TE Strength of Schedule
Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Bowers could have big year one
Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
| TE SOS | ||
| 1. | Cincinnati Bengals | 186.39 |
| 2. | Miami Dolphins | 193.98 |
| 3. | Philadelphia Eagles | 196.38 |
| 4. | Washington Commanders | 197.75 |
| 5. | Houston Texans | 198.15 |
| 6. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 199.18 |
| 7. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 199.68 |
| 8. | New York Giants | 201 |
| 9. | Dallas Cowboys | 201.18 |
| 10. | Los Angeles Rams | 201.38 |
| 11. | Buffalo Bills | 201.39 |
| 12. | Chicago Bears | 201.66 |
| 13. | Arizona Cardinals | 201.76 |
| 14. | New York Jets | 202.56 |
| 15. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 202.86 |
| 16. | Baltimore Ravens | 203.04 |
| 17. | Denver Broncos | 203.95 |
| 18. | Los Angeles Chargers | 204.02 |
| 19. | Atlanta Falcons | 204.25 |
| 20. | Cleveland Browns | 204.59 |
| 21. | New Orleans Saints | 205.62 |
| 22. | Seattle Seahawks | 205.73 |
| 23. | San Francisco 49ers | 206.80 |
| 24. | Indianapolis Colts | 206.89 |
| 25. | Detroit Lions | 207.92 |
| 26. | New England Patriots | 208.23 |
| 27. | Kansas City Chiefs | 210.92 |
| 28. | Tennessee Titans | 211.44 |
| 29. | Green Bay Packers | 212.07 |
| 30. | Minnesota Vikings | 212.23 |
| 31. | Carolina Panthers | 213.66 |
| 32. | Las Vegas Raiders | 213.81 |
A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.
Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.
The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.
Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.
Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.
The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.
Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.
There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.
Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.
| TE PLAYOFF SOS | ||
| 1. | Atlanta Falcons | 175 |
| 2. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 182.37 |
| 3. | Philadelphia Eagles | 184.73 |
| 4. | Arizona Cardinals | 187.67 |
| 5. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 187.77 |
| 6. | New England Patriots | 189.83 |
| 7. | Miami Dolphins | 190.37 |
| 8. | New Orleans Saints | 191.3 |
| 9. | Los Angeles Rams | 192.17 |
| 10. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 192.43 |
| 11. | Cincinnati Bengals | 196.1 |
| 12. | Detroit Lions | 196.12 |
| 13. | Houston Texans | 196.2 |
| 14. | Indianapolis Colts | 198.97 |
| 15. | Buffalo Bills | 199.63 |
| 16. | Kansas City Chiefs | 203.03 |
| 17. | New York Jets | 204.13 |
| 18. | Carolina Panthers | 205.7 |
| 19. | Baltimore Ravens | 205.9 |
| 20. | Green Bay Packers | 207.7 |
| 21. | Chicago Bears | 213.73 |
| 22. | New York Giants | 214.27 |
| 23. | Seattle Seahawks | 214.72 |
| 24. | Cleveland Browns | 214.97 |
| 25. | Dallas Cowboys | 215.8 |
| 26. | Las Vegas Raiders | 219.4 |
| 27. | Washington Commanders | 220.13 |
| 28. | Denver Broncos | 220.8 |
| 29. | Minnesota Vikings | 221.72 |
| 30. | Tennessee Titans | 223.73 |
| 31. | San Francisco 49ers | 225.53 |
| 32. | Los Angeles Chargers | 228.53 |
The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.
Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.
The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.
George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.
The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.
The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.
Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
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From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals fear that tight end Erick All Jr. (knee) suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's 41-24 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. All caught both of his targets for 24 yards before exiting the contest in the first half. While nothing has yet been confirmed, this would be a massive blow to the rookie who reportedly earned quarterback Joe Burrow's trust. If what the team fears is true, it will be the second ACL tear to the same knee that the Iowa product injured in October 2023. Tight ends Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson figure to see an increase in usage if the fourth-round pick of this year's draft is forced to miss time. He has 18 catches and 134 scoreless yards on 20 targets thus far in 2024.
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From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions defense/special teams delivered a gritty performance in Week 9, overcoming a tough matchup and allowing over 400 yards to the Green Bay Packers. Their fantasy value was salvaged by Kerby Joseph's key interception return for a touchdown, helping secure the 24-14 win. Despite the yardage allowed, Detroit's defense stepped up when it mattered most. Averaging eight fantasy points per game this season, the Lions D/ST continues to be a reliable option in favorable matchups and will look to keep up the momentum next week against the Houston Texans.
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From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta struggled in Week 9, posting just two receptions for 28 yards in the team's 24-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers. After a season-best performance last week, LaPorta fell short again, marking his third game with fewer than five PPR fantasy points and his sixth single-digit fantasy outing in eight games. Even with Jameson Williams out (PED violation), LaPorta was largely uninvolved, as the Lions continued to rely heavily on their rushing duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Despite his early-season promise, LaPorta remains a volatile option with Detroit's offense leaning on its ground game. He'll aim for a rebound in Week 10 against the Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates had an average fantasy showing in Week 9, finishing with one field goal and converting all three extra points in the 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers. This brings Bates to 30 of 31 on extra points for the season. This also marked only the third time this season that he's finished with less than eight fantasy points. Bate's streamable status remains strong thanks to Detroit's high-scoring offense. Bates continues to offer reliable production in favorable matchups and will look to add to his season totals next week against the Houston Texans.
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Dynasty | Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had nine catches for 59 yards in New York's loss to Washington. Dynasty Analysis: The yardage totals weren't great, but Nabers did catch nine passes on 11 targets, more than making up for it in PPR leagues. Nabers has proven to be dominant as a rookie this season and while his ceiling is capped with Daniel Jones as his quarterback at times, he has the looks of a top two rookie this season and long-term WR1 in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 15-of-22 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a win against the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: It was just another day at the office for Daniels, who added another 35 yards on the ground. The Commanders are 7-2 and the surprise of the NFL this season with much of that credit going straight to Daniels, who has been simply brilliant. While his nine passing touchdowns will need to increase for him to be an elite dynasty option, Daniels' floor is high because of his rushing ability and tendency to take care of the football. Caleb Williams is going to be good, but Daniels really may turn out to be great.
Dynasty | Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 29-of-41 passes for 206 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions in an overtime loss to Tennessee. Dynasty Analysis: Maye added a whopping 95 rushing yards on the day, the most by a New England quarterback since the 1970s. He also had a game-tying miracle touchdown pass at the end of regulation, but New England eventually fell in overtime. Maye still has room to grow, but you can tell he has real talent and finally looks like the long-term answer the Patriots have been looking for since Tom Brady left town. Maye's dynasty value is on the rise.
Dynasty | Titans running back Tony Pollard had a season-high 128 rushing yards in a win against New England. Dynasty Analysis: Where was this last season? Pollard now has 750 rushing yards at the halfway mark on a team one could argue is a lot less talented than the ones he's played on in Dallas the past few years. Regardless, Pollard has established himself as the best option in the offense for the Titans and has been consistently solid all season and established himself again as a solid RB2. His dynasty value is back on solid ground.
Dynasty | Browns receiver Cedric Tillman had six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Tillman was the lone positive from a game where the Browns just got annihilated. With three good games in a row, Tillman is looking like a solid lineup consideration moving forward, especially when you consider he had a whopping 11 targets and Jameis Winston struggled mightily. In short, it this is Tillman's floor at the moment, that's a good thing. His dynasty value is going to continue to rise moving forward.
Dynasty | Browns running back Nick Chubb had 39 rushing yards in a loss against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Chubb now has just 113 rushing yards and one touchdown on a putrid 2.7 yards per carry since returning from injury earlier this month. Defenses are doing their best to stop him, but it's fair to wonder if Chubb has lost a step at this point. We'll wait to truly assess his future value for a few more weeks, but he looks like a player you just can't start at the moment and one whose dynasty arrow is starting to really point down.
Dynasty | Browns quarterback Jameis Winston completed 26-of-46 passes for 235 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in a loss against the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: Yep, that's about right. Winston was dominant last week, erratic this week and nobody on earth is going to be able to predict what's next for one of the NFL's streakiest performers. The Browns are going to go as Winston goes, so dynasty managers are going to be along for the ride. At this point, Winston is going to have in-season value, but it's hard to see him being a bona fide starter again in the NFL at this point in his career.
Dynasty | Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston had four catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in a blowout win over the Browns. Dynasty Analysis: Johnston had a famously disastrous rookie season, but has bounced back nicely this year with 18 catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns. While still the WR2 to Ladd McConkey, we're at least seeing some solid signs of life from Johnston, something we never saw last year. His dynasty value is ticking up ever so slightly at the moment.
Dynasty | Bengals running back Chase Brown had 120 rushing yards, five catches, 37 receiving yards and a touchdown in a win against Las Vegas. Dynasty Analysis: With Zack Moss out with an injury, Brown took advantage with a monster game and likely took over this backfield in the process. Brown has shown flashes all season, but today was next-level good and gave the Bengals a major shot in the arm. The buy window on Brown likely closed today and he looks poised to rise up the running back rankings in the coming weeks.
Dynasty | Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 27-of-39 passes for 251 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in a win against Las Vegas. Dynasty Analysis: The habitually slow-starting Bengals are back to 4-5 after this one and Burrow is certainly one of the reasons why. Through nine games, Burrow now has 2,244 yards with 20 touchdowns and just four interceptions on the season. Cincinnati may end up digging too deep of a hole to get out of, but Burrow is clearly back to nearly full health and QB1 status. His dynasty value is stable, if not ticking up at this point in the season.
