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 6
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) "could wind up staying" with the team. Schefter didn't elaborate. However, it adds another dynamic to what has already been a volatile situation. The wideout will miss another game on Sunday due to a hamstring injury, with many still believing his days with the Raiders are over. But at this point, fantasy managers aren't as concerned with who he is playing for as long as he gets back on the field. As far as the Week 6 meeting with the Steelers is concerned, Jakobi Meyers (ankle) is doubtful, so it could be a rough day for Aidan O'Connell. Still, the door is open for Tre Tucker and DJ Turner, who both logged over 50 snaps in Week 5, to get more involved. Alex Bachman and Tyreik McAllister may also enter the equation, although Brock Bowers still has the best chance of being the top fantasy pass-catcher for Vegas in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings had just three catches for 27 yards in a win against Seattle Thursday night. Dynasty Analysis: Much like his teammate Brandon Aiyuk, Jennings has had one blow-up game (11/175/3) and four clunkers that have resulted in just 14 catches for 229 scoreless yards. Jennings is looking like a boom or bust player each week and dynasty managers are going to need to feel pretty desperate to trust him on a weekly basis at this point.
Dynasty | Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker had 32 rushing yards, eight catches and 37 receiving yards with one touchdown in a loss against the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: The yardage totals for Walker weren't good but eight catches and a touchdown made his night a good one, at least in PPR leagues. Even better, Walker continued to dominate backfield touches as he had 22 compared to the six from Zach Charbonnet. Walker is a prime trade target for a contending dynasty team as he's become one of the more consistent running backs in the game.
Dynasty | Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf had three catches for 48 yards in a loss against the 49ers on Thursday night. Dynasty Analysis: Metcalf had 11 targets, but he and Geno Smith are just not on the same page. After three straight 100-yard games, Metcalf now has just seven catches for 103 scoreless yards over his last two games. He did have a long touchdown called back because of a penalty, but things seem to be going sour for Seattle in a hurry as they've lost three straight and seem to be losing their way a bit. Metcalf will likely bounce back but this is notable in future weeks as lineup decisions are being made.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) plans to play Sunday in the team's Week 6 road matchup against the Tennessee Titans. A few days ago, there was talk that Pittman could miss multiple weeks with a back injury and began the week with back-to-back non-participant designations at practice. His fortune changed on Friday when he was able to log a limited session, and he is reportedly traveling with the team to Nashville ahead of the divisional tilt, per Stephen Holder of The Athletic. It's excellent news for the Colts, who should also have second-year wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) and quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) active for the contest as well. Reports are that the 27-year-old will "play through" the nagging back injury, so it's possible he is operating at less than 100% and could have his snap count monitored. Tennessee's defense has been difficult for opposing offenses this season, so expectations should be tempered due to his health and the poor matchup.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) is expected to be active for the team's Week 6 road matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Despite logging two DNPs this week and being listed as questionable, the second-year wideout will reportedly suit up, according to Stephen Holder of The Athletic. Teammate Michael Pittman Jr. (back) traveled with the team and also plans to play in the contest against the Titans. Downs has been a PPR monster over the last two weeks, racking up 17 catches, 151 yards, and a touchdown on 21 targets. However, it's worth noting that most of this production came with veteran quarterback Joe Flacco under center in stead of second-year QB Anthony Richardson (oblique). Richardson is also slated to be active for Sunday's outing, so the 23-year-old wideout could return to a lower-volume role. Still, he could see more work than usual with Pittman dinged up. Regardless, the Titans' defense has been one of the more staunch units against opposing offenses, so look for Indy's unit to have their hands full.
From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions and running back David Montgomery have agreed to a two-year $18.25 million extension, locking the veteran RB up through the 2027 season, per Adam Schefter. Montgomery had two years remaining on the three-year $18 million deal he inked in 2023, but the team saw fit to extend an integral part of their offense. The new contract includes $10.5 million in new guaranteed money, and Detroit handcuffs him and backfield mate Jahmyr Gibbs for the foreseeable future. Since 2019, the former third-round pick's 43 rushing scores are good for ninth-most in the league. The 27-year-old has been one of the more consistent fantasy backs this season despite fluctuating yardage outputs, scoring a touchdown in each of his first four outings. He'll look to keep that streak going in Week 6 on the road against the Cowboys.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is scheduled to make his 2024 debut next Sunday when his team hosts the Cincinnati Bengals in a home matchup, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. It will be his first regular-season action since Week 2 of last season when he was forced from the Browns' contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering a gruesome, complex knee injury. It's unclear what capacity that will be in, and it is fair to wonder whether or not he'll be on a snap count, but it's a remarkable feat for the 28-year-old. For one more week, it will be running backs D'Onta Foreman and Jerome Ford shouldering the load in the backfield before the former second-round pick's return. When that comes to pass, Chubb will likely make this backfield a three-man rotation until he is healthy -- or effective -- enough to siphon touches away from his teammates. That duo will face an Eagles squad in Week 6 that's let up the eighth-fewest yards on the ground to opposing defenses (515) but the third-most yards per carry (5.0).
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell caught four of his seven targets for 38 yards in the team's Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite a decent target share, Mitchell saw a very low snap share, playing a total of just 19 in the game. With Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (toe) trending to play, Mitchell will likely see a similar snap share again in Week 6. On top of that, Mitchell and the Colts will be up against the Titans' secondary, a unit that's allowed the lowest receiving yards/game as well as the fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs. Mitchell is better left on the bench in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco had an outstanding Week 5 performance, completing 33 of his 44 passes for 359 yards in the team's loss. Flacco's starting status for Week 6 against the Titans is up in the air, with QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) tracking to play but still a game-time decision. If Flacco were to start, he would make for a deeper streaming option, with the Titans secondary allowing the fewest passing yards this season at a 124/game average. Fantasy managers in 2QB/Superflex leagues should stay up to date on the news on Sunday morning, should they need a last-minute replacement.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce popped in the team's Week 5 loss, grabbing all three of his targets for 134 yards and a touchdown. He'll now gear up for a Week 6 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, the team allowing the fewest points to opposing WRs this season. While Pierce has led the team in yards with 386, he comes in fourth in total target share at 12.1%. On top of that, reports suggest that the Colts will be starting QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) in Week 6, which may lower the team's passing volume as opposed to if they were to start QB Joe Flacco. While there remains the possibility that Pierce can catch a few deep shots like he has in weeks past, it's a hard thing to bank on in such a tough matchup. Fantasy managers can view Pierce as a WR4/5 option in Week 6, with him currently slated as the WR46 in our staff's half-PPR rankings.
From RotoBaller
Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery's contract extension is for two years and $18.25 million, with $10.5 million in new guaranteed money, per source on Saturday, Oct. 12. The extension keeps Montgomery with Detroit through 2027.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery agreed to a contract extension on Saturday, Oct. 12, that will keep him with the team through 2027, per source. The financial terms of the extension were not immediately disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Tennessee Titans S Jamal Adams (hip) is 'frustrated' with his role after playing just one snap in Week 4, per source on Saturday, Oct. 12.
From TheHuddle
Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson ran the ball five times for 26 yards in Week 5, also grabbing three targets for 31 yards through the air. Goodson was involved in the absence of Jonathan Taylor (ankle) but played a secondary role to RB Trey Sermon in last week's loss. With Taylor out again in Week 6, Goodson will remain involved in the backfield once again. He is in for a tougher matchup, facing a Titans defense that has allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. While Goodson may see an increase in volume after a nice showing last week, it's too much of a speculation to start him with confidence in most formats. He is currently the RB48 in this week's staff's half-PPR rankings.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon ran the ball ten times for 38 yards and a touchdown in the team's Week 5 loss. He also reeled in six catches for another 25 yards through the air. Sermon is slated to be Indy's lead back once again when they face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Although he has replaced Jonathan Taylor (ankle) in his absence, running back Tyler Goodson has also seen a sizable role, getting five carries in the team's Week 5 loss. Sermon will face a tougher defense in Tennessee, as they have allowed the 11th least fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. Given the tougher matchup, and what could potentially be a split in opportunities with Goodson, Sermon doesn't make for a strong start in Week 6. Fantasy managers replacing Taylor can look his way, but he should otherwise be viewed as a RB3 option. He is currently the RB31 in our staff's half-PPR weekly rankings.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) has been placed on the injured reserve ahead of the Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The organization was hopeful that Reynolds would only miss one game after having a minor finger surgery. Clearly that wasn't the case as Reynolds will now sit out the next four weeks. The absence of Reynolds should mean more playing time for Lil' Jordan Humphrey, Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin. Between the trio, Humphrey has the biggest upside after a 48-yard performance last week.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) is expected to play in Week 6, per source on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Fantasy Spin: There's been nothing to suggest that Mixon will see a limited workload in his first game back, so fire him up without hesitation. He's an RB1 entering Week 6.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards (ankle) has been placed on the injured reserve ahead of their Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Edwards hasn't practiced all week and it doesn't sound like his injury is going to get better anytime soon. That being said, Edwards will head to the IR and miss the next four games. Edwards has taken a backseat to J.K. Dobbins over the last two weeks. The first two weeks Edwards saw 29 carries, but only had nine rushing attempts over the last two games. Dobbins has run away with the lead back gig, which means Edwards' absence won't make a huge impact. Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal could see a few touches, but Dobbins is going to be the primary running back going forward.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward (hamstring) is expected to play in Week 6, per source on Saturday, Oct. 12.
From TheHuddle
