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FFL: Week 11 | NFL: Week 11

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 11

Player Notes
Parker Washington Nov 18 7:30pm ET
Parker Washington

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington joined the rest of the offense on Sunday in producing very little in the 52-6 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 11. Washington was targeted three times by quarterback Mac Jones and hauled in one of the three targets for a pickup of 10 yards. The 22-year-old should have a much bigger role moving forward now that Gabe Davis (knee) has been ruled out for the season, but Washington and the rest of the Jags' offense is desperately hoping that regular QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) will be ready to return following the team's Week 12 bye. Washington, a sixth-rounder in 2023, has just one catch for 10 yards in the two games that Mac Jones has started. He has only 10 catches (18 targets) for 118 yards and no TDs in 11 games this year and will primarily be a bench stash in deep leagues the rest of the way.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Nov 18 7:30pm ET
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is expected to return to practice on Wednesday after sitting out the Week 11 divisional loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday due to hamstring irritation that he picked up in the Week 10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle was "close" to playing on Sunday. Barring a setback once the 31-year-old returns to practice this week, he should be able to return in Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. With elevated playing time against Seattle with Kittle out, Eric Saubert failed to take advantage and caught one pass for seven yards. Despite missing two games this year due to injury, Kittle is the TE2 in half-PPR scoring with 43 receptions, 560 yards and a league-leading seven touchdowns. If he's active in Week 12, he's a must-start in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Nov 18 7:20pm ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. was the team's lead back in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions on Sunday with Tank Bigsby (ankle) inactive, but he wasn't able to do much with his 15 touches in the 52-6 blowout loss. Etienne finished with a team-high 12 rushing attempts for only 27 yards (2.3 yards per carry) and caught all three of his targets for just six receiving yards. On the road against a stout Lions defensive front with quarterback Mac Jones filling in for Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) for the second straight week amounted to the Jaguars' offense getting absolutely dominated all day. It was surely a disappointment for Etienne's fantasy managers that were hoping for more with Bigsby out. The 25-year-old has under 50 rushing yards in five straight games now and could be splitting carries again with Bigsby coming out of the team's Week 12 bye.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Nov 18 7:20pm ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram hauled in five of his seven targets for only 28 receiving yards in the 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions on the road on Sunday in Week 11. Outside of rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who had five catches for a team-high 82 yards, nobody in Jacksonville's offense was able to produce much on a day where the team was held out of the end zone and quarterback Mac Jones threw for under 150 yards. The good news for the 30-year-old veteran tight end is that his seven targets and five receptions were both tied for the team lead with Thomas. He's also had three straight games with at least five catches, although it hasn't come with much yardage. Hopefully for Engram's sake, he'll be taking passes from quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) again after the Week 12 bye, which would vault him into firm TE1 range in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Nov 18 7:10pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

As expected, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (back, shoulder) is officially active on Monday night to face off against the Houston Texans. Lamb came into Week 11 preparation nursing a shoulder injury but then popped up on the injury report on Saturday due to a back injury and was listed as questionable. The Cowboys never seemed terribly worried that Lamb would miss Monday's game, though. Although Lamb's fantasy ceiling and floor have dropped considerably with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) out for the year, he still belongs in most starting fantasy lineups on a weekly basis. The 25-year-old caught six of his 10 targets for 21 yards in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and will look to do better on Monday with quarterback Cooper Rush throwing him the ball. Dallas will likely have to pass frequently to keep up with Houston.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Nov 18 4:50pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is considered a full-go for the Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys and will not have any playing-time restrictions despite missing the team's last five games due to a hamstring injury. It's excellent news for Collins' fantasy managers that should have already moved him back into their starting lineups for Week 11 action. The 25-year-old pass-catcher hasn't played since getting hurt back on Oct. 6 against the Buffalo Bills, but before his injury, he was the NFL's receiving leader, and he's returning to an offense that won't have receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) for the rest of the year. The Cowboys defense has been around middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wideouts in 2024, but Collins should be heavily involved in his first game back and has WR1 upside as long as he plays a normal share of offensive snaps.

From RotoBaller

Tyquan Thornton Nov 18 4:40pm ET
Tyquan Thornton

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on Monday, according to a source. The former second-rounder in 2022 out of Baylor will now get another opportunity with the defending Super Bowl champions after the Patriots waived him on Saturday. The 24-year-old caught 35 of his 68 targets for 338 yards and two touchdowns in 22 games (12 starts) in his first two years in New England before catching just four passes on eight targets for 47 yards in six games with the Patriots this year. Thornton certainly has some more intrigue in KC, but it remains to be seen if he can work his way into a big enough role down the stretch for the Chiefs. As things stand now, the Chiefs have a receiving corps that includes DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, rookie Xavier Worthy, Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Nov 18 3:50pm ET
Daniel Jones

New York Giants ownership has suggested that head coach Brian Daboll will return in 2025, but according to sources, there's a growing sense that he is now coaching for his job over the final seven games in 2024. The heat on Daboll is partially why the Giants chose quarterback Tommy Devito as the starter under center over Drew Lock after benching Daniel Jones coming out of the Week 10 bye. The team's relationship with Jones has been described as "a bit awkward," according to multiple sources. "It was like flirting with someone new while your date is still at the table," one source said. The G-Men are now 2-8 heading into a Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and are probably looking at an offseason full of changes, even if they pick things up down the stretch. DeVito has experience in Daboll's system and wasn't terrible in six starts in 2023, but the upside is going to be minimal in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Roquan Smith Nov 18 3:40pm ET
Roquan Smith

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said there are currently no updates on the status of linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) after he injured his hamstring in the Week 11 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. "No updates right now. Just monitoring it as we go," Harbaugh said. Smith injured his hamstring early in the fourth quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after. Before leaving, the 27-year-old was busy, collecting 13 tackles (two for loss) against the Steelers. We'll have a better idea on Smith's Week 12 status once the Ravens resume practicing on Wednesday, but if he's unable to play, it will be a big loss for Baltimore's defense next Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Smith currently checks in as the No. 3 fantasy linebacker in IDP leagues in overall points.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Nov 18 3:30pm ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday that the team's short turnaround this Thursday night against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 played a role in running back Nick Chubb only playing 22 snaps on offense on Sunday in the Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Chubb finished with 11 carries for 50 yards and was not targeted through the air for the first time since making his 2024 debut on Oct. 20 in the loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. The limited workload on Sunday was disappointing with the Browns coming off their bye, but the good news is Chubb should be more involved out of the backfield this Thursday, albeit in a tough matchup against one of the best defenses in the NFL. The 28-year-old has a career-low 3.1 yards per carry on 53 rushing attempts in four games so far in his return from a serious knee injury in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Nov 18 3:30pm ET
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) is officially in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Week 11 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Spears was forced to leave the game late in the fourth quarter. He finished with a disappointing three carries for no gain while catching two of his three targets for just eight yards in the 23-13 defeat. The 23-year-old will now have to pass through the NFL's concussion protocol this week in order to gain clearance to play in Week 12 versus the division-rival Houston Texans on Sunday. Already a low-upside, low-floor RB3/flex in deeper fantasy leagues, Spears is shaping up as a depth RB to avoid going into Week 12. If he is unable to clear the concussion protocol, it would give Tony Pollard RB2 upside, while Julius Chestnut's role would expand behind Pollard.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Nov 18 3:10pm ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. hauled in 5-of-7 targets for 82 yards in the team's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. The rookie wideout was the only Jaguars player to record more than 28 receiving yards on a day when quarterback Mac Jones tossed for 138 yards. His target and reception total tied tight end Evan Engram for the highest marks on the team. BTJ recorded three receptions of at least 20 yards and could have had an even bigger day if a late 33-yard reception wasn't overturned. Despite the woes of the Jags' offense, the sensational 22-year-old continues to perform, though it's worth noting that he did appear to get injured on the overturned reception. Fortunately, he'll get a bye in Week 12 before a divisional clash against the Houston Texans in Week 13.

From RotoBaller

Mac Jones Nov 18 3:00pm ET
Mac Jones

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones completed 17-of-29 passes for 138 yards and one interception in Sunday's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. He rushed for seven yards on his two carries. Yikes. The Jags recorded just ten first downs to the Lions' 38 and were overmatched from the start. Jones wasn't much better than his performance against the Vikings the week prior, as he has yet to throw a passing touchdown in either of his starts. In his defense, he's faced quite the gauntlet of defenses in his first taste of action since Week 12 of 2023. Still, he's averaging an abysmal 4.88 yards per attempt in his two outings. With the Jags on bye in Week 12, the door is open for QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) to make a return against the Texans in Week 13 if he can heal up enough over the week off.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Pierce Nov 18 2:40pm ET
Antonio Pierce

Per head coach Antonio Pierce, the Las Vegas Raiders are sticking with quarterback Gardner Minshew for at least one more week. Paul Gutierrez of ESPN reported the news. The 28-year-old has been fine this season, albeit unspectacular, as the Raiders attempt to figure out their long-term quarterback solution. Las Vegas will line up against the Denver Broncos this Sunday in a divisional clash, and it could be Minshew's last week as the starter, with QB Aidan O'Connell (thumb) eligible to return from IR the following week. It will be interesting to see if AOC slots back in as the team's starter upon his return, but Minshew will get one more crack at the starting job against a stout Denver Broncos defense at home in Week 12.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Nov 18 2:30pm ET
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts in Week 11, hitting from 41 and 51 yards out and restoring some semblance of confidence in his abilities after missing three of four chances in Week 10. Unfortunately for the Falcons, Koo's two field goals were the totality of the scoring for Atlanta, losing 38-6 on the road in Denver. Between missing seven field goals this season and the Falcon offense sputtering as of late, Koo is looking like somewhat of a risky play for the rest of the season. If you're a streamer, look to use him in more favorable matchups, and Week 13 versus the Chargers may be a decent one as L.A. has been fairly good at holding opponents out of the end zone.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Nov 18 2:30pm ET
Dak Prescott

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Dallas Cowboys have officially placed quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) on injured reserve. The move was merely a formality, as it was expected that he'd miss the remainder of 2024 after suffering an avulsion fracture in his hamstring. In his absence, Dallas will continue to roll with quarterback Cooper Rush as their starter, though for how long remains to be seen. Rush didn't have a particularly encouraging outing last weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles when he completed 13-of-23 passes for 45 yards. With fourth-year player Trey Lance the only other active quarterback on the roster, it might be worth it for the Cowboys to see what they've got in the 24-year-old.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Nov 18 2:20pm ET
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier did not receive a single carry in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos but caught a pass for the first time in four weeks, although it was for a one-yard loss. The Falcons fell behind quickly and trailed the entire game, so the running game suffered, but even when many of the starters came out of the game in the fourth quarter, it was not Allgeier who entered for Bijan Robinson, but rookie Jase McClellan, who received eight carries in garbage time. Had the game been closer, Allgeier likely would have been more involved, so the 24-year-old will look to get back on track in Week 13 against the Chargers. Los Angeles has been good against the run, though, so the former fifth-round draft pick will likely be in the RB3/4 range for fantasy purposes.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Nov 18 2:20pm ET
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will decide on running back Isiah Pacheco's (fibula) status for Sunday's matchup against the Carolina Panthers after this week of practice. Reid was discussing Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee) when he noted they'll "just have to see how each player does in practice this week." It's encouraging that the head coach didn't outright rule out the 25-year-old. Still, it would be nice for him to exhibit more confidence regarding the third-year back's status. Pacheco, who has been out since fracturing his fibula in Week 2, would immediately boost the Chiefs' offense and fantasy manager's lineups when he's healthy. Keep an eye on his practice participation over the next few days, as that will likely be telling of his status for Sunday's outing.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Nov 18 2:00pm ET
Gabriel Davis

Per head coach Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining a meniscus tear in the team's 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. Ian Rapoport reported the news. It's an unfortunate turn of events for the Jaguars, who are already without wide receiver Christian Kirk (collarbone) after losing him for the season. Davis, who was in his first year with the Jaguars, will finish his season with 20 receptions, 239 yards, and two touchdowns on 42 targets. Fellow wideouts Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Devin Duvernay project to run in three-wide-receiver sets, while tight end Evan Engram will likely see an increase in usage.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Nov 18 1:50pm ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts faded into obscurity again in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos, catching just one of his three targets for a paltry nine yards. No one stood out on offense in Denver so it is not entirely on Pitts, but so much for having a regular role in the 2024 version of this offense. Just when it looked like he was on a bit of a roll in Weeks 5 through 8, the 24-year-old has posted two one-catch performances in the last three weeks. As inconsistent and frustrating as it has been to have him in fantasy lineups, believe it or not, the former first-round draft pick is still well within the top 12 in fantasy scoring at the position, so he likely warrants a starting role going forward as painful as it may be from week to week. After the Falcons' bye, Atlanta will face the Chargers who have been pretty good at defending the tight end position, even limiting the Bengal TEs on Sunday night to just three catches for 22 yards. Pitts likely finds himself as a volatile back-end TE1 that week.

From RotoBaller