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 2
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf absolutely torched the New England Patriots in Week 2. Metcalf finished with 10 receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown. Metcalf opened his day by slipping by the defense for a 56-yard touchdown on a nifty play design. From there, the Patriots had no answer as quarterback Geno Smith continued to go to Metcalf repeatedly. Metcalf has a chance to carry that momentum into a Week 3 tilt against the Miami Dolphins.
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Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards led the Chargers backfield in carries in a Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers. Edwards carried the ball 18 times, gaining 59 yards. He was not targeted in the passing game. Edwards' 18 carries led the backfield but his 59 yards were far less than the 131 put up by J.K. Dobbins. Edwards will continue to have a grinding and goal line role on this offense, but Dobbins has clearly lifted himself above Edwards in the pecking order. He will be a touchdown dependent fantasy option with mostly unpredictable boom and bust weeks going forward.
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New York Giants running back Devin Singletary delivered a solid fantasy performance in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders, racking up 95 yards on 16 carries and finding the end zone on a seven-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. While he wasn't involved in the passing game, with only one catch for zero yards, Singletary's rushing efficiency (5.9 YPC) helped keep the Giants in the game. His ability to churn out tough yards in critical situations made him a reliable RB2 for fantasy managers. With a consistent workload and goal-line usage, Singletary's stock is rising heading into Week 3, but managers must be cautious against a tough Browns defense.
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels went 23-for-29 with 226 passing yards in his first regular-season victory against the New York Giants. On the ground, he added 44 yards on ten carries. This was a significant improvement for the number-two overall pick, as he threw for just 184 yards on 17 completions in his debut last week. Throughout the afternoon, the LSU product was able to lead Washington downfield but could not capitalize on any red zone opportunities as the Commanders only came away with field goals - six of them. His longest pass of the day was a 34-yarder to Noah Brown on the eventual game-winning drive. Fantasy managers should continue to feel comfortable staring Daniels in all formats, given his elite rushing ability, even as he continues to develop as a passer. He should be viewed as a low-end QB1 next week as he faces the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith played a nearly flawless game in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. Smith threw for 327 yards and a touchdown. He had a 75% completion percentage. Smith is falling back into the hyper-accurate form that he displayed in the 2022 season. His completion percentage does not account for the several drops by Seahawks pass catchers. Smith seems to be comfortable operating new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's offense. His play is supporting the fantasy value of other Seahawks players as well. Look for Smith to continue his solid start in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. led the way on the ground in their Week 2 victory as he tallied a career-high 133 rushing yards on 17 attempts. He added three yards through the air on his lone target. This was another impressive outing for the young running back, as he posted 89 total yards in the season opener. Robinson's longest run of the day covered 40 yards. Even though the Commanders offense struggled in the red zone, it is a promising sign to see Robinson continue to develop and emerge as a legit starting running back. Robinson saw nine more carries than Austin Ekeler this week. Fantasy managers should expect Robinson to continue to see a solid workload going forward, even if he is not utilized in the passing game. The Alabama product enters Week 3 as a high-floor RB2.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston scored two touchdowns in a Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers. Johnston led the team in targets, catches, yards, and scores in the easy win. He was targeted six times, making five catches for 51 yards and the two touchdowns. His first score came from 29 yards out in the first quarter and he followed it up with another touchdown in the second quarter from five yards out. The Chargers only attempted 20 passes compared to 44 rush attempts, and that looks like the pattern they'll follow most of the time going forward. Johnston could finally be working his way into fantasy relevance, but the Chargers pass catchers will be hard to project each week.
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (undisclosed) is not believed to have a serious injury. St. Brown was injured in the fourth quarter of the Lions' Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The injury visibly hampered St. Brown at the end of the game and eventually forced him off the field. St. Brown had a monster day prior to the injury. He recorded 11 receptions for 119 yards. If St. Brown is forced to miss any time, then wide receiver Jameson Williams, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and tight end Sam LaPorta would all see increased target shares. For now, fantasy managers can only wait for news on initial testing and practice participation as we head into Week 3.
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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones put up a solid, albeit unspectacular, fantasy performance in Sunday's 21-18 win against the Washington Commanders. Jones threw for 178 yards on 16 of 28 attempts, adding two touchdown passes without turning the ball over, which is a nice bonus for fantasy managers who value ball security. While his 32 rushing yards on five attempts gave him a small floor boost, the lack of explosive plays through the air kept him from a breakout fantasy week. Near the end of the game, it looked like Jones would be able to lead his team to their first victory of the season, but a drop by Malik Nabers prevented the Giants from taking the lead. Looking ahead, he will not be a starting QB option for Week 3 vs the Browns.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw two touchdowns in a Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers. Herbert attempted 20 passes, completing 14 of them for 130 yards. He threw one interception and the two touchdowns, also adding 18 yards on the ground on six carries. Herbert's 20 pass attempts paled in comparison to the 44 rushing attempts by the Chargers offense. This could be the usual pattern for the Bolts this season, as the running game and the defense will be the focus. This will limit Herbert's fantasy production, even if his talent on the field remains close to the top tier of NFL passers.
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Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet had a solid day against the New England Patriots in Week 2. Charbonnet finished with 38 rushing yards and a touchdown along with five receptions for 31 yards. Charbonnet was highly inefficient on the ground yet again but his work in the passing game gave him a comfortable floor. Most notably, Charbonnet was a true workhorse as No. 3 running back Kenny McIntosh only received two offensive snaps. Charbonnet should be entrenched in starting lineups as long as Kenneth Walker III (oblique) misses time. However, once Walker returns it will be interesting to see how this backfield is broken down.
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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a career day in New England on Sunday. Smith-Njigba caught 12 passes for 117 yards. Both marks were career highs. It was also Smith-Njigba's first career 100-yard game. Fantasy managers had high expectations for Smith-Njigba coming into this season with a new Seahawks regime. If Smith-Njigba keeps up the trust of quarterback Geno Smith, then this could be the start of a great season for the second-year wide receiver. Smith-Njigba draws a solid matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3.
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Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins followed up his strong Week 1 performance with another excellent performance in a Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers. Dobbins carried the ball 17 times, gaining 131 yards and scoring a touchdown. He was targeted only once in the passing game, making the catch but ending up with no gain. Dobbins scored his touchdown on a 43-yard run in the second quarter, ending it with a flip into the end zone. He looked healthy again and dominated the Chargers running game. His backfield mate Gus Edwards ended up with 18 carries, one more than Dobbins, but Edwards gained just 59 yards. Dobbins has quickly moved himself to the RB1 role on the Chargers depth chart and should be a solid RB2 in fantasy if he stays on the field.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis was thrust into the spotlight after Jordan Love (knee) was ruled out after hurting his knee during the final moments of Green Bay's Week 1 loss. In the Week 2 victory against the Colts, Willis completed 12-of-14 pass attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks in the first quarter. Willis also added 41 rushing yards on six carries without any turnovers in the victory. While this performance was unexpected considering his career arc to this point, head coach Matt LaFleur had a masterful game plan to not put too much on Willis' plate and lean on the run heavily, with 14 pass attempts to 53 rushing attempts in the game. Willis and the Packers travel to Tennessee to play the Titans in Week 3. For fantasy purposes, Willis should be considered a low-end QB2 for that matchup.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (quad) suffered a quad contusion on Sunday. According to head coach Kevin O'Connell, Jefferson will be day-to-day with the injury. Jefferson suffered the injury in a collision over the middle. He was on his way to a massive day with four receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Jefferson throughout the week. While he may be day-to-day, he did have to be helped to the locker room by team staff. Hopefully Jefferson can return to the field in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Updating a previous report New York Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) is believed to have suffered a torn Achilles on Sunday. Johnson will have an MRI to confirm the injury. This will be a huge loss for the Jets' defense. The 2022 first-round pick is an important pass rusher for the team. He finished 2023 with 7.5 sacks. He was off to a slow start in 2024 but never had a chance to fully get going this season. The injury may force the Jets into a sense of urgency with defensive end Haason Reddick who is holding out for a new contract. Either way, this will certainly impact the Jets D/ST moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was a busy man during the Packers' 16-10 win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. Jacobs rushed for 151 yards on 32 carries as the Packers leaned heavily on the run with Jordan Love (knee) ruled out for Week 2 and Malik Willis starting in Love's place. A fumble near the end zone in the middle of the second quarter cost Jacobs a chance to add a touchdown to his ledger. Jacobs has averaged 24 carries in his two games thus far in 2024 for a robust 4.9 yards per carry, so this new change in scenery for the 26-year-old back may have been just what the doctor ordered. The Packers will travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans, where Jacobs will be a low-end RB1 in fantasy no matter who is under center for Green Bay.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts defensive linemen DeForest Buckner (right ankle) and Laiatu Latu (hip) exited during the second half of Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Both players were officially ruled out by the team. Buckner finished Week 2 with one tackle. Latu had one tackle, as well as a fumble recovery. Raekwon Davis, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Isaiah Land are candidates to earn more snaps with Buckner and Latu sidelined.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Vita Vea (knee) exited during the second half of Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions and will not return. Vea was injured after a friendly fire hit between him and Yaya Diaby. He had registered one pass defended but zero tackles at the time of his departure. Tampa Bay was already without Calijah Kancey (calf), so now Greg Gaines will earn more opportunities with Vea sidelined.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) exited during the second half of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans and will not return. The third-year defender had to be carted off the field. With Haason Reddick holding out for a contract extension and Johnson dealing with a serious Achilles injury, the Jets will look for Will McDonald and Takkarist McKinley to handle more opportunities on the end of the defensive line.
From RotoBaller
