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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
Aaron Rodgers Sep 15 10:00pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 18 of his 30 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Rodgers threw his first touchdown pass to Braelon Allen in the second quarter and then came back and found Breece Hall for a 26-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The win was Rodgers' first as the quarterback of the New York Jets and was a long time coming after he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1 of the 2023 season. Rodgers has now thrown for 343 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception through his first two games of the season. He will have a short turnaround as the Jets face the New England Patriots on Thursday night in Week 3.

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Breece Hall Sep 15 10:00pm ET
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 14 times for 62 yards and added seven catches for 52 yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Hall found the end zone on a 26-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers in the third quarter, his second touchdown in as many games in the young season. He has been busy in the passing game for the Jets this season, with 12 catches for 91 yards thus far. Hall will be a shoo-in RB1 in fantasy heading into his next game, which will be Thursday night against the New England Patriots.

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Braelon Allen Sep 15 10:00pm ET
Braelon Allen

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen carried the ball seven times for 33 yards and a touchdown while adding two catches for 23 yards and a second touchdown in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Allen, the youngest player in the NFL at just 20 years old, scored the Jets' first touchdown of the game on a 12-yard reception in the second quarter. He later came back and scored the game-winning TD on a 20-yard run in the fourth. While Allen will not overtake star runner Breece Hall in the New York backfield, he remains a top handcuff in case anything happens to Hall moving forward. Allen now has a short turnaround as the Jets play the New England Patriots in Week 3's Thursday night game.

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Dustin Hopkins Sep 15 9:50pm ET
Dustin Hopkins

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made all three of his field goals and added an extra point in an 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Hopkins hit field goals from 53, 38, and 44 yards out in the victory. The veteran kicker has now made all four of his field-goal tries and all three of his extra points through the first two weeks of the season. He will look to remain perfect heading into Week 3's home matchup against the New York Giants.

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Daniel Jones Sep 15 9:50pm ET
Daniel Jones

The Cleveland Browns defense turned in a solid effort in an 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Cleveland notched four sacks and a safety while holding the Jaguars to just 323 yards of total offense in the road win. The Browns got sacks from Jordan Hicks, Quinton Jefferson, Myles Garrett, and Alex Wright while Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah led the way with seven combined tackles. The Browns will be a strong play again in Week 3's home matchup against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.

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Ty Chandler Sep 15 9:50pm ET
Ty Chandler

Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler took 10 carries for 82 yards in Sunday's 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His long gain was a 25-yard scamper, and he did not receive a target. Chandler had one more rush than Aaron Jones in the contest and outpaced him by 50 yards on his way to a hyper-efficient 8.2 yards per tote. However, Jones did receive six targets in the passing game, hauling in five for 36 yards. Through two games, the Vikings' backfield split has been all over the place, with Jones out-carrying Chandler -- and out-producing him cumulatively -- in Week 1, although the latter caught all three of his targets that week -- one more than the former. The 26-year-old is unlikely to boast stand-alone value while sharing the field with the former Packer. However, the backfield split this week at least warrants an eye-brow raise and is a situation to monitor moving forward. Minnesota will take on the Houston Texans at home in Week 3.

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Sam Darnold Sep 15 9:40pm ET
Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 17-of-26 passes for 268 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the team's 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He added 32 yards on the ground on five carries. When Minnesota beat up on the New York Giants last weekend in their 28-6 win, Darnold's excellent performance could have been written off as a fluke. However, that case is no longer as cut-and-dry with the Viking's surprise defeat of the reigning NFC champions. It's been quite the start to the year for the 27-year-old, who is now on his fourth NFL squad. Through two contests, he's racked up 476 yards and four scores while completing a crisp 72% of his passes. Superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson -- who caught a 97-yard touchdown Sunday -- was diagnosed with a quad bruise during the matchup but does not believe he'll miss any time. With his stellar start, the third-overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has begun to creep into streaming consideration leading up to the team's Week 3 tilt against the Houston Texans.

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Elijah Moore Sep 15 9:40pm ET
Elijah Moore

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore caught six of his eight targets for 44 yards in an 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Moore wound up tying for first on the team with Amari Cooper with his eight targets while finishing second on the team in receiving yards. Although he only has 53 receiving yards to show for it, Moore has been heavily targeted through the first two games of the season with 14 over that span. He will be a low-end flex in Week 3 when the Browns take on the New York Giants.

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Derrick Henry Sep 15 9:40pm ET
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has now scored in back-to-back games to start the season but hasn't been able to find a win with his new team yet. The veteran finished with 84 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and he caught his lone target for 12 yards. Henry looked like his younger self on a few runs as he stiff-armed defenders and broke multiple tackles. This time around, Henry saw a lot more work in the backfield compared to Justice Hill as he saw 19 total touches compared to Hill's six. The Ravens offense has been able to put up some points so far, but they continue to lose leads and abandon the ground game after a while. Henry's touchdown kept him in the RB1 conversation this week, but his ceiling has been limited so far.

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Jordan Akins Sep 15 9:40pm ET
Jordan Akins

Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins caught his lone target for a 10-yard gain in an 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Week 1 injury to David Njoku (ankle) made Akins an interesting sleeper candidate heading the game against Jacksonville but he only drew the one target from Deshaun Watson in the win as the Browns instead went a bit more run-heavy than they did last week. Akins is unlikely to be a major part of the Cleveland passing offense, even while Njoku is sidelined. He can stay on waivers heading into a Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants.

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Brock Purdy Sep 15 9:30pm ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy fell short in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Purdy finished the game having completed 28 of 36 passes for 319 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He added two scrambles for 12 yards on the ground. Minnesota's defense kept the pressure on Purdy all afternoon, as he found himself absorbing a career-high six sacks. Purdy did make many quality throws and his lone interception came from a nice defensive deflection that may have been a simple incompletion if the ball hadn't popped upward in traffic over the middle. Purdy's other turnover happened when the ball slipped out of his hands as he threw and went directly to a waiting Jihad Ward, being ruled a fumble. Today's game represents the second disappointment in a row for fantasy owners. Next up for the 24-year-old signal-caller is a road matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.

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Rico Dowdle Sep 15 9:30pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle led the team's backfield with 11 touches in the Week 3 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He logged seven carries for 30 yards and added four catches for 29 yards. With the Saints jumping out to an early lead, the Cowboys were forced to pass more, creating a favorable game script for Dowdle. Although he didn't catch a pass for more than nine yards, Dowdle served as a reliable safety valve for quarterback Dak Prescott, often catching checkdowns. Next week, the Cowboys face a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens' stout front, which held the Las Vegas Raiders to just 27 rushing yards. This could force the Cowboys to rely on the passing game again, making Dowdle a potential streaming option in deep-league PPR formats.

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Ezekiel Elliott Sep 15 9:20pm ET
Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was limited to just 32 total yards in Sunday's 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Elliott recorded six rushes for 16 yards and added two catches on three targets for 16 yards. With the Saints scoring 35 points in the first half, the Cowboys were forced to abandon the run and shift to a pass-heavy game plan, significantly reducing Elliott's opportunities. The Cowboys struggled offensively, entering the red zone only three times, where Elliott is typically featured. Fantasy managers may want to consider other options in Week 3, as the Cowboys face a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, who allowed just 27 rushing yards to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.

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MyCole Pruitt Sep 15 9:20pm ET
MyCole Pruitt

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) was injured in the team's 13-6 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The severity of the 32-year-old's injury is unknown at this time. Pittsburgh is now 2-0 on the season despite scoring just one total touchdown through the two contests. Pruitt garnered two targets in last week's victory -- converting one for a gain of nine yards -- but was not as involved this Sunday, failing to earn a target from quarterback Justin Fields. Starting tight end, Pat Freiermuth caught four passes for the second week in a row, while Darnell Washington reeled in his only target for a five-yard score -- Pittsburgh's first of the season. Pruitt will not be a recommended option for fantasy managers -- even when healthy -- as a distant, desperate option on a run-centric Steelers' offense. They'll face the Los Angeles Chargers in their first home matchup of the season in Week 3.

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Brandon Aubrey Sep 15 9:10pm ET
Brandon Aubrey

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was perfect in the team's Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints, converting all five of his kicks. He nailed four field goals from 52, 38, 48, and 40 yards, along with one extra point, accounting for 13 of the Cowboys' 19 points. Head coach Mike McCarthy has full confidence in Aubrey, consistently relying on him for long field goals. Aubrey is a perfect 8-for-8 on the season through two games. Despite the team's struggles, Aubrey was a bright spot and could continue to be one of the top-scoring kickers in fantasy football. The 29-year-old will look to remain perfect in Week 3's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

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Luke Schoonmaker Sep 15 8:50pm ET
Luke Schoonmaker

Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker stepped into the starting lineup this week against the New Orleans Saints, replacing the injured Jake Ferguson (knee), who was ruled out with an MCL sprain. In his first start, Schoonmaker caught six passes for 43 yards, finishing third on the team in targets. While he didn't record a catch over 15 yards, he remained active and posted double-digit fantasy points in PPR leagues. Ferguson is expected to return at some point, but until then, Schoonmaker is a solid option for managers needing tight end help. The 25-year-old can be used as a streamer against the Baltimore Ravens in deep-league formats if Ferguson remains out.

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Will Levis Sep 15 8:20pm ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis completed 19-of-28 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 24-17 loss to New York. He also rushed four times for 38 yards while losing a fumble in the defeat. Levis once again showed flashes of brilliance, but was doomed by inconsistent play and turnovers that lowered his fantasy numbers considerably. The constant pressure didn't help, but Levis accounted for three turnovers for the second consecutive week, which led to 10 points for the Jets. The QB did make some splash plays, including a 40-yard TD to Calvin Ridley, but struggled to connect with any other receiver in the game. Levis will have another tough test next Sunday with the Packers coming to town in Week 3.

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Calvin Ridley Sep 15 8:20pm ET
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley caught four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, adding a 10-yard rushing touchdown in a loss vs. the New York Jets. It was a monster afternoon for the sixth-year pro, who was able to get in the end zone twice while battling one of the toughest secondaries in the NFL. His 40-yard touchdown reception from Will Levis was a thing of beauty, as Ridley made an incredible grab with First-team All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner right on his back. The former Pro Bowler once again led the Titans in receiving as the clear cut top option in a not-so-great passing attack. Even with quarterback Will Levis' struggles, Ridley should be started in all formats on a weekly basis given his role in the offense. He will look to keep the momentum going against the Packers stiff defensive unit in Week 3.

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Tony Pollard Sep 15 8:20pm ET
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard rushed 17 times for 62 yards, also securing five passes on six targets for 40 yards in a 24-17 loss to New York. For the second straight week, Pollard was the clear lead back for this Titans offense, out-touching Tyjae Spears 22-8 in Week 2. Although Spears left the game late with an ankle injury, Pollard was still dominating the time on the field up to that point and was more effective when given the ball. He was also tied for the team lead in targets with six, proving he still has a role carved out for him in the passing game even with Spears' ability in that department. With how much this coaching staff seems to trust Pollard, he should be locked into lineups moving forward as a mid-tier RB2 with a tinge of upside. Up next is the Packers vulnerable run defense in a Week 3 home matchup.

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DeAndre Hopkins Sep 15 8:20pm ET
DeAndre Hopkins

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught one pass for nine yards in a 24-17 loss to the Jets in Week 2. It was the second straight near-dud for the veteran receiver, who could not get anything going on a day that where his teammate Calvin Ridley scored over 20 fantasy points. It's possible that Hopkins is still a bit slow to come back from the MCL injury, but it's concerning to record only two targets in an offense that is struggling to move the bar through the air. Levis and Hopkins showed some great chemistry last season, but Ridley seems to have snatched the crown from him in the Titans pecking order. With not many yards to go around, this is not a good sign for his rest-of-season outlook. Hopkins will look to rebound in Week 3 vs. Green Bay.

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