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.
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 17
Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (ankle) exited during the second half of Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Miami Dolphins. He was taken to the locker room for evaluation and is officially questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had rushed for just 22 yards on six carries. With Nick Chubb (Achilles) done for the year and Ford temporarily sidelined, the Browns will now rely on D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. as their primary running backs.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith caught six of his seven targets for 120 yards and two touchdowns in their decisive victory against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Smith left the game for a brief window with a wrist injury. However, that did not seem to alter his performance as he paced all Philadelphia pass catchers in yards and receptions. He caught his first score of the game from Kenny Pickett on a 22-yard pass. He found the end zone again, this time on a 25-yard strike from Tanner McKee. His longest reception of the afternoon went for 49 yards. Despite catching passes from a multiple backup quarterbacks, Smith showcased his elite upside with his first multi-touchdown performance of the season. Smith will look to stay hot in a divisional tilt in Week 18 against the New York Giants.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was replaced by Tyrod Taylor in the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Rodgers finished with 112 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also took four sacks, including one for a safety. Interestingly, Taylor played significantly better in his two drives, completing 79 percent of his passes for 83 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Despite Taylor's promising fourth quarter, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich told the media postgame that he expects Rodgers to remain the starter for Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins. Looking beyond next weekend, Rodgers' future with the Jets remains uncertain, and it's possible he will enter 2025 with a new team or even on the retirement list.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back) re-aggravated an existing injury during Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, according to interim head coach Darren Rizzi. He was targeted twice but did not catch a pass in the defeat. Valdes-Scantling has been one of the Saints' most productive pass-catchers since the team lost Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) to injuries. However, after Derek Carr (back) got hurt, Valdes-Scantling's productivity declined. He was targeted seven times in Week 15 when Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler both got reps, but he caught just two passes in that contest. Assuming Carr remains sidelined for Week 18, Valdes-Scantling will stay off the fantasy radar in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran the ball 32 times for 125 yards and two scores in their loss to the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon. He also brought in two of his four targets for 11 yards. Taylor punched in his first score of the game in the second quarter on a three-yard run. Later in the third, Taylor would tally his second touchdown, this time on a 26-yard run. This was also his longest run of the afternoon. Taylor has now posted back-to-back outing where he tallied at least two touchdowns and eclipsed over 100 rushing yards. Since Week 13, Taylor has seen at least 22 rushing attempts per game. The Wisconsin product remains a high-end RB1 heading into his final game of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars who have allowed the second-most PPR points to opposing RBs.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield went 27-for-32 with 359 yards and five scores in their blowout victory over the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield connected with his top wideout Mike Evans twice, both times in the red zone. He also found rookie wide receiver, Jalen McMillan for two scores, once from 10 yards out and the other time from 16 yards out. His fifth passing score was caught by tight end Payne Durham. Since Week 14, Mayfield has thrown at least two passing scores in each contest and tallied at least three in three of them. Over this span he has tallied at least 280.0 passing yards in each game. Mayfield will look to cap off the best season of his career with a Week 18 matchup against the New Orleans Saints as the Buccaneers inch towards a playoff berth.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans caught eight of his nine targets for 97 yards and two scores during their demanding victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. Evans did most of his damage in the first half by scoring twice. He caught his first score on a two-yard pass in the opening frame and his second score on a one-yard pass in the second quarter. His longest reception of the day went for 34 yards. His receptions, targets, and yardage total paced all Tampa wideouts and only tied for the most receiving scores with rookie Jalen McMillan. Since Week 13, Evans has found the end zone five times in five contests. During this stretch, he has tallied at least 90 yards in three of the five games. He will look to stay hot next weekend against a struggling New Orleans secondary.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers caught seven of his eight targets for 171 yards and two scores in their victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Nabers found the back of the end zone in the opening quarter on a 31-yard pass from Drew Lock. Then in the fourth quarter, Nabers tallied his second touchdown, this time on a 51-yard TD reception. Nabers' eight targets and 171 yards paced all New York pass catchers. In addition this set a new career-high in yards in a single game. This was also only the third time this season the LSU product tallied over 100 receiving yards in a single contest. Despite having poor quarterback play, Nabers has enjoyed a fantastic rookie season as he caught at least seven passes in nine of his 14 games with six total touchdowns. Nabers remains an elite play in DFS next weekend despite facing a tough Philadelphia secondary.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock went 17-for-23 with 309 yards and four scores in their victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Lock also added a rushing score. Lock tallied his first score of the afternoon on a 31-yard pass to rookie standout Malik Nabers. In the second, Lock found Darius Slayton on a 32-yard TD strike and later Wan'Dale Robinson on a five-yard TD pass. In the fourth quarter, he found Nabers once again, this time on a 59-yard catch-and-run TD pass and capped off his day with a rushing score at the five-yard line. This was not only Lock's best showing of the season but of his career. Coming into this game, Lock averaged a mere 205.0 passing yards per game with just one passing score over his past three contests. Despite his strong showing, Lock has a tough task ahead of him in Week 18 facing a Philadelphia defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points to opposing QBs.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) has already been ruled out ahead of Week 18 against the Houston Texans, head coach Brian Callahan told the media. Spears exited during the second half of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and did not return. He finished Week 17 with 98 rushing yards on 21 carries. He also caught three of his four targets for eight yards through the air. Spears had been elevated to the lead-back role with Tony Pollard (ankle, illness) sidelined before he, too, had to leave the contest. Julius Chestnut and Joshua Kelley took over as the Titans' top running backs with Spears sidelined, but Pollard could return to the mix for next week's regular-season finale.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Carolina Panthers. He had registered one tackle and one pass defended prior to his departure. It's worth noting that Dean dealt with injuries to both knees during practice this past week, so it's possible that he re-aggravated or worsened an existing ailment. Josh Hayes will earn more defensive snaps for the duration of Dean's absence.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (head) was taken to the locker room and is being evaluated for a potential concussion, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website. Spears had been productive prior to his departure, rushing for 98 yards on 21 carries. He also caught three of his four targets for eight yards through the air. The 23-year-old was in the midst of handling an increased workload with Tony Pollard (ankle, illness) inactive. He already suffered one concussion earlier this season and has been wearing a guardian cap as a preventative measure. Until Spears can return to the mix, Julius Chestnut and Joshua Kelley will lead the Titans' backfield.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner (hamstring) exited the game against the Buffalo Bills with a hamstring injury and will not return. The star cornerback left the game in the third quarter and was quickly downgraded from questionable to out. He registered three total tackles, all solo, and one pass defended before leaving. The Jets already have a thin secondary, so they'll have an even tougher time playing spoiler to the Buffalo Bills.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. The 25-year-old had been listed as questionable but was not expected to play entering this weekend. Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Romeo Doubs will step up as the Packers' top wide receiver for the duration of Watson's absence. Reed remains the top fantasy receiver in Green Bay, but all three have FLEX upside given Jordan Love's ability to distribute targets.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He finishes the game with three carries for three yards and one catch for 16 yards on one target. The only two running backs on the depth chart for the rest of this game are Jamaal Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Miller's status is up in the air now for their Week 18 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) exited during the third quarter of Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. He took a hit while throwing a pass, went to the sideline in visible pain, and then went to the locker room with medical personnel. At the time of his departure, he had completed 10 of 15 passes for 143 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and one rushing touchdown. With Jalen Hurts (concussion) also sidelined, the Eagles will now turn to third-string quarterback Tanner McKee to lead their offense until Pickett can return. A second-year Stanford product, McKee has never played a regular-season snap in the NFL.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (knee) was originally considered questionable for the Week 17 matchup with the Cleveland Browns but has since been ruled inactive. Tyreek Hill (wrist), on the other hand, will play while the offense misses Tua Tagovailoa (hip). Malik Washington should be the one to step up and see some more targets since Odell Beckham Jr. isn't competing for any looks. Waddle's next chance to play will be Week 18 against the New York Jets.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) is officially active for Week 17's game against the Cleveland Browns. The star wideout finally started finding the end zone again from Week 10 to Week 16, but he'll have to operate with Tyler Huntley instead of Tua Tagovailoa (hip). During Huntley's three starts earlier this season, Hill registered WR54, WR32, and WR73 finishes in half-PPR leagues. The Browns allow the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers but are 22nd against opposing quarterbacks. Fantasy managers may want to temper expectations a bit for Hill, especially in a game forecasted with thunderstorms and wind.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) has been downgraded from doubtful to inactive ahead of Sunday's kickoff against the Cleveland Browns. That means Tyler Huntley will take over as the starting quarterback against his former team. This also means a sizeable downgrade for the Dolphins' offense since Huntley threw just one touchdown in his three starts earlier this season. Tagovailoa's next chance to play will be Week 18 against the New York Jets.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (head) is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return on Sunday against the Raiders. The second-year back accrued three yards on three carries and one catch for 16 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter. His status will likely be monitored through halftime to see if he can return. In the meantime, Clyde Edwards-Helaire should see extra opportunities both on the ground and through the air.
From RotoBaller