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TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2

Player Notes
Sam LaPorta Sep 16 9:40am ET
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta hasn't seen the volume or success expected so far, especially in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished Sunday's contest with two receptions for 13 yards on three targets. While they aired it out more in this game, 30 targets went to the top two receivers while Jahmyr Gibbs received the next most at seven. Through the first two games, LaPorta has six catches for 58 yards and hasn't found the end zone yet. He does have a catch percentage of 75% which is even better than his sensational rookie season with 71.7%. In Week 3, LaPorta will go up against the Arizona Cardinals defense that has a lot of holes. The Lions should be able to score and this game could turn into a shootout.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Sep 16 9:40am ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (lower body) was seen hobbling for a bit in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to Adam Schefter, his sources have said that it was initially determined to be a contusion and cramping in his lower body. There hasn't been a specific area reported, but the fact that they seem to be minor injuries is a sigh of relief for everyone involved. The superstar wideout finished Sunday's game with 11 receptions for 119 yards, a big bounce back after just three catches for 13 yards in Week 1. His injury status will be important to monitor as the week goes on to make sure nothing is lingering as the Week 3 contest with the Arizona Cardinals approaches.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Sep 16 9:20am ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (lower-body) had a great game on Sunday, catching 11 passes on an astonishing 19 targets for 119 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. St. Brown was only targeted six times last week, catching three passes for 13 yards. He bounced back after a disappointing performance in Week 1 with a significant increase in targets and overall production. He did exit Sunday's game early with what's being called a "lower body" injury. According to head coach Dan Campbell, the 24-year-old's injury isn't believed to be serious. St. Brown is day-to-day, and fantasy managers should continue to monitor Detroit's injury report ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Sep 16 9:20am ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has proven to be a key piece to this offense in the season's first two games. The third-year wideout received 11 targets on Sunday, turning that into five receptions for 79 yards while taking one carry for 15 yards. Williams was second to only Amon-Ra St. Brown (19) when it comes to targets, with the next highest being Jahmyr Gibbs who had seven. With an ADP of around 120 on most platforms, Williams is becoming a steal with the type of production he's generating in the early goings. In Week 3, the Lions will take on an Arizona Cardinals team that just put up 41 points on the Rams, so it could turn into a shootout, benefitting both Williams and St. Brown.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Sep 16 9:00am ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 34 of 55 pass attempts for 307 yards and two interceptions in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He did not throw a touchdown during Sunday's loss. Goff has now had two average games to start the 2024 season. The 29-year-old is considered a low-end QB2 if he doesn't pick it up soon. After struggling against the Los Angeles Rams and an average Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, the former No. 1 overall pick will look to bounce back against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Sep 16 8:40am ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery had 11 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Iowa State product also caught all four of his targets for 35 yards through the air. Even with Montgomery's production being poor and Jahmyr Gibbs getting more looks, the former third-round pick got the lone touchdown of the Detroit backfield. With this being what fantasy managers drafted him for, they should have nothing to worry about after a good week from Montgomery. He also had more receptions Sunday than in any game during the 2023 season. Montgomery will look to build on Sunday's performance and is a mid-range RB2 against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Sep 16 8:30am ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a good week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, posting 84 yards on 13 carries. Gibbs led the backfield in attempts and receptions, adding seven catches for 22 yards. Even though the first-round pick was kept out of the endzone, he had 20 total touches, leading the entire Detroit offense on Sunday. Gibbs has lived up to being a consensus first-round fantasy pick so far this year. Fantasy managers should have no problem starting him as an RB1 from here on out, even if he splits carries with David Montgomery. The Alabama product has a lot of fantasy upside and has shown that on the field over the first two weeks of the 2024 season. Gibbs remains a must-start against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Trey McBride Sep 16 5:20am ET
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride was in the right place at just the right time when running back James Conner fumbled at the Rams' five-yard line in the fourth quarter of the two teams' Week 2 showdown. McBride fell on top of the loose ball as it bounced into the end zone, giving Arizona their fifth touchdown of the day in their 41-10 rout of the Rams. A key component of the Cardinals' passing attack, McBride led the team with six catches, catching each ball thrown his way and gaining 67 receiving yards in the process. Fantasy managers fortunate enough to roster McBride can keep him locked in for Arizona's Week 3 matchup against the Detroit Lions, who allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends last season.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Higgins Sep 16 5:20am ET
Elijah Higgins

Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in their 41-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. On a play early in the second quarter, quarterback Kyler Murray evaded four would-be tacklers and then launched an 18-yard strike to Higgins, who made a sliding catch in the back of the end zone to reel in the throw. The score was the third touchdown in as many drives to start the game for the Cardinals. Higgins played 36 of Arizona's 66 offensive snaps but did not see another target. With Trey McBride firmly entrenched as the team's top tight end, Higgins can't be relied on to be a viable fantasy asset week-to-week. Despite the impressive reception, he can be left on the wire for Week 3 when the Cardinals host the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Sep 16 5:20am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy had two catches for 17 yards in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Worthy also added five rushing yards on his only carry of the afternoon. The Chiefs rookie receiver again had three touches but could not break off a big play in this contest. Worthy's role in the offense is too volatile to expect weekly production, but his speed makes him a big play threat at any moment. Worthy will look to find the endzone again next week against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were tough on wide receivers last season, but the Chiefs have shown that they will move Worthy around and involve him in different ways. The Chiefs rookie can be considered a high-upside flex play moving forward, as long as fantasy managers can live with the production when he doesn't score.

From RotoBaller

James Conner Sep 16 5:10am ET
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner took 21 carries for 122 rushing yards and a touchdown in the team's 41-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He also caught his lone target of the game for a gain of two yards. Conner did lose the ball on the Rams' five-yard line in the fourth quarter, but tight end Trey McBride fell on top of it as it bounced ahead into the end zone to give the Cardinals their fifth touchdown of the game. The eighth-year veteran was as elusive as ever, forcing six missed tackles in the game. Thanks to the lopsided score, Conner ceded backfield duties to Trey Benson and Emari Demercado after his fumble but there is no question he is the top dog in Arizona's running backs room. In Week 3, Conner will be in the RB1 conversation again when the Cardinals take on the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

Travis Kelce Sep 16 5:10am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught one pass for five yards in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Kelce also added one rushing yard on one carry in this contest. The Chiefs tight end was targeted three times, but he and Mahomes could only connect once. This is a worrying follow-up to his disappointing Week 1 performance against the Baltimore Ravens. Kelce has four receptions for 39 yards and zero touchdowns through two games. It seems like Rashee Rice has supplanted Kelce as the top option for the Kansas City passing attack. Kelce will attempt to get back on track in next week's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends in 2023, so Kelce should have a favorable matchup. The 34-year-old may have to be downgraded in the tight end ranks until he shows signs of life. Kelce is still a must-start option but may not have TE1 overall upside in his current role.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Sep 16 5:10am ET
Marvin Harrison Jr.

The panic surrounding Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.'s debut was stifled by a monster performance in the second week of his NFL career. After logging just one catch for four yards in Week 1, Harrison caught four balls for a team-high 130 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Harrison's first score came four minutes into the game as he brought in a 23-yard pass while falling out the back of the end zone. His second touchdown came on a 60-yard catch-and-run on the first play of the Cardinals' next drive. In the days following the rookie's unimpressive debut, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing acknowledged the importance of getting the ball to the fourth-overall pick of the 2024 Draft. The team targeted Harrison early and often, with Harrison seeing six of his team-leading eight targets in the first half. Harrison is shaping up to be a strong WR2 candidate when Arizona plays the Detroit Lions in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Sep 16 5:00am ET
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 18 of 25 passes (72%) for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Mahomes passed for less than 300 yards for the second straight game and had at least one interception. The Chiefs quarterback was picked off twice in this contest, and the team narrowly escaped with the victory through a game-winning field goal from Harrison Butker. It was a disappointing performance from Mahomes, who passed for under 200 yards for just the ninth time in his career. Despite having field-stretching playmakers, Kansas City could not find a rhythm on offense in this contest. Mahomes will look to improve his output next week on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2023, so Mahomes should have no issues dicing up the Atlanta secondary. Despite being a disappointing starter in fantasy, it will be difficult to bench an MVP-caliber quarterback like Mahomes. Mahomes will still land within the QB1 conversation until proven otherwise.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Sep 16 5:00am ET
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had 90 rushing yards on 19 carries in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Pacheco was also involved in the passing game, catching five passes for 21 yards. The Chiefs starting running back showed that he was an integral piece of the offense, earning 24 total touches against a formidable AFC rival. Pacheco did not find the endzone in this contest but still managed to make an impact for fantasy as a rusher and a receiver. The 25-year-old will look to score in next week's contest against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were one of the tougher matchups for running backs last season since they gave up the fifth-fewest rushing touchdowns and were middle-of-the-pack in rushing yards allowed. Pacheco was seen leaving the stadium in a walking boot and on crutches, so this is a situation to monitor. If Pacheco is healthy enough to suit up, he should be a strong start despite the difficult matchup.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Sep 16 5:00am ET
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice caught five passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Rice once again led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards but was able to find the endzone in this contest. Rice's touchdown came on a 44-yard reception down the sideline in the second quarter. The second-year receiver has continued establishing himself as the top option in the Kansas City passing attack. Rice will look to continue his strong start against the Atlanta Falcons next week. The Falcons were one of the tougher matchups for wide receivers in 2023, allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts. Despite the matchup, Rice should still be an elite option at the wide receiver position due to his MVP-caliber quarterback and imaginative play-caller. Rice figures to rank as a fringe WR1 in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Kyler Murray Sep 16 5:00am ET
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray went off against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, completing 17 of his 21 passes for 266 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. No stranger to the ground game, he also added 59 yards on five carries in the 41-10 victory. Pending the results of Monday Night Football, Murray will finish as the week's QB1. Murray wasted no time in getting Arizona's offense going on Sunday, capping their first drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. and connecting with the rookie again on the very first play of their second drive for a 60-yard score. A third touchdown pass went to Elijah Higgins in the second quarter, giving Murray more scores than incompletions in the first half. His efforts put the Cardinals so far ahead of the Rams that he was removed with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, logging the first perfect passer rating by a Cardinals quarterback since Kurt Warner in 2008. In Week 3, Murray will again be in the mix for a top-10 finish when the Cardinals host the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

Rome Odunze Sep 16 3:00am ET
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) had a subdued performance in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, catching only two passes for 33 yards while playing through an injury. With the Bears still struggling to find a passing touchdown after eight quarters of action, Odunze has seen limited volume and no scoring opportunities. The team's offensive line also struggled, with Caleb Williams being sacked seven times, and Williams has yet to throw a touchdown or exceed 200 passing yards in the first two games. Despite the challenges, there is potential for the Bears' offense to improve. However, with just three receptions on nine targets and no touchdowns so far, Odunze is a risky fantasy option. His next chance to make an impact will come in Week 3 against Indianapolis, where he should be on fantasy benches.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Schultz Sep 16 2:53am ET
Dalton Schultz

Houston Texans TE Dalton Schultz had two receptions (on three targets) for 21 yards in a win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Fantasy Spin: With so many mouths to feed in the passing game, it's hard to imagine Schultz being a regular contributor this season. He has five catches and 37 yards through two games, meaning Schultz should only be owned in leagues with rosters deep enough to carry a second tight end.

From TheHuddle

Travis Kelce Sep 16 2:53am ET
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce hauled in one of his three targets for five yards in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Kelce also added one yard rushing.

Fantasy Spin: The one-catch effort ended a regular-season streak of Kelce registering at least three catches in every game dating back over six years ago. It is almost inconceivable how little Kelce has been involved through two games (four catches on seven targets for 39 scoreless yards) considering how dominant he was in Kansas City's four playoff games last season (32 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns). Given how little tight ends around the league are producing, fantasy managers have little choice but to hope Patrick Mahomes will be more diligent in trying to find his (former?) favorite target in the coming weeks.

From TheHuddle