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
Testing revealed that Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (foot/ankle) avoided a major injury, according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Penn State product was carted off the field during the Panthers' victory against the New York Giants in Munich, but he appears to have dodged the worst-case scenarios. Rapoport reported that Sanders will be considered "day-to-day" as the team waits for swelling to dissipate. The Panthers are idle this week, but the veteran back has little fantasy relevance even at full health. Chuba Hubbard has been the clear lead running back in Carolina, while second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) is close to making his NFL debut.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Tanner Conner (knee) has been placed on injured reserve. The 26-year-old injured his knee during Monday night's win over the Los Angeles Rams. Conner has primarily played on special teams this season, registering just three catches for 16 yards along the way. Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe, and Julian Hill remain the top three tight ends on Miami's offensive depth chart.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers released running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn from their practice squad on Tuesday. He'll be replaced by running back Patrick Taylor Jr., who signed to the Niners' practice squad the same day. Vaughn bounced around with the Buccaneers and Patriots from 2020 through 2023, amassing 384 rushing yards, 81 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns. He had not yet registered a stat with the Niners at the time of his release. Moving forward, the 49ers' running back depth chart will feature Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo, and Taylor (in that order).
From RotoBaller
The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran wide receiver and special teamer Jakeem Grant to their practice squad on Tuesday. Grant spent a portion of 2024 training camp with Atlanta before being cut loose. He hasn't touched the football in a game since 2021, a year in which he made the Pro Bowl as a returner. The 32-year-old could work his way onto the active roster with his special teams experience, but he's not a dependable offensive weapon and therefore should be left untouched in all fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle (hamstring) has hamstring irritation and will be monitored throughout the week, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday, Nov. 11.
Fantasy Spin: Any potential injury issue for the top-scoring fantasy tight end is notable, although none of the team's beat reporters seems overly concerned about it yet. While fantasy managers should not be overly concerned yet, Kittle missed a game earlier this year with a hamstring problem. Assuming he practices this week, he should be considered a strong TE1 option in Week 11 versus the Seattle Seahawks.
From TheHuddle
The Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make the change to quarterback Desmond Ridder after Gardner Minshew II was benched for a third time this year in the Week 9 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Nothing is official yet, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Raiders go with Ridder under center coming off their bye to face the Miami Dolphins this Sunday. Aidan O'Connell (finger) is on Injured Reserve. Head coach Antonio Pierce is feeling the pressure after losing five straight games to fall to 2-7 before the Week 10 bye. After Ridder took over for Minshew in the loss to the Bengals, he went 11-for-16 for 74 yards and a touchdown while also losing a fumble. The former Falcons QB won't be anything more than a desperation QB2 in superflex leagues if he gets the start against a Dolphins D that just kept the Rams out of the end zone all game on Monday.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins defensive back Kendall Fuller (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 11 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to head coach Mike McDaniels. Fuller suffered a concussion during Monday's win over the Los Angeles Rams. This is his second concussion of the season and as a result he'll be held out in Week 11 while he works to clear concussion protocol. Either Siran Neal or Cam Smith will take over as the opposite corner to Jalen Ramsey. The loss of Fuller will hurt, but the Dolphins defense should still be fine against a struggling Raiders offense.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys have signed quarterback Will Grier to their practice squad on Tuesday. Grier was recently cut off the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad, but it didn't take him long to find a new home. He figures to join the team as depth with Dak Prescott (hamstring) done for the season. The former third-round pick has done very little since being drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2019. He played in two games as a rookie and hasn't done anything since then. Grier is likely brought in as depth in case Cooper Rush or Trey Lance suffer an injury at some point. The 29-year-old figures to remain on the practice squad going forward.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. was waived by the team last week to make room for Christian McCaffrey on the active roster. However, Taylor is back with the organization less than a week later. It appears Taylor was decided to rejoin the practice squad after clearing waivers this week. This move doesn't mean much right now considering Taylor has seven carries for 25 yards on the season. He's nice depth to have given the how often running backs get injured in San Francisco. He figures to fall behind Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo in the pecking order for backups, so fantasy managers can ignore Taylor.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert (hip) was unable to participate during Tuesday's practice session. Seibert sat out last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a hip issue. It seems that Seibert is still dealing with that problem after missing Tuesday's practice. He's trending in the wrong direction ahead of Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Zane Gonzalez figures to be asked to take over the kicking duties if Seibert sits out during this short week. Gonzalez knocked down both his field goal attempts and three extra point kicks during last week's game. The 29-year-old could be worth streaming if Seibert is unable to play.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Darius Slay Jr. (ankle) was able to get through a limited practice session on Tuesday. His return to the practice field is a good sign heading into Thursday's game against the Washington Commanders. Slay was forced to exit early during last week's game against the Dallas Cowboys due to an ankle issue. He did return in the second half, but sat out of Monday's practice, which was a bit concerning. However, Slay is back to practicing now which means he should be fine ahead of this Thursday Night matchup. His absence would leave a big hole in this secondary, so fantasy managers planning to stream the Eagles defense should check on Slay's final status before doing that.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's senior inside Adam Schefter said on Tuesday that he "would guess Daniel Jones never plays another snap for the New York Giants" after losing to the Carolina Panthers in Week 10 in Munich, Germany. The Giants currently have the worst record in football at 2-8 and would be in line to have the first overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft. Head coach Brian Daboll has stood behind Jones as the starting QB this year, but Schefter notes that Daboll's tone was different after Sunday's loss to Carolina in which Jones missed several open receivers and made questionable decisions. Going into their Week 11 bye, the Giants are evaluating everything and could head into Week 12 with some notable changes. If the G-Men bench Jones, who has a $23 million injury guarantee, to avoid him getting hurt to close things out, Drew Lock would be thrust into the starting role in the Big Apple.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) told ESPN's Lisa Salters that he has a torn ligament in his left wrist but has been playing through it. The ligament has bothered Hill since training camp, but it became an issue when he was detained by police and thrown on the ground back in September. The 30-year-old All-Pro pass-catcher was listed as questionable to play in Week 10 on Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams, but he was ultimately active for the 23-15 victory and caught three of his four targets for 16 yards and just his second touchdown of the year. He added two carries for 11 yards. The TD was nice, but the Cheetah had his second-lowest yardage total of the year on Monday night, and his wrist could bother him the rest of the way. Miami's offense has yet to find its stride with QB Tua Tagovailoa back, but that could happen in a juicy Week 11 matchup against the Raiders.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent DE Vinny Curry will retire as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Nov. 12.
From TheHuddle
The San Francisco 49ers and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir reached an agreement on Tuesday on a five-year, $92 million contract extension. Lenoir was in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 but will now stick around in the Bay Area for the long term after becoming one of the most underrated players on the Niners' defense in recent years. The former fifth-round selection in 2021 out of Oregon had a career-high 84 tackles (58 solo), a career-high three interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 17 regular-season starts for the team last year and currently has 53 tackles (33 solo), two interceptions, six pass breakups and a forced fumble in nine games in 2024 heading into the Week 11 game against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. The 25-year-old defensive back has become an every-down player for the 49ers defense and a key member of their secondary.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers WR Cameron Johnson and TE Jordan Matthews were waived on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
From TheHuddle
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores suggested that he would like another crack at a head-coaching job during his appearance on the Adam Schefter podcast on Tuesday. Flores has led a serious turn around of the Vikings' defense over the last couple of years. The Vikings have the No. 2 rush defense in the NFL in 2024. Their pass defense is No. 26 in yards allowed per game. However, that statistic is likely due to the fact that the run defense is so dominant and the Vikings' offense generally forces opposing teams to play from behind. Flores was once a head coach for the Miami Dolphins and had an infamously poor relationship with young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He was eventually fired which resulted in his filing of a lawsuit against the league for injustice in head coach termination. Flores' name is sure to come up again over the next couple of head coaching cycles. His success with the Vikings is eye popping considering their defense was so poor prior to his arrival. For now, he will continue to lead one of the best units in the NFL as the Vikings find themselves in a surprisingly excellent position in the NFC playoff race through 10 weeks.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) was listed as a DNP on Tuesday's practice estimation. Lattimore has not practiced or played since he was traded to the Commanders ahead of the trade deadline last week. The Commanders are clearly going all in on this season with the addition of Lattimore and are surely eager to get him on the field to bolster their secondary. Lattimore has not played since Week 8 when he was still a member of the New Orleans Saints. In seven games played in 2024, Lattimore has recorded just two passes defensed and no interceptions. The Saints were struggling as a whole and Lattimore was not immune to those struggles. For the Commanders' sake, hopefully Lattimore finds himself again in Washington. Either way, he should be an upgrade over their current secondary. Lattimore's lack of participation on Monday and Tuesday does not bode well for his chances of suiting up on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. This is a situation to monitor for fantasy managers who roster Eagles wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Both players would likely be negatively impacted by the presence of Lattimore on the field.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday. Goedert returned from injury in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys and scored a respectable 10.5 fantasy points. He also scored his first touchdown on the season in Week 10. Prior to his injury, Goedert had been one of the best tight ends in fantasy so his return to the lineup is a welcome one for fantasy managers. Goedert draws a solid matchup in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders. Both teams' defenses have improved as the season has gone on but both offenses are potent and should generate a lot of passing attempts. That bodes well for Goedert who is the third option on his team behind wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Although Goedert was listed as a DNP on Monday, his activity on Tuesday suggests that he should suit up once again in Week 11. He should be a solid fantasy option if healthy.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) was listed as limited on the Commanders' injury report on Tuesday. Robinson has not played since Week 8 because of the injury. He was close to returning in Week 11 so his activity on Tuesday suggests that he may be on track to return this week. Additionally, Robinson was limited on Monday's practice report as well. As long as Robinson keeps up this trend then he seems to have a good shot to play in Week 11 against the Washington Commanders. Fantasy managers will rejoice to have Robinson back in lineups. In seven games played in 2024, Robinson has racked up six touchdowns and 461 rushing yards. The Commanders' offense has been one of the best in the league thanks to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. As such, Robinson's scoring opportunities have been constant. The Eagles defense presents a tough challenge for Robinson and he may be worked back into the lineup slowly. Should he suit up, he will likely be a low-end RB2 in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
