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 jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas said that nothing has changed on the team's end regarding the situation with defensive end Haason Reddick. Douglas said the team has been "clear and direct" in their communication and said the ball is in their court. "I have faith that this will all get resolved," Douglas said. With just over a week left until the start of the 2024 regular season for the Jets, the 29-year-old Reddick hasn't been with his new team at all this offseason or summer. Reddick, who was traded from the Eagles to the Jets early this offseason, subsequently requested a trade from the Jets, with Douglas saying the organization has no plans to trade him. If Reddick doesn't get a new long-term contract that he desires, it's possible that his holdout could spill over into the regular season. The situation has made him one to avoid in IDP fantasy leagues for now.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys signed wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year extension this week, and with that situation taken care of, all eyes shift toward quarterback Dak Prescott. The former fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State is entering the final year of his current deal, and time is running out to reach an extension before Week 1 of the regular season. However, team owner Jerry Jones said the situation remains unchanged, and Todd Archer of ESPN reports the two sides don't appear to be close to a deal. This will be a situation worth monitoring, but there is no indication Prescott will miss any game action if he heads into the season without a long-term contract. With the Cowboys' rushing attack likely to be downgraded this season, Dallas could have a pass-happier offense in 2024. Prescott could be a value pick as his QB10 ADP, especially if he sees additional red zone carries and pass attempts.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has signed a four-year extension with the team, ending his long holdout.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has signed a four-year extension with the organization on Thursday. Finally, the drama is over as Aiyuk will be tied to the team for the next five seasons. The 49ers were forced to open their wallet as they will give Aiyuk $120 million over the next four seasons. Fantasy managers can now safely draft Aiyuk without any worries of him sitting out or a trade happening. Last season, Aiyuk finished with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards, and seven touchdowns in 16 games. The 26-year-old keeps getting better and should remain a focal point in this offense for years to come. He should have enough time to get ready in time for the regular season, so fantasy managers should have Aiyuk in their lineups for Week 1.
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins have decided to sign quarterback Tim Boyle to their practice squad on Thursday. Boyle was released by the Houston Texans after they opted to keep C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills as their two quarterbacks. The 29-year-old journeyman has appeared in 20 games with four different teams over the last five seasons. During that time, Boyle has thrown for 934 yards with four touchdowns and 12 interceptions, so don't expect any fantasy value for Boyle if he's asked to take over under center at some point. He figures to serve as depth on the practice squad and will be the third option behind Tua Tagovailoa and Skyler Thompson.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent WR Tay Martin, TE Mason Pline, WR Trent Taylor and TE Brayden Willis were signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad Wednesday, Aug. 28.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers running back Jaret Patterson has been released by the organization on Thursday. This is a tough break for Patterson who was trying to catch on as a backup in camp. The organization decided to go a different route by claiming fellow back Hassan Haskins off waivers on Wednesday. They also decided to keep sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal who impressed them in camp. Patterson really hasn't done anything since his rookie season in 2021. He ran for 266 yards and scored two touchdowns in 17 games with the Washington Commanders that season. He'll look to catch on as depth elsewhere, but Patterson probably won't have fantasy value on any roster.
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins have decided to bring in veteran wide receiver Robbie Chosen on Thursday. The 31-year-old will head to the practice squad where he can be claimed by another team at any point. Chosen hasn't made much noise on the field in a few years. He finished with four receptions for 126 yards and one touchdown in nine games with the Dolphins last season. He was in camp with the San Francisco 49ers, but Chosen was unable to make the 53-man roster. This is a depth move in case of an injury, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect Chosen to contribute much in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune is set to be the second string option behind Kyler Murray to start the season. This news was expected after quarterback Desmond Ridder was cut by the team earlier this week. Ridder was later signed to the practice squad, but it appears the Cardinals feel comfortable with Tune as the second option going forward. The fifth-round pick completed 12-of-21 passing attempts for zero touchdowns and two interceptions in seven appearances last season. If Murray goes down, it's tough to imagine Tune having any kind of fantasy value as the starter.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers practice squad TE Jordan Matthews was signed to the 53-man roster Thursday, Aug. 29. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent WR Kevin Austin, TE Michael Jacobson, RB Jacob Kibodi and WR Equanimeous St. Brown were signed to the New Orleans Saints practice Wednesday, Aug. 28.
From TheHuddle
Buffalo Bills WR Deon Cain was released from the practice squad on Thursday, Aug. 29.
From TheHuddle
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce has been receiving high praise from head coach Shane Steichen regarding his consistency through training camp, according to Nate Atkins of the Indy Star. In addition, general manager Chris Ballard has also expressed praise for the third-year wideout. In the final preseason game, Pierce caught both of his targets from quarterback Anthony Richardson and is currently listed as the No. 3 option on the depth chart. If Josh Downs (ankle) is not cleared to play in the season opener, Pierce could see a significant uptick in work along with rookie wideout Adonai Mitchell. If Pierce can establish himself as a reliable No. 3 pass-catcher in this offense, he could be worth stashing in deeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
Free agent running back Zach Evans was released from the Los Angeles Rams practice squad on Thursday afternoon, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. The 23-year-old finished the preseason on a high note by running for 45 yards and scoring two touchdowns but was unable to crack the final roster. Fantasy managers should now expect 25-year-old Ronnie Rivers to serve as the No.3 option behind Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum. Evans was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft but saw only nine carries in his rookie season. Dynasty managers should feel confident about cutting ties with the Ole Miss product as he hits the free-agent market.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent QB Tim Boyle, WR Robbie Chosen and WR Dee Eskridge were signed to the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, Aug. 29.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers RB Jaret Patterson was waived on Thursday, Aug. 29. The team also signed TE Eric Tomlinson to the practice squad.
From TheHuddle
Updating a previous report, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) remained sidelined during the portion of practice that was open to the media, according to John Machota of The Athletic. Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed earlier in the week that the veteran was scheduled to return to the field on Thursday, but he may need some more time to get ready. Cooks has been dealing with a lingering knee injury through most of August but is nearing the end of his rehab process. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to his status prior to the season opener next week. The 30-year-old saw an uptick in touchdowns (eight) last fall compared to the three he caught in 2022 but continued to see a drop in yards, posting only 657. This was his second straight season falling under the 1,000-yard mark. Cooks remains a solid depth option in all leagues, as he should serve as the No.2 receiver in a high-octane Dallas passing attack.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (thumb) remained sidelined during Thursday's practice, according to David Furones of the Sun Sentinel. Hill has been wearing a brace on his right hand for the past few weeks, but Head Coach Mike McDaniel stressed that the star wideout could practice if needed. While the 30-year-old has yet to return to full practice activities, fantasy managers should not be overly concerned with the superstar's status. The Dolphins will lean on the side of caution to ensure that Hill is ready for their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars in just over a week. Last season, Hill eclipsed the 1,700-yard mark for the second straight year while scoring 13 touchdowns. Given his elite speed and consistency, Hill remains a safe pick at the top of all fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers S Tony Jefferson was released on Thursday, Aug. 29. Jefferson is expected to join the team on the practice squad soon, however.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was a full participant in practice today, and he is "ready to roll," according to Head Coach Sean McVay. The sophomore wideout suffered a knee injury earlier this month but has avoided a significant injury and should be ready to suit up for next week's season opener. Last season, the former fifth-round selection caught 1,486 yards, which was the fourth-highest at his position. He also caught 105 passes and scored six touchdowns. The 23-year-old was very impressive down the stretch as he scored the third-most PPR points from Weeks 13-17 among wideouts. Nacua will be a popular pick toward the back half of the first round in all remaining drafts, as he should finish near the top among all pass catchers this coming season.
From RotoBaller