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FFL: Week 10 | NFL: Week 10

TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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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.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 10

Player Notes
Isaiah Rodgers Nov 10 5:20pm ET
Isaiah Rodgers

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's NFC East showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. The 33-year-old entered Week 10 with 27 tackles, one forced fumble, and five passes defensed. But after missing the Week 9 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a groin injury, he lasted just three plays in this one before going down with an ankle injury. If he doesn't return, he'll finish without making any statistical contributions on the defensive end. Isaiah Rodgers could see more time on the field if Slay can't make it back.

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Bryce Young Nov 10 5:13pm ET
Bryce Young

Dynasty | Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 15-of-25 passes for 126 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a win against the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: He added 30 rushing yards. Young has looked far from dynamic recently but he's also not looking like a complete bust, either. At this point, Carolina is likely going to give him the rest of the season to prove he can be counted on and he's been doing much better of late. Young made some difficult throws today and managed the game well, even having a second touchdown pass wiped off due to a penalty. His dynasty value has been crushed, but he's still roster worthy at the moment.

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Tyrone Tracy Jr. Nov 10 5:13pm ET
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Dynasty | Giants running back Tyrone Tracy had 103 rushing yards and a touchdown, but also a costly fumble in a loss to Carolina. Dynasty Analysis: Tracy put up another solid day of running, including a 32-yard touchdown scamper in the second half. Unfortunately, he coughed the ball up deep in Giants territory in overtime and that set up the Panthers for the game winner. He was visibly upset on the sidelines and it marred an otherwise solid performance. Tracy has supplanted Devin Singletary as the starter and that shouldn't change. His dynasty value is still pointing up, despite the miscue.

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Chuba Hubbard Nov 10 5:13pm ET
Chuba Hubbard

Dynasty | Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard had 153 rushing yards, four catches, and 16 receiving yards in a win against the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: Hubbard isn't going away, folks. The Panthers rewarded him with a solid contract extension and while Jonathon Brooks is waiting in the wings, Hubbard is still going to likely operate as the primary running back or "1A" in the offense when Brooks makes his debut. This has the makings of an ugly timeshare at some point, but Hubbard has been borderline amazing this season and the Panthers are going to keep riding him moving forward. He looks like a relative bargain at this point in dynasty leagues.

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T.J. Hockenson Nov 10 5:10pm ET
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson reeled in 8-of-9 targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 12-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was anticipated that his usage would begin to tick up as he got further out from his knee injury, but the former Iowa Hawkeye pulled out an excellent performance in just his second game back from the IR. Hockenson's reception and yardage total both led the team, while his nine targets tied wide receiver Justin Jefferson for the most on the squad. The only thing missing from his line was a touchdown. Fellow tight end Josh Oliver was still decently involved (4/52), but this performance from the 27-year-old should put any feelings of unease about his workload moving forward to rest. The Vikings will hit the road in Week 11 to take on the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Nov 10 5:10pm ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 308 yards on 23 of 38 passing, but failed to throw any touchdowns and tossed one interception in the 20-17 loss to the undermanned Saints. Bijan Robinson recorded both of the Falcon touchdowns on the ground, with many drives stalling and leading to four field goal attempts for kicker Younghoe Koo, only one of which he converted. There have been just two games this season in which Cousins was held without at least one TD pass, and both have come against the Saints. Now averaging 263 yards passing per game through the first ten weeks with a 17:8 TD:INT, the 36-year-old will look to get back on track next week, although it won't come easy against a strong Broncos pass defense. Look for him to be in the QB2 range in Week 11.

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Jayden Daniels Nov 10 5:00pm ET
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels went 17-for-34 for 202 passing yards and no scores in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. He tallied just five rushing yards on three rushing attempts. This was his lowest output since his NFL debut in the opening week of the season. When the Commanders reached the red zone, they opted to let their running backs punch in the scores. Daniels found his top wideout, Terry McLaurin, throughout the game as he led the team with 113 yards with his longest reception going for 54 yards. Despite the poor showing, fantasy managers should continue to view the LSU product as a high-end QB1 heading into Week 11 when he faces the Philadelphia Eagles in a pivotal divisional tilt.

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Austin Ekeler Nov 10 5:00pm ET
Austin Ekeler

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler took the lead role in the backfield once again with Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) sidelined and performed well as he tallied 44 yards and two scores in the Week 10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He added seven yards off one reception. This was his second straight game reaching the end zone and topping double-digit PPR points. While he could not get much rhythm in the running game, he was a force in the red zone as he ran in two short scores at the goal line. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Robinson's status during the short week, as Ekeler could again lead the backfield on Thursday evening against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Jeremy McNichols Nov 10 5:00pm ET
Jeremy McNichols

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols made the most of his limited workload on Sunday afternoon as he tallied seven yards and a score off four attempts in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He did not see a target in the passing game. After taking the backseat to Chris Rodriguez Jr. last weekend, McNichols returned to the No.2 role behind Austin Ekeler. McNichols salvaged his fantasy day by punching in a one-yard score in the third quarter. Even if Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) cannot return on Thursday evening, McNichols would again be considered a high-risk flex option, given his limited opportunities.

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Terry McLaurin Nov 10 5:00pm ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin led the team with 113 yards off five receptions in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. McLaurin's best catch of the afternoon came on a short slant that the wideout took for 54 yards in the third quarter. Despite only bringing in five receptions, McLaurin's big-play ability makes him a matchup-proof option from a fantasy perspective. Since Week 3, McLaurin has scored double-digit PPR points in every game. Fantasy managers should continue to view the former Ohio State Buckeye as a high-end WR2 heading into Week 11 when he faces the Philadelphia Eagles, who have allowed the 16th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts.

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Noah Brown Nov 10 5:00pm ET
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown brought in three of his seven targets for 33 yards in their Week 10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown continued to be deployed as the No.2 wideout opposite of Terry McLaurin as he saw the second-most targets on the team. Despite the poor showing in the box score, it was promising to see Jayden Daniels continue to look his way quite often. Brown has now caught at least three passes in each of the past three contests and has seen at least six targets in each of them. Given his current target share, Brown has emerged as a low-end flex option in 3WR formats, and he could be in store for another productive showing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday evening.

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Xavier Worthy Nov 10 5:00pm ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy had one catch for 11 yards in the 16-14 win against the Denver Broncos. Worthy finished the game with four targets but could not do much with his opportunities. The Chiefs remained undefeated by way of a last-second blocked field goal by Kansas City. Since the arrival of JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeAndre Hopkins, the rookie receiver has become a near afterthought in the Chiefs offense. The Chiefs style favors possession receivers, and Worthy has been more boom-or-bust so far. Worthy will look to be more successful in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills, who rank sixth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. Starting Worthy in any matchup will be difficult until he displays consistency as a pass catcher.

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Zach Ertz Nov 10 5:00pm ET
Zach Ertz

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz saw a team-high eight targets in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. However, he could only bring in four of them for 31 yards. Despite the modest output in the box score, this was a great bounce-back showing for Ertz, as he brought in his lone target last weekend for a mere five yards. During Weeks 6 through 8, the 34-year-old caught at least four passes in each game and saw at least five targets. Fantasy managers should continue to view Ertz as a low-end TE1 going forward, given his role as a prominent pass catcher in the Washington offense. Next week, he will face the Philadelphia Eagles, who have allowed the 17th-most PPR points to opposing tight ends.

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Cam Akers Nov 10 5:00pm ET
Cam Akers

Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers rushed 13 times for 38 yards and brought in his lone target for an additional nine yards through the air in Week 10's 12-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Akers didn't get his first touch until the second quarter but saw eight of them after backfield mate Aaron Jones (chest) exited the game in the second half after picking up an injury. Jones returned for Minnesota's final two drives, which is seemingly good news for his future status. However, fantasy managers will want to watch how he looks over the next week of practice. If he were to miss time, Akers would slot into the lead role in the Vikings backfield. The 25-year-old did share touches with fellow running back Ty Chandler (four rushes, 18 yards), but the former is the preferred option for the team. Minnesota will get another staunch test next Sunday when they square off against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.

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Justin Jefferson Nov 10 4:50pm ET
Justin Jefferson

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson caught 5-of-9 targets for 48 yards in the team's 12-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. The Vikings offense sputtered on Sunday afternoon, failing to convert any of their five red zone trips into touchdowns. Quarterback Sam Darnold tossed three interceptions on the day -- one of them coming in the end zone, which was intended for the superstar wideout -- and was largely ineffective against a Jaguars defense that limited big plays and played Minnesota tough. The yardage total was a season-low for Jefferson, and it was the first time since Week 3 that he hauled in less than six receptions. The LSU product is always a bounce-back candidate after a poor showing, but he'll get another challenging outing next Sunday when the Vikings line up against the Tennessee Titans on the road.

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DeAndre Hopkins Nov 10 4:50pm ET
DeAndre Hopkins

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had four catches for 56 yards in the 16-14 win against the Denver Broncos. Hopkins was third on the team with five targets in this contest. The Chiefs narrowly escaped with the victory on a game-sealing blocked field goal by Kansas City. Hopkins did not produce as he did against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, but he was still the undisputed WR1 for the Kansas City passing attack. Hopkins will look to produce in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills, who rank sixth in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers this season. It will be a tough matchup for the veteran receiver, but he's talented enough to produce with Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball. Fantasy managers should view Hopkins as a low-end WR2 heading into a tough matchup against the Bills.

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Sam Darnold Nov 10 4:40pm ET
Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 24-of-38 passes for 241 yards, tossing three interceptions in Sunday's 12-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He added 28 rushing yards on seven carries and was sacked once for a loss of eight yards. The troubles started early for Darnold and the Vikings, as two of his interceptions came on back-to-back drives in the first half -- one on a 16-play drive that took Minnesota down to the Jacksonville 7-yard line. It was a rough outing for the 27-year-old, who has now thrown five INTs in his last two games -- a number he reached through the team's first six outings. The Jags' defense did an excellent job limiting explosive plays and really clamped down in the red zone, holding the Vikes to field goals or less in all five opportunities. Better days are ahead for the team's offense, but they'll get another tough test next Sunday when they hit the road to take on the Tennessee Titans.

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Kareem Hunt Nov 10 4:40pm ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had 14 carries for 35 yards in the 16-14 win against the Denver Broncos. Hunt also had seven catches for 65 yards in this contest. The Chiefs running back led the Kansas City pass catchers in receiving yards despite not being heavily involved in the passing game coming into this contest. The Chiefs extended their winning streak on a last-second blocked field goal by the Kansas City defense. Hunt could not find the endzone in this game, but his 21 touches resulted in 100 scrimmage yards. Hunt will face the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, who rank 31st in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. Hunt should be in for a big game against the Bills as the undisputed lead back for Kansas City. Fantasy managers should continue starting Hunt as a locked-in RB2.

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Travis Kelce Nov 10 4:30pm ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in the 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos. Kelce led the team in catches and targets again this week, and that trend will likely continue for the rest of the season. Kelce scored his touchdown on a two-yard strike from Patrick Mahomes in the second quarter. The Chiefs narrowly escaped with the victory in this contest on a last-second blocked field goal by the Kansas City defense. Kelce produced another high-end TE1 performance this week, and fantasy managers should excited about his matchup with the Buffalo Bills in Week 11. The Bills rank 15th in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, so Kelce should continue his elite production. The veteran tight end has seen immense volume every week since Rashee Rice's injury, and his fantasy production has skyrocketed ever since. Fantasy managers should continue starting Kelce as a TE1 every week.

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Aaron Jones Nov 10 4:20pm ET
Aaron Jones

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (chest) returned late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had initially exited the game and was listed as questionable, but was able to check back into the contest for the final offensive drive. He finished Week 10 with 17 rushes for 88 yards on the ground. He also caught two of three targets for an additional 13 yards through the air. Jones will rank as a mid-to-high RB2 heading into next week's game against a strong Tennessee Titans run defense.

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