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
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 18
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch has struggled to make a significant impact on the field throughout the season. Dortch has been mostly quiet outside of a 60-yard performance in Week 16. Since then, Dortch has four receptions for 37 yards over the last two games. Last week, Dortch hauled in three receptions, but it didn't add up to much yardage. He's currently the third wideout on the roster, but is probably the fourth passing option with tight end Trey McBride ahead of him. That being said, Dortch isn't a trustworthy option for the Week 18 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer has decent upside, but has been stuck as the primary backup to Brock Bowers this season. That being said, Mayer hasn't done much this season outside of a seven-catch performance in Week 14. Since then, Mayer has two receptions for 25 yards over the last three games. The 23-year-old has played over 60 percent of the offensive snaps over the last five games. However, he's unlikely to be a viable fantasy option with Bowers healthy. Mayer might be worth holding in dynasty leagues, but isn't someone worth streaming for the Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
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Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely moved into a bigger role partway through the game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday after Zay Flowers (knee) left the game. The 24-year-old finished with three catches for 38 yards on five targets but wasn't able to find the end zone. In his third season, Likely set career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He has shown flashes of starting tight end abilities as he finished in the top 20 for fantasy points per game at the position, but remains behind Mark Andrews. He'll likely see some more opportunities during their first playoff game though with Flowers probably sidelined.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Ainias Smith is expected to see more of the field during the Week 18 matchup against the New York Giants. The Eagles are playing a majority of their backups during the regular season finale. That means, Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson, and Smith should all see increased playing time this weekend. Also, third string quarterback Tanner McKee is under center, so none of these wideouts are going to have great value here. The increased reps will be nice for Smith, but he isn't someone worth streaming for Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews ended the season on a six-game run with at least one touchdown in each matchup, including one against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday to help win the division. He registered four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown on eight targets which pushed him into fourth for the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL. The only three currently ahead of him are Ja'Maar Chase, Terry McLaurin, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Despite his small rough patch this season, he'll likely finish as a top-five fantasy tight end again and awaits a big role in their first-round playoff matchup since Zay Flowers (knee) is likely out.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (back) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Reynolds seemed fine all week until popping up on the injury report on Friday. As a result, Reynolds gets tagged as questionable for this game with could leave the Lions shorthanded with David Montgomery (knee) already ruled out. That means, Jermar Jefferson would likely serve as the primary backup if Reynolds is unable to play. Last week, Reynolds rushed seven times for 31 yards while hauling in both his targets for 35 yards in the win. Reynolds could be a possible deep league option for fantasy managers still in championship games this weekend. Otherwise, Reynolds can be avoided for this big Sunday night matchup.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. has seen increased playing time over the last few weeks. Austin has seen 70 percent of the offensive snaps or more during each of the last three games. Sadly, Austin hasn't been able to do much with the extra snaps. The 24-year-old has three receptions for 48 yards over the span. The expectation is Austin will continue seeing plenty of the field during Sunday's regular season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Austin hasn't done enough on the field lately to be considered a viable fantasy option.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman finished off the best season of his career with another touchdown as the team wrapped up the division with a win over the Cleveland Browns. The Minnesota product finished with five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. After four touchdowns combined in his first three seasons, Bateman registered nine scores this season to go along with 756 yards and 45 receptions on 72 targets. Before the rest of the Week 18 games kickoff, Bateman is tied for the ninth-most receiving touchdowns in the NFL.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) was forced to exit early during Saturday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Flowers injured his knee while hauling in his lone reception on the game during the second quarter of Saturday's win. He walked off the field under his own power, but Flowers didn't return to the game. The expectation is Flowers will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Right now, the Ravens are preparing to be without Flowers for at least next week. Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace would likely be the primary receiving options if Flowers is forced to miss time.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson led the team to another AFC North title while dismantling the Cleveland Browns by a score of 35-10 on Saturday. The two-time MVP finished the game with 217 yards and two touchdowns on 16-for-32 throwing and nine carries for 63 yards. This game put him over the 4,000 passing-yard mark for the first time in his career and he became the first QB to ever finish with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards. He also leads the league in seven different passing stats according to pro-football-reference. Jackson and company will host a first-round playoff game once the matchups are decided.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox hasn't been able to much on the field this season. In fact, Knox has two receptions or less in each of the last five games. The 28-year-old is now the backup tight end with Dalton Kincaid emerging as the top option in Buffalo. Knox has fallen back on the pecking order with the Bills having a handful of viable receiving options. That being said, Knox won't be much of a fantasy option for the Week 18 matchup against the New England Patriots. Possibly, Knox gets more chances if the Bills rest some starters, but fantasy managers should look elsewhere for help this weekend.
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has been fairly quiet outside of his six-catch performance in Week 10. Last week, Mitchell hauled in two of his four targets for 22 yards in the loss to the New York Giants. The rookie wideout has put together a lackluster rookie season with 23 receptions for 312 yards and zero touchdowns heading into the Week 18 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mitchell is too far down on the depth chart to be considered a viable option right now.
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Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry posted a huge game to finish off the regular season and help the team go back-to-back as AFC North champs. The veteran back posted 138 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries to go along with two catches for 23 yards on three targets. He averaged a ridiculous 6.9 yards per carry as he punished the Browns' defense. Henry now has six seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards and fell just 106 yards shy of his career high. The Ravens now wait to see who they will host in the first round of the playoffs.
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 18 matchup against the New York Giants. Pickett suffered a ribs injury in relief of Jalen Hurts (concussion) in Week 16. Pickett received the start last week, but only made it through three quarters before exiting due to his ribs issue. Pickett hasn't practiced this week and won't suit up for the regular season finale. That means, Tanner McKee will be under center with a majority of the Eagles backups playing on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass has a lower floor in Week 18 given the expectation that many of his teammates will play a limited number of snaps. The Bills have already secured the AFC's No. 2 seed, and that won't change with the outcome of Sunday's contest against the New England Patriots. As a result, several key starters, including quarterback Josh Allen, are expected to only play a select number of drives in the regular-season finale. Mitchell Trubisky and Mike White are both in line to earn meaningful snaps against the Patriots, but the Bills' offensive upside is capped given that Trubisky and White have combined for just five pass attempts all year long. If the two veteran quarterbacks have some trouble moving the ball down the field, scoring opportunities will be much harder to come by for Bass. He still ranks as a fringe top-12 fantasy kicker, but both his ceiling and floor have been reduced for Week 18. Managers would be wise to at least explore alternative options before Sunday's games kick off.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans kicker Matthew Wright is not a household name in fantasy football, but he should generate some buzz on the waiver wire in deep leagues. Wright is replacing Nick Folk (abdomen) for the second week in a row, and as he takes on the Houston Texans this Sunday, he'll look to build on last week's solid stat line that included one extra point and a 2-for-2 success rate on field goals. The 28-year-old kicker has been dependable in stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs this year, helping him rank as a top-18 fantasy kicker for the final week of the regular season. Wright warrants consideration among fantasy managers seeking a last-minute fill-in.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin remains an unreliable option in fantasy football lineups ahead of Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. Franklin, a rookie out of Oregon, has continued to showcase his existing rapport with quarterback Bo Nix, catching 26 passes for 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2024. However, he hasn't caught more than two passes in a single game since Week 7, and he remains behind Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele, and Marvin Mims Jr. in the offensive pecking order. As long as the Broncos' top three receivers stay healthy, Franklin won't see enough snaps or targets to justify starting him in fantasy football. He can be benched in dynasty leagues and left on waivers in redraft formats.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson warrants some consideration in deeper fantasy leagues as he continues to take on an expanded role. With both Stefon Diggs (knee) and Tank Dell (knee) done for the season, Hutchinson has been tasked with stepping up as the Texans' No. 2 receiver behind Nico Collins. He caught two of four targets against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day, but he certainly wasn't alone as the entire offense stalled repeatedly. He and his Texans teammates have a chance to get back on track in Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the third-most points to opposing teams in 2024. Tennessee has surrendered the second-fewest receiving yards and fantasy points to wide receivers in 2024, but we still like Hutchinson's ability to build on last week's subpar showing and catch at least a few passes from quarterback C.J. Stroud on Sunday. The second-year receiver out of Iowa State ranks as a low-end WR4 in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is not a reliable fantasy option for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. Slayton did catch a 32-yard touchdown pass last weekend, but he has just one catch in each of his last three games. The 27-year-old has settled into the No. 3 receiver role, taking a backseat to both Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson. He took advantage of opportunities to shine earlier in the year, but as long as Nabers and Robinson are both healthy, Slayton's floor and productivity are both limited. Fantasy managers can leave Slayton on waivers in most leagues as the Giants take on the Eagles in their final game of the season.
From RotoBaller
With Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quad) off the Week 18 injury report, backup Cam Akers is not a starting option against the Detroit Lions. Though the veteran has become Minnesota's clear second option out of the backfield and scored touchdowns in two of the past three weeks, he has recorded fewer than 40 rushing yards in eight straight games. With only six catches during that time frame, Akers simply isn't getting enough volume to be trustworthy in the Vikings' most important game of the regular season. Managers in formats that play Week 18 should look for another option at running back.
From RotoBaller
