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FFL: Week 2 | NFL: Week 2

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.

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Starts/Sits: Week 1

Player Notes
Aaron Rodgers Sep 10 5:00am ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 13 of his 21 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1's Monday night game. Rodgers got the Jets off to a fast start, engineering a 70-yard drive punctuated by a Breece Hall three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter but the New York offense struggled after that. It didn't help that the 49ers strung together several long drives that ate up much of the clock. San Francisco ultimately dominated the time of possession as they had the ball on offense for just under 39 minutes in the game. Rodgers' lone touchdown pass went to Allen Lazard in the third quarter. On the bright side, Rodgers looked healthy after tearing his Achilles back in Week 1 last season. He will be a high-end QB2 in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Sep 10 5:00am ET
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 16 times for 54 yards and a touchdown while hauling in five of his six targets for 39 yards in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Hall scored the first touchdown of the game on a three-yard run with 3:57 left on the clock in the first quarter. The veteran running back showed why he was a top-five pick in most fantasy leagues as he was busy in the passing attack, finishing third on the team in targets and receiving yards while also dominating the RB touches for the Jets, ceding just two touches to Braelon Allen. Hall will be a locked-in RB1 heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Sep 10 4:40am ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings led the team in receiving in Monday night's 32-19 victory over the New York Jets by catching all five of his targets for 64 yards. Jennings, drafted by San Francisco in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft, has spent most of his career in relative obscurity but was rewarded with an extension in the offseason through 2025. Jennings has only once surpassed seven targets in a game and Monday's performance was the second-highest total of his career. Jennings did a good job of finding soft spots in New York's zone defense throughout the night. He'll probably never be a standout, but in San Francisco's high-powered offense, he could be useful in fantasy if something were to happen to Deebo Samuel Sr. or Brandon Aiyuk, especially since he appears to be ahead of rookie Jacob Cowing and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall may need some time to get up to speed after suffering a gunshot wound following a banged-up preseason. That said, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for wide receiver help in Week 2 at Minnesota, especially as Aiyuk continues to shake off the rust this week at practice.

From RotoBaller

Nick Bosa Sep 10 2:30am ET
Nick Bosa

The San Francisco 49er's defense and special teams were exceptional in their Week 1 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. They forced a turnover on just their fourth snap, with linebacker Fred Warner stripping the ball from Jets running back Breece Hall and defensive lineman Maliek Collins recovering it on New York's 32-yard line. Another critical moment was when Rodgers threw an interception intended for Garrett Wilson, which was deflected by Deommodore Lenoir and caught by linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. Additionally, Leonard Floyd recorded his first sack as a 49er in the second quarter, evading Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to bring down Rodgers on third down. Floyd is quickly establishing himself alongside former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa. The 49er's defense is set to be a strong option again next week as they face a Minnesota Vikings team led by Sam Darnold.

From RotoBaller

Jake Moody Sep 10 2:20am ET
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody had an exceptional performance in Week 1 against the New York Jets, setting a franchise record by making six field goals. The second-year kicker was perfect on the night, going six-for-six with field goals from 46, 51, 31, 53, 23, and 42 yards in the game. He also converted both of his extra point attempts, contributing 20 of the 49ers' 32 points. Moody's impressive showing highlights his potential as a strong fantasy option, especially with the 49ers' high-powered offense ensuring plenty of scoring opportunities.

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Jordan Mason Sep 10 1:30am ET
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason had a standout performance in place of the injured Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) during Monday night's game against the New York Jets. With McCaffrey ruled out before the game, Mason seized the opportunity, rushing 28 times for 147 yards and one touchdown. Although Mason entered the game with only 83 career carries over two seasons, he has consistently shown potential, averaging 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie and 5.2 yards per carry in 2023. Mason exploited openings effectively throughout the game, supported by the robust 49ers offensive line and a strategic game plan from head coach Kyle Shanahan. Mason should be a top priority on the waiver wire this week. If McCaffrey is sidelined again next week, Mason would be a must-start. Even if McCaffrey returns, Mason remains a valuable handcuff for the rest of the season.

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Deebo Samuel Sep 10 1:30am ET
Deebo Samuel

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. delivered a solid all-around performance in the team's Week 1 win over the New York Jets. Samuel totaled 77 yards from scrimmage and scored a rushing touchdown, with five receptions for 54 yards and eight carries for 23 yards. He also attempted a pass that resulted in a four-yard sack. With star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) sidelined, Samuel and backup Jordan Mason stepped up to help secure San Francisco's first win of the 2024 season. Samuel remains a top fantasy option, whether as a receiver or a running back, as the 49ers prepare to take on the Vikings in Week 2.

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Brock Purdy Sep 10 1:20am ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a solid outing in leading his team to a decisive victory over the New York Jets on Sunday night. Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards and did not record any touchdowns or turnovers. The Jets' defense, missing edge rusher Haason Reddick due to a holdout, failed to apply significant pressure. The 49ers took control of the game by halftime, allowing Purdy to focus on game management rather than pushing for big plays. San Francisco dominated possession, holding the ball for 38 minutes and 40 seconds and scoring on eight offensive drives before taking a knee on their final possession. The 49ers ran 70 plays compared to the Jets' 49. As the season progresses, expect Purdy to deliver higher-scoring performances, with his next opportunity coming against the Vikings on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey Sep 10 12:30am ET
Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan clarified that running back Christian McCaffrey's (calf) injury did not involve a setback but was simply too bothersome for him to play effectively on Sunday. Despite practicing all week, McCaffrey's calf issue has been intermittent and proved too troublesome for this game. During the ESPN postgame interview, Jordan Mason mentioned he was informed on Friday night that he would be starting, but Shanahan corrected this, stating that Mason was only told he would likely see significant playing time and didn't confirm the starting role until the day of the game. Shanahan addressed the situation to prevent any potential league repercussions. The excellent news is McCaffrey did not suffer a setback, and he will have six days to recover before the 49ers face the Vikings in Week 2. McCaffrey remains a must-start if available, while Mason is his top backup and must start if McCaffrey is sidelined again.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Sep 9 10:10pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle didn't have the best start to his 2024 season. The 26-year-old was expected to split up the touches with veteran Ezekiel Elliott during Sunday's season opener. The two of them did split up the carries, but Dowdle failed to do much with them. He rushed eight times for 26 yards while hauling in one reception for six yards in the blowout win. Elliott didn't do much better on the ground with 40 yards, but he was able to find the end zone. The expectation is that these two will continue to split up the job until one of them pulls away with it. That being said, Dowdle should still have some streaming value in Week 2, but he has lost some appeal after that lackluster start.

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Sean Clifford Sep 9 10:00pm ET
Sean Clifford

Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford is set to be the backup option for the Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. It was uncertain who was going to start for the Packers with Jordan Love (ankle) facing a multiple week absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur cleared that up on Monday by naming Malik Willis the starter for Week 2. He also mentioned that Clifford is set to back him up, so he'll be elevated from the practice squad. Normally, someone becoming the backup isn't noteworthy, but this case is a little different. Willis has only been with the Packers for a few weeks and has yet to prove himself at the professional level. Clifford has been with the Packers for a full season and he should know the offensive scheme fairly well. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Packers turn to Clifford if Willis fails to impress them. Fantasy managers don't need to be jumping at the waiver wire to grab the former fifth-round pick. However, it wouldn't be shocking if Clifford does get snaps at some point in the next few weeks. Neither quarterback is going to be a viable fantasy option in most formats.

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Terrell Edmunds Sep 9 9:50pm ET
Terrell Edmunds

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed safety Terrell Edmunds on Monday. The former first-round pick has been snagged by Pittsburgh off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. Edmunds did suit up for the Jaguars in Week 1, but he only saw a handful of snaps. This is a welcoming sight for Edmunds as he played his first five years of his career with the Steelers. The 27-year-old was a full-time starter then, but now he figures to serve as depth in the secondary. This is a low-risk move for Pittsburgh as Edmunds could end up being a legitimate help on the defensive side of the ball as the season goes on.

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Jaelan Phillips Sep 9 9:40pm ET
Jaelan Phillips

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) was a limited participant during Monday's practice. This doesn't comes as much of a shock after Phillips was on a snap count during the season opener. The Dolphins don't want to push anything with Phillips dealing with a serious injury. He played 33 snaps on Sunday and recorded one sack and two tackles during his time on the field. The expectation is that Phillips will be on a snap count again with the short week. The Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, so Phillips doesn't have a ton of time to get back to full speed. The former first-round pick should give this defense a nice boost once he's back to full health.

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Kenneth Walker III Sep 9 9:20pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (abdomen) looked good on the field during the season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Walker rushed for over 100 yards, but also picked up an injury in the fourth quarter. This doesn't sound like an injury that is going to sideline Walker for a lengthy amount of time. Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday that the team doesn't have much of an update on his status, but they're taking it day-by-day. Walker said he was fine after Sunday's game, but we'll see if the Seahawks limit him at all during practice this week. For now, fantasy managers should expect Walker to be fine in time for the Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Sep 9 8:13pm ET
Cooper Kupp

Dynasty | The Rams have placed wide receiver Puka Nacua on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: Uh oh. Nacua will now miss at least the next four weeks and we won't see him until week seven at the earliest after the Rams have their bye week - this means dynasty managers will be without him until at least October 20th, a brutal blow to just about any dynasty franchise this year. Cooper Kupp will soak up a massive amount of targets and dynasty managers need to plan accordingly. As for Nacua, this is a short-term issue and won't affect anything other than his short-term outlook.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Kadarius Toney Sep 9 8:13pm ET
Kadarius Toney

Dynasty | Free agent wide receiver Kadarius Toney has signed with the Cleveland Browns. Dynasty Analysis: Toney will start his Cleveland tenure on the practice squad but certainly intends to be elevated to the active roster in short order. This is a decent landing spot for Toney, who also visited Seattle in the last few days. Toney has little dynasty value at the moment but he's certainly worth watching as the weeks move forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Deshaun Watson Sep 9 8:13pm ET
Deshaun Watson

Dynasty | Deshaun Watson has been named in a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault in 2020. Dynasty Analysis: As if the week couldn't get worse for Watson, who was putrid in Cleveland's season opener. This case will simply be added to the mound of 25 (yes, 25) different civil lawsuits that have come his way. Watson has settled 23 of those thus far. The NFL will monitor the situation and it may be unlikely he faces further discipline since he's already been punished for the other large group of lawsuits. Regardless, this is yet another red flag against Watson, whose career looks to be spiraling down the tubes since his trade to Cleveland. Stay tuned.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Deantre Prince Sep 9 8:10pm ET
Deantre Prince

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) is set to miss some time after getting injured in the Week 1 season-opening loss in Miami to the Dolphins on Sunday, according to head coach Doug Pederson. When asked if Campbell could be back in time for a trip to London in Week 6, Pederson said he didn't want to put any kind of timeline on his return. We don't have any idea just yet how many weeks the 24-year-old will have to miss, but either way, it's a serious blow to Jacksonville's secondary, as Campbell came into the year as their top corner. For the foreseeable future, the Jags will have to turn to some combination of Deantre Prince and Montaric Brown in the starting lineup, beginning in Week 2 at home against the Cleveland Browns. Campbell, a second-round pick in 2021 out of Georgia, had 145 solo tackles, six interceptions and 30 pass breakups in 43 games (42 starts) in his first three seasons.

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Israel Abanikanda Sep 9 7:50pm ET
Israel Abanikanda

New York Jets running back Israel Abanikanda is a healthy scratch for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener at Levi's Stadium on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Abanikanda enters the 2024 season as the team's RB4 behind starter and bell-cow Breece Hall and rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. As such, the 21-year-old is obviously off the fantasy radar in most single-year leagues for the time being unless injuries push him into a relevant game-day role. The former fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh last year was also buried on the depth chart in his rookie season and finished with 22 carries for 70 yards while catching seven passes for 43 yards in only six games. Abanikanda has breakaway speed but is once again buried on the depth chart and will have to wait for his opportunity beyond Week 1.

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Marshon Lattimore Sep 9 7:50pm ET
Marshon Lattimore

New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is dealing with a minor hamstring injury that he suffered in the Week 1 blowout win over the Carolina Panthers, according to a source. Lattimore said he wasn't concerned about his injury, but it's still in question whether he'll be able to suit up in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys on the road to potentially try and shut down receiver CeeDee Lamb. The 28-year-old left the game in the second half on Sunday and never returned, and his status for Week 2 will ultimately come down to how much he can practice later this week. If Lattimore doesn't play this weekend, it will make the Saints' underrated defense much more vulnerable against one of the best receivers in the league. Expect rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry to see his role increase dramatically against Dallas if Lattimore is eventually ruled out.

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