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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2

Player Notes
Breece Hall Sep 16 6:20pm ET
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (quadriceps) is dealing with a quadriceps issue on a short turnaround in Week 3 with a contest this Thursday night against the division-rival New England Patriots. The good news for fantasy managers is that Hall was listed as a full practice participant on Monday, so as long as he doesn't suffer some sort of setback the next two days, he should be available as the team's lead RB on Thursday evening. The 23-year-old high-end RB1 in fantasy has delivered the first two weeks with 30 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown on the ground while adding 12 catches (14 targets) for 91 yards and another score through the air. Rookie backup Braelon Allen took some attention away with two TDs on nine touches in the Week 2 win over the Titans, but Hall remains New York's bell-cow back and should be in all starting lineups this Thursday night against the surprising Pats.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Sep 16 6:20pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that ideally if quarterback Jordan Love (knee) were to play in Week 3 at the Tennessee Titans, Love would practice at least a little since it will have been two weeks without doing anything on the field since injuring his knee in the Week 1 loss in Brazil to the Philadelphia Eagles. The 25-year-old is dealing with an MCL sprain in his left knee and facing an uphill battle to be ready in Week 3. A report surfaced on Sunday morning stating that Love is targeting a return in Week 5 on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, so it would be a surprise if he's back on the field this weekend. Fantasy managers need to prepare for a few more absences. Malik Willis will most likely take on his old team, the Titans, in Week 3 after leading Green Bay to a Week 2 win over the Colts by going 12-for-14 for 122 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Sep 16 6:10pm ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

When Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked about wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown's (lower body) injury, he said, "Lower leg. He'll be good. Soft tissue." It's unclear exactly what kind of injury St. Brown is dealing with, but we'll have a clearer picture on Wednesday, the first day of Week 3 practice. The 24-year-old was forced from action at the end of the Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter. Before the injury, St. Brown bounced back in a big way from his quiet season-opening performance with a 11-119-0 line on 19 targets after catching three passes for 13 yards in Week 1. It sounds like the Lions think he'll have a good shot to play in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, but we'll know more later this week. When active, St. Brown is a must-start in fantasy after being taken in the first round in most drafts.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Sep 16 5:40pm ET
Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) is expected to miss an extended period of time, according to head coach Sean McVay. The star wide receiver is also a candidate to land on injured reserve, knocking him out for at least four games. With Puka Nacua (knee) already on injured reserve, the Rams have Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell, and sixth-round rookie Jordan Whittington healthy at the wide receiver position. Unfortunately, Los Angeles has several players on injured reserve or likely heading there, making fans feel like it's the 2022 season all over again. Matthew Stafford's fantasy value takes a massive hit with his top two playmakers out of the lineup. Fantasy players likely want to avoid starting any Rams player not named Kyren Williams for the foreseeable future.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Sep 16 4:00pm ET
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) is expected to miss six to eight weeks after suffering a fractured fibula late in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Unfortunately, the injury is a massive blow to the Chiefs' backfield and for fantasy managers. Pacheco played 72.3% of the snaps over the first two weeks, accounting for 79.1% of the rushing attempts and 72.7% of the targets out of the backfield. Rookie Carson Steele and Samaje Perine are the other two running backs on the active roster, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (mental health) on the Non-Football Injury list. Kansas City is bringing in Kareem Hunt for a visit on Tuesday. Steele is the most appealing waiver-wire target currently on the roster after an impressive preseason performance, while Perine should gain more attention in PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Kareem Hunt Sep 16 4:00pm ET
Kareem Hunt

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing in a familiar face for a visit on Tuesday. Kareem Hunt is set to visit the team after the Chiefs lost Isiah Pacheco (fibula) to a significant injury in yesterday's 26-25 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. With Pacheco expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured fibula and Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the non-football injury list (mental health), Carson Steele and Samaje Perine are the only two healthy running backs on the roster. Hunt hasn't played for the Chiefs since the 2018 season. However, the veteran running back averaged 7.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game last year with the Cleveland Browns, totaling nine rushing touchdowns. If he signs with the team, Hunt, Steele, and Perine will all see meaningful touches until Pacheco is healthy.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Sep 16 3:20pm ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that he believes wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is moving in a positive direction and that the extra day this week will help as the team prepares to face the Washington Commanders in Week 3 next Monday night. Higgins injured his hamstring in practice just days before the season opener and has missed the first two games of the season as a result. The 25-year-old's status for next Monday's game will depend on how much he can do in practice this week. If Higgins draws a questionable tag on the final injury report on Saturday, fantasy managers probably won't want to take any chances with him in their starting lineups. Andrei Iosivas scored two touchdowns in the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs on his two receptions, while tight end Mike Gesicki saw more involvement with Higgins out. The 0-2 Bengals could certainly use their WR2 in Higgins back sooner than later.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Sep 16 3:13pm ET
Isiah Pacheco

Dynasty | Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is headed to injured reserve after breaking his fibula in a win against Cincinnati. Dynasty Analysis: He'll miss at least a month but it's likely going to be more like 6-8 weeks as he recovers. It's a big blow to the offense and for those counting on Pacheco this season in their dynasty leagues. Carson Steele is going to be the hottest pickup in leagues this week as it looks like he'll serve as the early down option with newly signed Samaje Perine picking up major work moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Tank Dell Sep 16 3:13pm ET
Tank Dell

Dynasty | Texans wide receiver Nico Collins had eight catches for 135 yards and a touchdown in Houston's win against Chicago. Dynasty Analysis: There seems to be little doubt who is the top target in this offense after two weeks. Collins now has 18 targets and 252 receiving yards through two games. His yardage total is tops in the NFL and his targets rank him seventh overall. In other words, the Texans may have talented players like Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs, but this passing offense is seemingly going through Collins. He's a WR1 moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Cam Akers Sep 16 3:13pm ET
Cam Akers

Dynasty | The Texans could be without Joe Mixon in the short-term, leaving the backfield to Cam Akers. Dynasty Analysis: Mixon is dealing with an ankle ailment that has him day-to-day. Should he fail to return this week, it looks like Akers could draw the start as Dameon Pierce is dealing with an injury of his own. This would potentially be a career-saving moment for Akers, who has simply been awful the past two years as he's struggled to return from multiple injuries. He should be rostered everywhere as we wait and see Mixon's status.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Caleb Williams Sep 16 3:13pm ET
Caleb Williams

Dynasty | Bears quarterback Caleb Williams completed 23-of-37 passes for 174 yards and two interceptions in a loss against Houston. Dynasty Analysis: The game line is misleading as Williams routinely made plays with both his arm and his legs in this one. He also looked to be in control of the offense from the start. While his stats leave a lot to be desired at the moment, Williams looks like an NFL quarterback and better days are clearly ahead. He's a strong hold and an even better buy-low for dynasty managers.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Lamar Jackson Sep 16 3:13pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Dynasty | The Dolphins have signed quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Ravens practice squad. Dynasty Analysis: Huntley has bounced around the league a bit after failing to really impress during his short starting stints with the Ravens in place of Lamar Jackson. Still, he gives Miami another veteran presence behind Skylar Thompson while we await the return of Tua Tagovailoa. He doesn't belong on rosters at the moment.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jordan Addison Sep 16 3:10pm ET
Jordan Addison

When asked about wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle), Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said he's "hopeful" about his progress this week regarding his return to practice. Addison picked up an ankle injury in the team's 28-6 Week 1 victory over the New York Giants. Still, he hadn't made enough progress throughout the week to appear at practice in even a limited fashion. Giants linebacker Darius Muasau took down the second-year wideout with a "hip-drop" tackle -- one that has recently been deemed illegal -- and was fittingly fined for the unnecessary roughness. Expect an update on the 22-year-old over the coming days when the Vikings release their first official injury report of the week. If he cannot play, wide receiver Jordan Nailor will continue to fill in for Addison when the team takes on the Houston Texans at home in Week 3. Nailor has caught a touchdown in back-to-back weeks and hauled in 3-of-4 targets in Week 2 for 54 yards. He would be a low-end WR3/FLEX play.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Sep 16 2:50pm ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel offered an encouraging update on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's (concussion) status on Monday. "He's downstairs today, smiling with his teammates," said McDaniel. "As far as I'm concerned, you're in the protocol and he's doing well today and we take it day by day." His coach also noted that he's been working diligently with the training staff. Tagovailoa has been the center of much controversy after suffering his third (official) concussion since the beginning of 2022, with many speculating he may hang it up due to the most recent injury. It's excellent news for the fifth-year QB, though -- who is on record saying he has no plans to retire from football. We'll unlikely see the Alabama product suit up in Week 3 when Miami squares up for a road tilt against the hosting Seattle Seahawks. However, this news at least opens the door for his potential return in Week 4 against the Titans.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Sep 16 2:50pm ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is considered week-to-week as per coach Doug Pederson. Engram was a surprise addition to the Jags' injury report after sustaining a hamstring injury during pre-game warmups ahead of yesterday's home tilt against the Cleveland Browns. Jacksonville is now 0-2 on the season and will be without their returning target leader for at least the foreseeable future. In his stead, backup tight end Brenton Strange caught 3-of-6 passes for 65 yards, while Luke Farrell caught both his targets for 13 yards. The two will continue to fill the gap in the lineup while Engram is deemed unfit to suit up. Additionally, wide receivers Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas Jr., and Christian Kirk could see more work now that the injury is known ahead of time. The Jaguars will head to Buffalo to take on the Bills in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Justin Jefferson Sep 16 2:30pm ET
Justin Jefferson

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (quad) is officially labeled day-to-day per coach Kevin O'Connell. Jefferson picked up a minor injury in the team's 23-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. The superstar wideout reeled in 4-of-7 targets for 133 yards and scored in the team's win, including a 97-yard bomb delivered by quarterback Sam Darnold standing in his end zone. Fantasy managers should anticipate the 25-year-old to appear on the team's injury report ahead of their Week 3 home matchup against the Houston Texans. It does not appear that he is in danger of missing time, though this is a situation to monitor for the time being. If Jefferson were to sit out, WR Jalen Nailor would assuredly see a more prominent role, especially if Jordan Addison (ankle) were still sidelined.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Sep 16 2:10pm ET
Bryce Young

The Carolina Panthers are benching quarterback Bryce Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton ahead of the team's Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Tom Pelissero reports. Yikes. The news comes after Carolina's disappointing 0-2 start, with Young leading the team to just 13 total points across the two contests. Over the two games, the former first-overall pick completed just 31-of-56 passes (55.4%) for 245 yards (4.4 avg), tossing three interceptions to no touchdowns. Despite coach Dave Canales stating he was sticking with the young QB moving forward just a day ago, after reviewing the game tape, they're opting to go in a different direction. Dalton hopes to inject some life into the league's worst offense through the season's first two matchups. For now, the 36-year-old can be avoided by fantasy managers -- including the remainder of the Panthers' offense -- until he has proven a better option than the Alabama product.

From RotoBaller

Haason Reddick Sep 16 2:00pm ET
Haason Reddick

New York Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) confirmed on Monday that he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in the Week 2 victory over the Tennessee Titans. The Jets feared this was the case when Johnson was forced to leave Sunday's contest, and now it is confirmed that they will not have Johnson for the rest of the year. It's an especially tough blow for a Jets defense that continues to be without All-Pro pass-rusher Haason Reddick as he continues his contract holdout into the regular season. The 25-year-old Johnson, a former first-round pick in 2022 out of Florida State, was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2023 while recording 55 total tackles, a career-high 7.5 sacks and an interception in 17 games. It's a notable loss for the Jets defense this year, but it shouldn't knock their defense/special teams unit from being a weekly play in fantasy lineups.

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Graham Gano Sep 16 1:50pm ET
Graham Gano

New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (hamstring) will miss "a few weeks" with a hamstring injury, according to head coach Brian Daboll. The Giants scored three touchdowns in their Week 2 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders, but not having a kicker left them short after a missed extra point from their punter and two failed two-point conversions in a three-point defeat. The 37-year-old veteran was included on the Week 2 injury report but suited up on Sunday against Washington before injuring his hammy early in the game and being ruled out. Gano seems likely to miss at least Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, and he'll probably be held out with a short turnaround in Week 4 against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Sept. 26. With Gano out, the Giants could elevate kicker Jude McAtamney from their practice squad. Fantasy managers should avoid this kicking situation.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Sep 16 1:40pm ET
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he saw improvements from rookie quarterback Bo Nix from Week 1 to Week 2. "I feel a confident player. From that standpoint, I'm encouraged," Payton said. Through his first two regular-season NFL games, Nix has struggled, going 46-for-77 (59.74%) for 384 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions. He's carried the ball nine times for 60 yards and one touchdown. The 24-year-old first-rounder from Oregon did move the ball through the air better in the Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he failed to lead a single TD drive and isn't really testing defenses down the field. Fantasy managers weren't really expecting much out of Nix in his first NFL season, and he should have a long leash. Going into Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he'll be a QB3 in superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller