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.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he saw improvements from rookie quarterback Bo Nix from Week 1 to Week 2. "I feel a confident player. From that standpoint, I'm encouraged," Payton said. Through his first two regular-season NFL games, Nix has struggled, going 46-for-77 (59.74%) for 384 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions. He's carried the ball nine times for 60 yards and one touchdown. The 24-year-old first-rounder from Oregon did move the ball through the air better in the Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he failed to lead a single TD drive and isn't really testing defenses down the field. Fantasy managers weren't really expecting much out of Nix in his first NFL season, and he should have a long leash. Going into Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he'll be a QB3 in superflex leagues.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Monday that tight end Jake Ferguson (knee) was "real close" to playing in the Week 2 blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints. "The expectation is for him to be back" in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens. Ferguson suffered an MCL sprain and a bone bruise in his left knee in the Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns but was not cleared to play against the Saints. The 25-year-old should be considered day-to-day heading into this week, and we should have a better idea of his availability for this weekend when the Cowboys start practicing later this week. Luke Schoonmaker caught all six of his targets for 43 yards in the 44-19 drubbing by the Saints, but he's probably not worth much attention on the waiver wire with Ferguson having a shot to return soon. When healthy, Ferguson is on the TE1 radar in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers second-year quarterback Bryce Young had a historically bad day in the 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2, passing for only 84 yards to tie for the fourth-fewest in team history for a QB with at least 25 pass attempts. Young became the third player in the last 20 seasons to average four or fewer yards per dropback in four straight starts. He has three interceptions and no touchdowns in two starts in 2024. However, head coach Dave Canales said Young would be the team's starter in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raider at Allegiant Stadium. Carolina has been outscored 72-13 by the Chargers and Saints, and Young, the top pick in 2023, is now 2-16 as a starter. The 23-year-old Young has yet to really show any improvement in Year 2, completing only 55.4% of his 56 pass attempts with no TDs and three interceptions. He'll remain off the fantasy radar in Week 3 against Vegas.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) is day-to-day and doesn't appear to have suffered a very serious injury in the Week 2 loss to the New York Jets in the team's home opener. Still, Spears' practice status will be worth watching later this week as they prepare to play the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. If the 23-year-old is limited at all or eventually ruled out, it would mean a bigger workload for Tony Pollard. Before getting hurt on Sunday, Spears had six carries for only 20 yards while catching two of his three targets for 11 yards against the Jets. Through two games, Spears hasn't been much more than a low-upside RB3/flex option for fantasy managers in what has been a less-than-impressive Titans offense. Julius Chestnut would become Tennessee's RB2 behind Pollard if Spears is forced to miss Week 3.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end/fullback Taysom Hill (chest) returned home to New Orleans on Sunday night on the team's charter after being transported from the stadium to the hospital due to a chest injury he suffered in the Week 2 blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys. Hill is scheduled for more tests on Monday, but at the moment, the Saints don't think his injury is overly serious. We'll have a better idea of the 34-year-old's status for a Week 3 showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles once the Saints start practicing later this week. But if Hill is limited or out this weekend, expect to see more pass-catching opportunities for Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau at tight end and more backfield work for running back Jamaal Williams behind Alvin Kamara. In two games in 2024, Hill has eight carries for 53 yards and has caught just two of three targets for two yards through the air.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he will not rule out tight end David Njoku (ankle) for the Week 3 game against the New York Giants "yet." Njoku suffered an ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and was inactive in Sunday's 18-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Njoku is considered week-to-week with his ankle sprain, and depending on what he can do in practices this week, he could have a shot to return after missing just one game. Without the 28-year-old in Jacksonville, backup Jordan Akins caught his only target for a 10-yard gain on a day in which quarterback Deshaun Watson didn't look all that great again with 186 passing yards on 34 attempts. When healthy, Njoku is a low-end TE1 in what has looked like a lackluster Cleveland offense so far. Check back later this week to see if Njoku is able to return to the practice field.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (groin) left Sunday's 20-16 win over the Detroit Lions. The former Arizona State star played 71% of the snaps, totaling 10 rushing attempts for 18 yards in Week 2 after a slightly disappointing opening week performance. Thankfully, the third-year running back avoided a significant injury. Fantasy players should check with the Buccaneers' practice report throughout the week to ensure White is on track to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos. If the star running back has to miss a game with the injury, Bucky Irving would see the majority of the work out of the backfield, making him a top-20 running back in Week 3. However, nothing suggests that White won't be able to suit up against the Broncos.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) will undergo an MRI on Monday after getting hip drop tackled in Sunday night's 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Mixon left the game but returned to the contest after the injury. While he managed to return, Cam Akers saw more workload after Mixon suffered the injury, including a handful of rushing attempts near the goal line. Hopefully, the veteran running back won't miss significant time with the injury, especially after Dameon Pierce (hamstring) missed Sunday's matchup against the Bears, leaving Akers as the No. 2 running back. If Mixon and Pierce can't play in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings, Akers is a borderline must-add off the waiver wire.
From RotoBaller
The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Tyler Huntley off of the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad on Monday, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The former Utah signal-caller has appeared in 20 games for the Ravens through his first four NFL seasons and has compiled 1,957 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, 509 rushing yards, and three rushing scores. Huntley was named a Pro Bowler in 2022. This move comes after Tua Tagovailoa (head) suffered another scary concussion during the Thursday Night Football loss to the Buffalo Bills. Although Skylar Thompson is expected to be the starter in Miami, he could be benched in favor of Huntley at some point if the offense struggles. Neither likely presents much upside in single-QB leagues, but both are now on the fantasy radar in superflex and two-QB formats. It's unclear how long Tagovailoa could be out, but he is reportedly not considering retirement.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson stepped into the starting role after Tyler Higbee (knee) remained on the PUP list heading into the season. After receiving five targets in Week 1, the 25-year-old couldn't take another step up in Week 2 as he was a non-factor in the team's blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Parkinson registered one catch for 12 yards on two targets with five other pass-catchers seeing more targets. While Parkinson has the starting role, his involvement in the offense seems too volatile to rely on him every week. He'll look to bounce back in a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. This projects to be an uphill battle against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks couldn't get into much of a rhythm on Sunday, just like the rest of the offense in a disappointing 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Cooks caught both of his targets for 19 yards with his longest reception clocking in at 11 yards. Outside of CeeDee Lamb with his touchdown, the next best receiver in this contest was Jalen Tolbert who received nine targets and turned it into six receptions for 82 yards. For Cooks and all of the receivers behind Lamb, their fantasy value is going to be game script-dependent. The veteran wideout projects to be more of a boom-or-bust flex option as the season rolls on. Cooks and company will take on a Baltimore Ravens team looking for their first win in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) left the stadium on Sunday in a walking boot and crutches after a last-second win over the Cincinnati Bengals. According to a report from Ian Rapoport, the star back had some initial test results that revealed a fractured fibula. There's still more information on the way to determine the severity and how long Pacheco will be out, but he's set to miss "real time" as Rapoport says. Carson Steele seems to be the next man up for now as he received seven carries on Sunday, while Samaje Perine will likely see a lot more opportunities in the meantime as well. Pacheco's status will be something to continue to monitor to determine backup fantasy plans, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) may get some more opportunities than expected if he can return in time. In a new report from Adam Schefter, Pacheco is expected to land on the IR which means he'll be out for at least four games, and could even miss more than that depending on further testing.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta hasn't seen the volume or success expected so far, especially in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished Sunday's contest with two receptions for 13 yards on three targets. While they aired it out more in this game, 30 targets went to the top two receivers while Jahmyr Gibbs received the next most at seven. Through the first two games, LaPorta has six catches for 58 yards and hasn't found the end zone yet. He does have a catch percentage of 75% which is even better than his sensational rookie season with 71.7%. In Week 3, LaPorta will go up against the Arizona Cardinals defense that has a lot of holes. The Lions should be able to score and this game could turn into a shootout.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (lower body) was seen hobbling for a bit in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to Adam Schefter, his sources have said that it was initially determined to be a contusion and cramping in his lower body. There hasn't been a specific area reported, but the fact that they seem to be minor injuries is a sigh of relief for everyone involved. The superstar wideout finished Sunday's game with 11 receptions for 119 yards, a big bounce back after just three catches for 13 yards in Week 1. His injury status will be important to monitor as the week goes on to make sure nothing is lingering as the Week 3 contest with the Arizona Cardinals approaches.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (lower-body) had a great game on Sunday, catching 11 passes on an astonishing 19 targets for 119 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. St. Brown was only targeted six times last week, catching three passes for 13 yards. He bounced back after a disappointing performance in Week 1 with a significant increase in targets and overall production. He did exit Sunday's game early with what's being called a "lower body" injury. According to head coach Dan Campbell, the 24-year-old's injury isn't believed to be serious. St. Brown is day-to-day, and fantasy managers should continue to monitor Detroit's injury report ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has proven to be a key piece to this offense in the season's first two games. The third-year wideout received 11 targets on Sunday, turning that into five receptions for 79 yards while taking one carry for 15 yards. Williams was second to only Amon-Ra St. Brown (19) when it comes to targets, with the next highest being Jahmyr Gibbs who had seven. With an ADP of around 120 on most platforms, Williams is becoming a steal with the type of production he's generating in the early goings. In Week 3, the Lions will take on an Arizona Cardinals team that just put up 41 points on the Rams, so it could turn into a shootout, benefitting both Williams and St. Brown.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 34 of 55 pass attempts for 307 yards and two interceptions in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He did not throw a touchdown during Sunday's loss. Goff has now had two average games to start the 2024 season. The 29-year-old is considered a low-end QB2 if he doesn't pick it up soon. After struggling against the Los Angeles Rams and an average Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, the former No. 1 overall pick will look to bounce back against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery had 11 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Iowa State product also caught all four of his targets for 35 yards through the air. Even with Montgomery's production being poor and Jahmyr Gibbs getting more looks, the former third-round pick got the lone touchdown of the Detroit backfield. With this being what fantasy managers drafted him for, they should have nothing to worry about after a good week from Montgomery. He also had more receptions Sunday than in any game during the 2023 season. Montgomery will look to build on Sunday's performance and is a mid-range RB2 against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a good week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, posting 84 yards on 13 carries. Gibbs led the backfield in attempts and receptions, adding seven catches for 22 yards. Even though the first-round pick was kept out of the endzone, he had 20 total touches, leading the entire Detroit offense on Sunday. Gibbs has lived up to being a consensus first-round fantasy pick so far this year. Fantasy managers should have no problem starting him as an RB1 from here on out, even if he splits carries with David Montgomery. The Alabama product has a lot of fantasy upside and has shown that on the field over the first two weeks of the 2024 season. Gibbs remains a must-start against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride was in the right place at just the right time when running back James Conner fumbled at the Rams' five-yard line in the fourth quarter of the two teams' Week 2 showdown. McBride fell on top of the loose ball as it bounced into the end zone, giving Arizona their fifth touchdown of the day in their 41-10 rout of the Rams. A key component of the Cardinals' passing attack, McBride led the team with six catches, catching each ball thrown his way and gaining 67 receiving yards in the process. Fantasy managers fortunate enough to roster McBride can keep him locked in for Arizona's Week 3 matchup against the Detroit Lions, who allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends last season.
From RotoBaller