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FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

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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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7

Player Notes
Mike Williams Oct 15 1:20pm ET
Mike Williams

The New York Jets are planning to make wide receiver Mike Williams available for trade after acquiring All-Pro wideout Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday, according to sources. Williams signed a one-year deal this offseason, but the current receiver room is too crowded now after the Adams acquisition. ESPN New York's Rich Cimini suggested this might be the case after Williams ran the wrong route on an interception late in the Monday night loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills and was called out by quarterback Aaron Rodgers for it. In addition to not catching any of his three targets on Monday, the 30-year-old was being evaluated for a head injury late in the contest. At this point, a trade might be the best thing for Williams' fantasy value after catching only 10 passes for 145 yards and no touchdowns in his first six games with the Jets in 2024.

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Russell Wilson Oct 15 1:10pm ET
Russell Wilson

The Pittsburgh Steelers are planning to give quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) first-team repetitions in practice this week, putting him in line to make his Steelers debut and start on Sunday night against the New York Jets in Week 7. Pittsburgh is off to a 4-2 start with Justin Fields under center, but Wilson's calf injury is fully healed. Tomlin said Wilson "proved his health last week" and confirms he's "in consideration" to start on Sunday. He won't rule out playing both QBs against the Jets. It's a curious decision, to say the least, given how poorly Wilson looked in the last two seasons with the Broncos. Fields hasn't been amazing, but he's done enough to warrant keeping the job and has five touchdowns and only one interception while completing a career-high 66.3% of his passes through six games. He's also run for five scores. In a tough matchup against the Jets defense in primetime, Wilson will be a midrange QB2, at best, if he's officially named the starter for this week.

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Anthony Richardson Oct 15 1:10pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Monday that quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) is "really close" to returning after missing the last two games due to a right-oblique injury he suffered in the Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unless Richardson suffers a setback this week, he's expected to start on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. He served as the emergency QB in the Week 6 win over the division-rival Tennessee Titans. "Obviously, Joe Flacco is a really good player and been playing good ball for us," Steichen said. "But when Anthony's healthy, he's our quarterback." Staying on the field has been an issue for Richardson early in his NFL career, as he's exited with an injury in four of his eight career games. All four of his NFL injuries have come on runs, raising questions about his long-term durability. The rushing upside is there for the former fourth overall pick, but he needs to improve as a passer to become a viable QB1 option in fantasy.

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Ray Davis Oct 15 11:13am ET
Ray Davis

Dynasty | Bills rookie running back Ray Davis had 97 rushing yards, three catches and 55 receiving yards in a win against the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: With James Cook a late scratch, Davis had a golden opportunity to shine, and that he did. The Jets had few answers for him and this performance cemented him in as one of the most important handcuffs in fantasy football. If Cook was to miss significant time, Davis has the looks of a possible league-altering player. While we need to see more before getting too far over our skis, this was a great night. Davis remains a solid hold in dynasty leagues and should see his ranking rise.

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Aaron Rodgers Oct 15 11:13am ET
Aaron Rodgers

Dynasty | The New York Jets are finalizing a trade to acquire wide receiver Davante Adams from the Raiders, Dynasty Analysis: The Jets had a crushing loss against the Bills last night and clearly want to do everything they can to turn things around. Compensation is reportedly going to include a third round pick that could convert into a second should Adams hit certain incentives. Adams is coming off a soft tissue injury that should magically heal quickly at this point. Now reunited with Aaron Rodgers, Adams should immediately become a target hog and could post WR1 value moving forward.

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Aaron Rodgers Oct 15 11:13am ET
Aaron Rodgers

Dynasty | The Jets are finalizing a trade for Davante Adams, putting Garrett Wilson's role in flux. Dynasty Analysis: Aaron Rodgers is being reunited with his former WR1 in Green Bay and Wilson could be in line for a decrease in targets moving forward. However, dynasty managers really shouldn't panic as Wilson and Rodgers have quickly built a rapport of their own and while his targets may decrease, he may also find some more room to roam with Adams commanding some attention on the other side. Regardless, while this could impact him short-term, Wilson's long-term dynasty future is very bright. Savvy managers will pounce on him should he become available at a reduced rate.

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Davante Adams Oct 15 10:20am ET
Davante Adams

The New York Jets are completing a trade for All-Pro Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The Jets will send a conditional fourth-round pick that can become a second-round pick based on performance. The 31-year-old has missed each of the last three games with a reported hamstring injury, but his absence was also tied to wanting out of Las Vegas. Adams will rejoin future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He spent eight seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay and racked up three seasons of at least 1,300 receiving yards. He scored at least 10 touchdowns in five seasons with the Pack. This is an exciting move for NFL fans, but with Rodgers looking like he has lost a step, it could be difficult for Adams and Wilson to both produce elite fantasy football numbers every week while sharing a field. This move greatly hurts the fantasy football outlook of wide receiver Allen Lazard and tight end Tyler Conklin, but the New York offense could ascend to a high-end unit with a plethora of proven veteran pass-catchers.

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Tyler Bass Oct 15 9:40am ET
Tyler Bass

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass struggled on Monday evening as he went 1-for-2 on field goal attempts and 2-for-3 on extra-point attempts in their victory over the New York Jets. This was his second missed extra-point and second missed field goal of the season. Bass' miss was from 47-yards out. However, he was able to bounce-back as he hit the eventual game-winning field goal from 22-yards out with just under four minutes left. The 27-year-old remains a low-end K1 in all formats given how explosive the Buffalo offense can be. However, his recent struggles could make him hard to trust in smaller league sizes.

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Haason Reddick Oct 15 9:30am ET
Haason Reddick

New York Jets edge rusher Haason Reddick has been granted permission to seek a trade for a short window according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Reddick was acquired by the Jets in the offseason but has been in the midst of a contract holdout through the entire season. Earlier this week, Reddick hired new agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha to continue to work out a contract negation. However, it looks like the Jets have given Reddick an opportunity to look for a trade partner as contract talks have continued to be at a standstill. The 30-year-old enjoyed two successful seasons in Philadelphia as he tallied double-digit sacks in each campaign with six total forced fumbles.

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Keon Coleman Oct 15 9:30am ET
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman caught three of his four targets for 26 yards in their victory on Monday evening against the New York Jets. Coleman's four targets tied for the second-highest among Buffalo pass catchers and was only lower than tight end Dalton Kincaid's seven targets. The 21-year-old rookie has had trouble finding consistency through the early part of his debut campaign. Last weekend Coleman caught only one pass but it was for a 49-yard score. Through the first six weeks, the Florida State product has averaged just two receptions in each game with 33.5 yards per game. Coleman remains a low-end WR3 for the time being but could eventually emerge as a top option in the Buffalo air attack as he gets accustomed to professional football.

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Ty Johnson Oct 15 9:20am ET
Ty Johnson

Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson saw just four carries for 34 yards in their victory over the New York Jets. Johnson did not see a target in the passing game. After serving as the No.2 option to James Cook through the opening weeks of the campaign, Johnson ceded those duties to rookie Ray Davis on Monday evening. Davis logged an impressive 20 carries with James Cook (toe) sitting out. Davis also added three receptions for 55 yards in the passing game. Fantasy managers should not hold Johnson on their bench any longer in shallow formats as the 27-year-old could have very little standalone value once Cook returns with the emergence of Davis in this backfield.

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Micah Parsons Oct 15 9:10am ET
Micah Parsons

Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) may not be ready to return to action in Week 8 following their Week 7 bye according to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports. Podell further reported that head coach Mike McCarthy expressed that, "The bye week will be a big one for Parsons." Fantasy managers in IDP leagues should continue to closely monitor Parsons' status over the next two weeks as he could be in danger of missing his third-straight game. The Dallas Cowboys defense has taken a significant step back this season after being one of the best units in 2023. They have allowed at least 28 points in three games this season and have just 14 total team sacks which is only the 16th-highest mark in football. The Dallas defense would be hard to trust without Parsons in Week 8 when they travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers and should be kept out of starting lineups in all standard formats.

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Ricky Pearsall Oct 15 9:00am ET
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) returned to practice on Monday according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. This was the first time the first-round selection returned to the field after suffering a gunshot wound last month. Last week, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the team would be opening Pearsall's 21-day practice window. This is a great sign to see the Florida product already back with the team early in the week and participating in practice. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the injury report throughout the week as the rookie will likely be eased into action given how much time he missed. For now, the 24-year-old remains a stash candidate for deeper formats until he earns a consistent role in the San Francisco passing attack.

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Greg Zuerlein Oct 15 6:40am ET
Greg Zuerlein

New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein made two of his four field-goal attempts and added two extra points in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Zuerlein made field goals from 34 and 22 yards out while missing from 32 and 43 yards away. Both of those misses were crucial as they came in the second half of the close game on Monday night. Zuerlein has missed on four of his 12 field-goal attempts this season while making all 11 of his extra points. He will look to rebound in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Will McDonald IV Oct 15 6:40am ET
Will McDonald IV

The New York Jets defense allowed 23 points and notched two sacks in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. New York allowed the Bills to pick up 359 yards of total offense in the contest but played well enough to give the team a chance to win. The Jets got sacks from Quinnen Williams and Will McDonald IV while Jamien Sherwood led the way with seven solo tackles. McDonald has been a force as a pass rusher in 2024 as he already has seven sacks in six games. New York will look to bounce back in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Tyler Conklin Oct 15 6:10am ET
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught two of his three targets for 10 yards in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Conklin came into the game questionable with a hip injury but he ultimately managed to suit up for the close loss on Monday night. The veteran tight end has shown some flashes this season as he had caught 10 passes for 72 yards in his two games prior to the loss to the Bills. Overall, Conklin has 19 catches for 191 yards through six games in 2024. He will be on the map as a TE2/streaming option heading into Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Allen Lazard Oct 15 6:00am ET
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught six of his seven targets for 114 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Lazard made the play of the game for the Jets as he came down with a 52-yard touchdown catch on a Hail Mary with eight seconds left in the first half. The veteran wide receiver has been a pleasant surprise in 2024 as the Jets' No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson. On the year, Lazard has 26 catches for 354 yards and five touchdowns through six games. Firmly on the map as a weekly flex option in fantasy moving forward, Lazard will face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Mike Williams Oct 15 6:00am ET
Mike Williams

New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams failed to catch any of his three targets in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. Williams was shaken up on the Jets' final offensive play of the game when he went down attempting to catch an Aaron Rodgers pass that was ultimately intercepted. The Jets took him to be evaluated for a concussion following the completion of the Monday night game. Williams has seen his production decline over the past two weeks as he has just two catches for 25 on seven targets over that span. Look for the Jets to update Williams' status at some point early in the week as they begin preparing to face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7.

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Breece Hall Oct 15 5:50am ET
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall carried the ball 18 times for 113 yards and caught five of his six targets for 56 yards in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. The veteran back's first 100-yard rushing game of the season was a welcome sight after he had struggled greatly in his previous two games. Hall also made an impact in the passing attack as his 56 receiving yards were third-most on the Jets in the close loss on Monday night. The speedy running back now has rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns while adding 26 catches for 204 yards and a receiving touchdown through six games. The Jets will now begin preparing to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Hall can be considered a mid-range RB1 for that matchup.

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Braelon Allen Oct 15 5:50am ET
Braelon Allen

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen carried the ball three times for eight yards and failed to corral either of his two targets in a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. The Jets surprisingly went away from Allen in Week 6's Monday night game, instead opting to give 18 of the team's 21 running-back carries to Breece Hall. Allen's workload has steadily declined since his 11-carry, 55-yard performance against the New England Patriots in Week 3 as he's seen eight, five, and now three carries over the past three games. Allen remains a priority handcuff option in fantasy leagues but his days as a standalone flex option appear to be over for now. He should not be in starting lineups in fantasy heading into a Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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