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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
Justice Hill Sep 14 11:10pm ET
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill can be left out of fantasy managers' lineups for the team's Week 2 home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Hill took just one carry for three yards in Baltimore's Week 1 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also added 52 yards on six catches and eight targets. The fifth-year RB was heavily involved in the Ravens' passing game while tying for second in the team lead in targets and with the third-most receptions and yards. He was clearly the first up in passing situations for the Ravens, but will be challenging to project for such a role weekly. With backfield mate Derrick Henry to take most of the early-down work -- and project for most of the goal-line carries, too -- the 26-year-old RB will be a volatile, game-script-dependent play. He'll be tough to trust in Baltimore's home opener this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Sep 14 10:50pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase stated he has no plans to negotiate a long-term deal with the team this season. The news comes after Chase felt slighted when the Bengals did not sign him to an extension this offseason after they told him repeatedly they would do so. The 24-year-old participated in 84% of Cincinnati's snaps this past weekend in their shocking 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots, catching all six of his targets for 62 yards. The LSU product was featured on the Bengals' injury report in Week 1 during his partial holdout. However, he seems to be putting negotiations behind him for the remainder of the season. The former Tiger has reportedly taken out a $50 million insurance policy on himself ahead of the rest of the 2024 season. He was solid last week, and Chase can be trusted as a WR1 moving forward as Cincinnati's offense attempts to get back on track after a so-so Week 1 performance.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Sep 14 10:30pm ET
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney is a potential WR4 play when the team squares off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. Mooney registered a snap on 53 plays for the Falcons in their Week 1 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, reeling in 1-of-3 targets for 15 yards. He tied for third on the team with three targets and matched wide receiver Drake London's receiving total of 15 yards. This is likely one of the few times the 26-year-old ties Atlanta's WR1 in total yardage and targets. However, he'll be an imminent threat for a deep ball or two when the Falcons take on the Eagles on MNF. He's a nice flier in an Atlanta offense that projects to pick it up over the next few weeks, with Kirk Cousins working his way back to full health after a 2023 Achilles injury. For now, though, Mooney can be avoided until his production ticks up and the Falcons get on track.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Sep 14 10:10pm ET
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III is an intriguing option ahead of the team's Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. McCloud hauled in 4-of-7 targets for 56 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, with an additional 56 yards on two kickoff returns. The 27-year-old wideout played the fourth-fewest snaps of any Falcons skill player in Week 1 while recording a target on an impressive 46.7% of his routes. He also registered an other-worldly 3.47 yards per route run. It will be tough to trust him moving forward with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson to compete with for targets. However, McCloud will be a player to monitor in the coming weeks. His work in the return game and high YPRR make him an exciting player to watch. Aside from the Falcons' superstars, there isn't much regarding depth aside from wide receiver Darnell Mooney.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Taylor Sep 14 10:00pm ET
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor underwhelmed fantasy managers last week, totaling just 48 yards on 16 carries with no action in the receiving game. He was able to find the endzone, which helped boost his fantasy performance. Although inefficient, he received every running back carry, which should come as encouraging news to fantasy managers. He now gears up for a Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, a team that allowed RB Saquon Barkley to total three touchdowns in the two teams Week 1 matchup. On top of that, the Colts are favorites in Sunday's matchup with the likely absence of Jordan Love (knee), creating a favorable game script for Taylor. Fantasy managers in all formats can consider Taylor a strong RB1 option in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Sep 14 9:50pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson impressed in Week 1, totaling three touchdowns with just nine total completions. Despite his low passing volume, Richardson remains a strong fantasy quarterback with his rushing upside, shown last week with his six attempts for 56 yards and accounting for one of his touchdowns. He now gears up for a Week 2 clash with the Green Bay Packers, a team that allowed 34 points last week to the Eagles as well as 270+ passing yards and two touchdowns to QB Jalen Hurts. As will be the case for most of this season, Richardson makes for a strong start and should be prioritized in almost all/leagues and formats.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Sep 14 9:43pm ET
Jordan Mason

Dynasty | 49ers running back Jordan Mason will presumably be the team's starter while Christian McCaffrey recovers from his Achilles injury. Dynasty Analysis: And just like that, we could have a league-winning dynasty asset come out of nowhere. Mason was huge for the 49ers last week, rushing for 147 yards and will now likely be asked to be the workhorse for one of the league's friendliest offenses. While expecting McCaffrey-like numbers from him would be foolish, it's not unrealistic to expect him to post RB1/2 numbers each week until CMC returns.

Younghoe Koo Sep 14 8:30pm ET
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo managed only one extra point and one field goal attempt in the team's Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This week, Koo plays on Monday Night football outdoors against the Philadelphia Eagles, who could be out in front in this one often, potentially taking Koo out of the game script early, just like the Niners took Greg Zuerlein out of last week's Monday night matchup. Many kickers have a much more positive outlook this week. It's best to leave Koo on the waiver wire for another week, as he is currently 16th among all kickers in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Sep 14 8:30pm ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will be looking for more volume in Week 2 heading into Monday Night's football game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he did find the end zone on broken coverage in Week 1, the volume was not what fantasy managers were hoping for with new quarterback Kirk Cousins under center. Pitts only saw three targets and caught all three for 26 yards beyond the lone touchdown. If the Falcons can make the adjustments they need in Week 2, Pitts remains a crucial weapon in this offense and should muster up more than the three targets he received in Week 1's underwhelming performance by Kirk Cousins and the rest of Atlanta's offense. His versatility between lining up as a tight end and as a wide receiver should make it difficult for the Eagles secondary to cover him. Despite the lack of targets in Week 1, Pitts remains a must-start and is currently TE6 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Sep 14 8:20pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons third-year wide receiver Drake London will look to bounce back in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles after a brutal Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers hoped for a step forward in production with newly signed quarterback Kirk Cousins. Still, London could only muster up three targets against a defense more known to be vulnerable through the air than the ground attack. Ray-Ray McCloud III ended up being the Falcons' No. 1 receiver in Week 1, but don't expect that trend to continue. The former USC Trojan is the No. 1 receiver for this team, and you can expect him to receive more than three targets in a game so that the Falcons could be down early and often. The Eagles allowed 260 passing yards and two receiving touchdowns, along with multiple big plays from the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, making London a prime candidate to have a solid bounce-back game in Week 2

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Sep 14 8:10pm ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had an underwhelming debut for his new team in Week 1. He has an equally tough, if not more challenging, matchup this Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. It's not necessarily due to the Eagles' defense, who allowed 280 yards passing to Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers the week prior, but because of the high expectations and the pressure to perform to a much higher standard than his Week 1 showing. The Falcons could be down early and often, providing value for fantasy managers this week. Still, it is not wise to start Kirk Cousins in any lineups in any 10 or 12-team leagues until we see the camaraderie and potential this team could truly have. Cousins is mainly an option in superflex or 2QB leagues, ranking 21st among all quarterbacks in the latest RotoBaller Week 2 rankings.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Sep 14 8:00pm ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson finally got the usage fantasy managers have been begging out of him since his debut in Week 1 of last season. He logged 23 touches in a low-scoring affair against the Pittsburgh Steelers' strong defensive line. This week, Robinson faces the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. The Eagles allowed 5.3 YPC to Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs in Week 1 and two receptions for 20 yards. The Falcons could be trailing early and often in this one against the Eagles, potentially leading to more targets and receptions coming Robinson's way. The 2023 first-round pick is a must-start and is RB3 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Marquise Brown Sep 14 7:10pm ET
Marquise Brown

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) is reportedly likely going to be sidelined for the entire 2024 season. This has escalated quickly after Brown was originally only supposed to miss a game or two. Then on Friday, Brown was placed on the injured reserve because of a shoulder injury that requires surgery. That being said, Brown was expected to be out for at least four games, but was hopeful to return mid-season. Now, Brown is reportedly done for the entire season, which is a tough blow to the Chiefs offense. That means, Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and rookie Xavier Worthy are all going to be asked to carry a heavier workload on offense. All of them should be viable fantasy options with Brown out of the picture.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Sep 14 6:50pm ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) is currently listed as questionable ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite that, Williams will reportedly suit up and play on Sunday. This is great news for the Lions offense after Williams went off for five receptions and 121 yards with a touchdown in the Week 1 win. He should once again be heavily involved against a shaky Bucs secondary this weekend. Fantasy managers should be able to trust Williams as a low-end WR2 for what looks like a shootout with the Bucs.

From RotoBaller

Tim Patrick Sep 14 6:30pm ET
Tim Patrick

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick has been elevated from the practice squad on Saturday. That means, Patrick will be on the active roster for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Patrick was surprisingly cut by the Denver Broncos in late August. This comes after he hauled in 53 receptions for 734 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games with Denver last season. The Lions quickly scooped him up on their practice squad. Fellow wideout Isaiah Williams (abdomen) has been ruled out, which opens up a window for Patrick. However, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams remain the primary passing targets in this offense. Patrick will likely serve as depth, but will hopefully be given a chance to prove himself as a viable depth option.

From RotoBaller

Myles Gaskin Sep 14 6:30pm ET
Myles Gaskin

Minnesota Vikings running back Myles Gaskin has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Gaskin is back on the active roster for the second straight week. Last week, Gaskin served as the third string back during the win over the New York Giants. He only played seven snaps and rushed for negative yardage on his lone carry. That being said, Gaskin can be avoided in fantasy formats while Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler are healthy. Gaskin has proven to be a viable option during his days with the Miami Dolphins. However, there isn't much of a role for him with two healthy backs ahead of him on the depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Johnny Wilson Sep 14 6:20pm ET
Johnny Wilson

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Johnny Wilson (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Wilson seemed fine all week until he popped up on the injury report on Saturday due to a hamstring issue. The absence of the rookie wideout won't make a huge impact on the Eagles offense. Wilson only played 17 snaps in Week 1 and failed to haul in his lone target. His absence could mean that Parris Campbell gets elevated from the practice squad. However, neither player should be considered a viable fantasy option heading into Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey Sep 14 6:13pm ET
Christian McCaffrey

Dynasty | The 49ers have placed running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: CMC will miss at least the next four weeks and will be eligible to return in week six. San Francisco also has a bye in week nine, leading to speculation they could keep him out even longer. This is a huge development in dynasty leagues as McCaffrey is simply the biggest weapon in fantasy football. CMC's short and long-term value is going to take a hit as the 28-year old could be starting to show his age just a touch.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

John Kelly Sep 14 5:53pm ET
John Kelly

Baltimore Ravens DB Ka'Dar Hollman and RB John Kelly were elevated for Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 14.

From TheHuddle

Tony Jefferson Sep 14 5:13pm ET
Tony Jefferson

Los Angeles Chargers LB Shaquille Quarterman and S Tony Jefferson were elevated from the practice squad for Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 14.

From TheHuddle