will remain a TE1 option heading into next week's matchup with Atlanta.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Oct 28 1:40pm ET
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (knee) is optimistic he will be able to return in Week 9 to face the Los Angeles Rams according to Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. Metcalf was held out of action this past Sunday due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 7 and was unable to practice all week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression this week as a return to practice could suggest he will be able to suit up this weekend. Metcalf has been very productive through the first half of the season as he has totaled 568 yards and three scores on 35 receptions. After scoring just 5.9 PPR points in Week 1, Metcalf has gone on to average 17.3 PPR points since Week 2. Fantasy managers should lock the 26-year-old into their lineup as a high-end WR2 if returns this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Oct 28 1:40pm ET
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott struggled for most of the night on Sunday against San Francisco. It wasn't until halfway through the fourth quarter when Prescott and the Cowboys' offense came to life, pushing too little too late. Prescott's two touchdowns both came with under eight minutes remaining in the game. He finished the night 25-for-38 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 31-year-old will be back in action next week with a slightly easier matchup against Atlanta.

From RotoBaller

Ezekiel Elliott Oct 28 1:40pm ET
Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott drew the start on Sunday night with Rico Dowdle (illness) being a late scratch. The veteran led the rushing attack with 10 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. He added a reception for four yards in what turned out to be his best fantasy outing since Week 1. With Dowdle likely to be back next week, Elliott's fantasy relevance was likely short-lived.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Oct 28 1:40pm ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (hamstring) will test out his hamstring during pre-game and remains questionable for Monday's game against the Giants. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network noted that if there are any issues with Fields, the team may opt to lean on the side of caution with the bye week coming up. Fantasy managers should expect Fields to serve as the No.2 option behind Russell Wilson if he is able to suit up. During his six starts this season, Fields averaged a solid 21.4 PPR points per game due to his elite rushing upside. Last weekend, Wilson looked quite sharp in his 2024 debut as he threw for 264 yards and two scores against the Jets. Wilson should be viewed as a QB2 this evening and a solid flex option in DFS facing the Giants who have the 20th-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

From RotoBaller

Dalvin Cook Oct 28 1:40pm ET
Dalvin Cook

Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook was elevated from the practice squad on Sunday night with Rico Dowdle (illness) missing the game as a late scratch. The veteran rushed six times for 12 yards and added a ten-yard reception, totaling 22 yards in his Dallas debut. He is not currently in the fantasy picture, especially with Dowdle expected back next week, but his usage going forward could further muddy the backfield should he be elevated again.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Oct 28 1:30pm ET
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is expected to be traded before the trade deadline according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter reported this on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday afternoon. The veteran wideout was held out of action this past Sunday due to a rib injury. However, he has performed very well at times this season in Carolina. During Weeks 3 through 6, Johnson averaged an impressive 18.3 PPR points after struggling during the opening two weeks of the campaign. Johnson remains an intriguing buy-low candidate for redraft purposes as he will likely join a much more positive fantasy environment during the stretch run of the season. Fantasy managers who currently roster Johnson should continue to hold him on their roster as better days are likely ahead.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 28 1:20pm ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest/ribs) could miss 2-4 weeks due to a chest and rib injuries he suffered in their loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon according to Jeremy Fowler. Fowler noted that the young wideout will undergo further scanning to determine the full extent of the injuries. Fantasy managers should expect the standout rookie to miss at least two weeks of action with the potential to miss a longer period of time. The LSU product has enjoyed an impressive start to his NFL career as he has averaged 15.2 PPR points per game with 573 total yards and five scores. The Jaguars also lost Christian Kirk (collarbone) for the remainder of the season on Sunday. This will leave Trevor Lawrence with a depleted wide receiver room consisting of Parker Washington, Gabe Davis, and Tim Jones in their Week 9 tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Mason Rudolph Oct 28 12:20pm ET
Mason Rudolph

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph had his team looking competitive early on in Sunday's matchup with the Lions, leading two touchdown drives with the score knotted at 14 apiece a minute into the second quarter, but ultimately lost 52-14 after failing to score the rest of the game. The 29-year-old finished 22 of 38 passing with 266 yards, one TD pass, and two interceptions, plus he added four rushes for 29 yards and a rush TD of his own. Much to Calvin Ridley's delight, Rudolph gave him 15 looks and was able to connect on 10 of them for 143 yards. The Titans have a winnable matchup at home versus the Patriots in Week 9, but it is uncertain whether Will Levis will be ready or not by then. Neither one would realistically be a viable streaming option, but for Ridley managers at least, it seems Rudolph would at least be a slight upgrade for his fantasy prospects.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Oct 28 12:10pm ET
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze had a modest performance against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, finishing with three catches for 41 yards and no touchdowns. It's challenging for any receiver to shine when the quarterback manages only ten completions for a total of 131 yards. Odunze's 41 yards unfortunately led all Bears receivers, highlighting the limited offensive production. He was targeted six times, indicating that quarterback Caleb Williams views him as a go-to option, even if some passes were off-target. Odunze will aim to bounce back next week in a favorable matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

Cole Kmet Oct 28 12:10pm ET
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet had a tough outing against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, finishing with just one reception for 14 yards and no touchdowns. It's challenging for a tight end to have a productive game when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. After some strong performances recently, it was disappointing to see Kmet's lack of production. He was even out-targeted by backup tight end Gerald Everett, who had two targets compared to Kmet's one, which is discouraging for fantasy owners who expected Kmet to dominate the tight end targets. On National Tight End Day, when many tight ends across the league excelled, the Bears unfortunately fell short. Kmet will aim to bounce back next week in a favorable matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Moore Oct 28 12:00pm ET
D.J. Moore

In Week 8, Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had a quiet performance against the Washington Commanders, finishing with just two catches for 27 yards and no touchdowns. It's tough for a receiver to shine when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. Moore also contributed with two rushes for seven yards as the Bears tried various ways to get their star wideout the ball in space. He briefly left the game due to pain after a hard landing while making a catch but fortunately returned. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his injury status this week. Moore aims to rebound next week in a promising matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Oct 28 12:00pm ET
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen had a lackluster outing against the Washington Commanders this Sunday, finishing with just two catches for 39 yards. It's challenging for any receiver to excel when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. Coming off his best performance of the season in Week 6 against the Jaguars, it was disappointing to see Allen unable to build on that momentum. Quarterback Caleb Williams did target Allen a team-high seven times, but many of those passes needed to be more on-target or uncatchable. Allen will aim to rebound next week in a promising matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Oct 28 11:40am ET
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggled in his game against the Washington Commanders. In Week 8, he completed just ten of 24 passes for 131 yards without any touchdowns. It was disappointing to see him regress after a productive recent stretch and following the bye week to prepare. While it seemed like Williams and the offense were starting to find their rhythm, they instead took a step back this week. He had some inaccurate throws and was also hampered by an injury to his left tackle, which led to poor offensive line performance. On a positive note, Williams added 41 rushing yards on ten attempts, demonstrating his ability to evade defenders and pick up first downs when given the chance. Fans hope Williams and the Bear's offense can bounce back next week against a more favorable matchup with the Arizona Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

D'Andre Swift Oct 28 11:40am ET
D'Andre Swift

On Sunday, Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had an outstanding game against the Washington Commanders, recording 18 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. He made a game-changing 56-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, sparking a stagnant Bears offense at a crucial moment. Swift demonstrated his ability to create explosive plays when provided with solid blocking and space to operate. Although it was disappointing that he finished without any receptions, given that Caleb Williams only completed ten passes overall, there's optimism that Swift will see more opportunities in the passing game moving forward. Additionally, it was concerning for Swift's fantasy owners to see Roschon Johnson take goal-line carries, which must be monitored. Swift will aim to maintain his momentum against a vulnerable Arizona Cardinals defense next week.

From RotoBaller