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FFL: Week 10 | NFL: Week 10

TE Strength of Schedule

Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

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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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Player Notes
Demarcus Robinson Nov 9 9:40pm ET
Demarcus Robinson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (toe/hip) is designation-free for the team's Monday night matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Head coach Sean McVay didn't make a big deal when asked about Robinson's ailments leading up to Week 10's tilt, and it's nice to see the veteran come through. The former fourth-round pick was the hero in last week's OT win over the Seattle Seahawks but will face a stiffer task this Monday against a solid Dolphins defensive unit. Miami has been staunch against the pass this year, allowing the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (183.1) and the fifth-fewest touchdowns through the air (8). Additionally, fellow wideout Puka Nacua will presumably play the entire contest this weekend, so long as he doesn't get himself ejected again. With the Rams' wide receiver corps intact, the 30-year-old is little more than a FLEX play with touchdown upside for the contest. He's RotoBaller's PPR WR47 in this week's rankings.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Nov 9 9:30pm ET
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua will line up against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10 on Monday Night Football. Between a knee injury that won't go away and some suspect behavior (throwing a punch at a Seahawks defender in Week 9 only to get ejected), the second-year wideout has had a tough time formulating any consistency this season. The good news is he did not appear on the Rams' injury report this week, so maybe he's past the ailment that's robbed him of five contests and part of another. The bad news is that Miami's secondary is no joke, as they've afforded their opponents the fourth-fewest passing yards per game in the league (183.1). Still, the 23-year-old will occupy his usual role as a top-two option in LA's passing attack and should be started by fantasy managers despite the less-than-ideal matchup. The BYU alum ranks as RotoBaller's PPR WR8 for this weekend's slate.

From RotoBaller

Zane Gonzalez Nov 9 9:10pm ET
Zane Gonzalez

The Washington Commanders have acquired kicker Zane Gonzalez ahead of their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. With the news that Austin Seibert (hip) had been downgraded to out with a hip ailment, the team signed Gonzales to their practice squad and then promptly elevated him to the active roster a day later. Week 10 will be the veteran's first taste of action since 2021, when he appeared in 12 games and hit on 22-of-23 extra point attempts and 20-of-22 field goal tries for the Carolina Panthers. Seibert has been excellent this year for Washington, connecting on 92.6% of his three-point attempts (25-of-27) and knocking in all 22 extra-point opportunities. We'll see how long he is out of the lineup. In the meantime, Gonzalez will slot in in his stead.

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Cooper Kupp Nov 9 7:10pm ET
Cooper Kupp

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is coming off a tremendous performance during last week's win over the Seattle Seahawks. Kupp hauled in 11 of his 14 targets for 104 yards as he torched that secondary all game long. The veteran wideout missed four games due to injury, but is back now and hasn't missed a beat. Kupp figures to continue being a focal point on offense after playing in 92 percent of the snaps last week. He heads into a matchup against the Miami Dolphins who have struggled at times to contain the passing game. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried about Kupp losing a step as he should be plugged in as a strong WR1 for this weekend.

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Dalvin Cook Nov 9 7:00pm ET
Dalvin Cook

Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook won't be elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cook has been on the active roster for each of the last two games, but hasn't done much damage on the field. He has rushed eight times for 20 yards over his past two appearances. The Cowboys have decided to go a different route this weekend. Instead, Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn will split up the carries in the backfield. Out of the trio, Dowdle is the most reliable option with a 75-yard performance during last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Fantasy managers still holding onto Cook are probably safe to look elsewhere for help.

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Austin Seibert Nov 9 6:50pm ET
Austin Seibert

Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert (hip) has been downgraded to out ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Seibert suffered a hip injury last week and missed practice time this week because of the issue. The team will ultimately hold out Seibert for Week 10 due to the hip injury, but hopefully it'll only be a one-game absence. Zane Gonzalez has been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday's game. Fantasy managers looking for a streaming option this weekend might want to consider Gonzalez with the Commanders offense rolling right now.

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Chris Rodriguez Jr. Nov 9 6:50pm ET
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Washington Commanders kicker Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been signed to the active roster ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodriguez is back on the active roster with Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) being ruled out for this weekend. The expectation is that Austin Ekeler and Rodriguez will split up the backfield duties for Washington. Last week, Rodriguez carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards in the win over the New York Giants. He'll get a tougher challenge against the Steelers defense this week, but he could have some desperation flex value for Week 10.

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Spencer Shrader Nov 9 6:40pm ET
Spencer Shrader

New York Jets kicker Spencer Shrader has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The merry-go-round at kicker continues for the Jets as they seemingly have gone through a handful of kickers over the last few weeks. The Jets also have Anders Carlson, but it's looking like Shrader is going to get the starting nod this weekend. Fantasy managers shouldn't get too invested in Shrader as this could very well be a one-game stint for him. He could be worth a look for fantasy managers needing a streaming option at kicker this week, but probably won't be a long term solution at the position.

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Drake London Nov 9 6:30pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (hip) is expected to suit up for the Week 10 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. London was pulled out during the first half of last week's game due to a hip inury. He has been limited in practice this week, but could be the team just being cautious with London. It sounds like London will be ready to play, barring any setbacks. London figures to do damage against a shaky Saints secondary that no longer has Marshon Lattimore. Fantasy managers should feel confident about pulling London into their fantasy lineups ahead of this game.

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Derek Carr Nov 9 6:00pm ET
Derek Carr

The Falcons defense has not been great this season by any means, recording seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a league-low nine sacks. However, Week 10 brings a matchup with the Saints, a team that will be without their top two receivers, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, without rookie wideout Bub Means, without veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., and likely will be without backup running back Jamaal Williams. That doesn't leave much for Derek Carr to work with beyond Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, which could give Atlanta a good shot to keep points off the board and potentially force a few miscues from the opposition. That being the case, the Falcons D/ST has a good shot to finish as a top 12 defense this week.

From RotoBaller

Gus Edwards Nov 9 5:10pm ET
Gus Edwards

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards was activated off the Injured Reserve list on Saturday. The 29-year-old wasn't relevant for fantasy managers before going on the shelf due to an ankle injury, amassing 38 touches for 113 yards in four games. While there's a chance he could get involved in Week 10 against the Titans, assuming he suits up, J.K. Dobbins, who has played relatively well this season, will presumably remain the top option out of the backfield. Still, with Dobbins seemingly always one wrong move away from an injury, Edwards could gain streaming potential at some point moving ahead. For now, keep him out of any fantasy lineup.

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Tyreek Hill Nov 9 5:00pm ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) is officially questionable for Monday night's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. The wideout is doing all he can to get out there in Week 10. But he missed practice for a second-straight day, so things don't look promising. Hill has struggled this season, amassing 34 catches for 446 yards. Even worse, he has only one trip to the end zone. While fantasy managers should stay optimistic regarding his potential for a turnaround, especially with Tua Tagovailoa back on the field, the injury only adds to what has already been a tough season for the Dolphins offense. Hill's status is unlikely to be revealed until Monday, well after all of the games on the slate have concluded, meaning fantasy managers will be taking a gamble by keeping him in the lineup. Although Odell Beckham Jr., Malik Washington and others could get more targets behind Jaylen Waddle on Monday evening, fantasy managers may benefit the most by looking in a different direction in Week 10, assuming Hill's injury designation isn't updated soon.

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Nico Collins Nov 9 4:50pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) was activated off the Injured Reserve list, the team announced on Saturday. While he remains questionable for Sunday's clash with the Detroit Lions, fantasy managers could get him back in the lineup for the first time since Week 5. The 25-year-old was having a monster season before going on the shelf, totaling 32 catches for 567 yards and three touchdowns in just over four games. But with Stefon Diggs (knee) done for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, Collins may get even more involved.

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Chris Olave Nov 9 4:40pm ET
Chris Olave

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) was officially placed on the Injured Reserve list on Saturday. The wideout suffered two concussions this season, bringing his total to four throughout his career. He's expected to meet with an "independent concussion specialist." However, while Olave is guaranteed to miss at least four games, there's a chance he won't be back on the field again this season. Of course, this isn't good news for a Saints team that already lost Rashid Shaheed (knee) for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. It's also not ideal for Derek Carr, who will be without his top pass-catcher. With that said, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Mason Tipton, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling could see a bump in fantasy production with Olave and Shaheed on the shelf. Alvin Kamara may also see more work, both on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield.

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Christian McCaffrey Nov 9 4:30pm ET
Christian McCaffrey

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) will make his 2024-25 debut on Sunday against the Bucs. The 28-year-old hasn't played all season while dealing with bilateral Achilles injuries. But fantasy managers will finally get him back in Week 10. Although there's a chance he could see fewer snaps than usual, there's no way anyone should keep him out of their fantasy lineups. McCaffrey's expected return will cause Jordan Mason's fantasy ceiling to come crashing down. Still, Mason is worth holding on to for insurance purposes, considering McCaffrey has had issues staying off the injury report over the years.

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Dak Prescott Nov 9 4:20pm ET
Dak Prescott

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will "likely" need surgery, meaning the end of his season. The signal-caller plans to see "one final hamstring specialist." But it doesn't appear he'll receive a different prognosis. Fortunately, barring a setback, Prescott will be ready to go to begin the 2025-26 campaign. Without question, the Cowboys haven't met expectations this season. But without Prescott, the team's outlook is less favorable, although Cooper Rush will do his best. Of course, fantasy managers shouldn't dismiss the idea of starting Rush at some point. Still, he needs to play better than he did in the Week 9 loss to the Falcons before earning a spot in any fantasy lineup.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Nov 9 4:20pm ET
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier found the end zone last week to the displeasure of Bijan Robinson managers, and if he hadn't it would have been a terribly quiet day, logging just six carries for 18 yards while not recording even a single target for the second consecutive week. Allgeier's involvement has been a bit unpredictable, receiving six or less carries in two of the last four weeks, while the other two weeks he saw 12 or more carries. The 24-year-old at least had a solid yards per carry (YPC) average through Week 7, but over the last two weeks his YPC is just 2.8. On the bright side, the Falcons are 3.5-point favorites this week against a reeling Saints team so there could be more opportunities if Atlanta is playing with a lead, and the BYU product rushed 8 times for 60 yards against them earlier season. Nevertheless, without a clear path to production, Allgeier is a risky RB3/Flex play this week.

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Nick Bosa Nov 9 3:10pm ET
Nick Bosa

The San Francisco 49ers D/ST is coming off a bye and is in Tampa this week to take on a quality Buccaneers offense. Tampa Bay is fifth in the NFL in yards per game, mostly due to a resurgent Baker Mayfield leading the sixth-ranked passing attack in football. The Bucs are beat up at wide receiver, with Mike Evans (hamstring) ruled out and Chris Godwin (ankle) out for the season, but that didn't stop them from posting 24 points last week against a very good Kansas City Chiefs defense. They are in the middle of the pack in giveaways and times sacked. The 49ers are the fourth-ranked D/ST in fantasy by being solid but unspectacular in all relevant categories -- sacks, takeaways, touchdowns, and points against. In the secondary, they will be without CB Charvarius Ward (personal), and S Malik Mustapha (calf) is questionable. Edge Nick Bosa (hip) has been limited all week and seems to be on the wrong side of questionable. The 49ers D/ST is at No. 9 in the RotoBaller's Week 10 rankings.

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Kyren Williams Nov 9 3:00pm ET
Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams should be viewed as a high-end RB1 when he faces the Miami Dolphins on Monday evening. Despite coming off his worst outing of the campaign last weekend, Williams has still averaged a stellar 19.0 PPR points per game with ten total touchdowns in eight games. The Notre Dame product has averaged 20.1 attempts and 2.5 receptions per game which shows how much of an integral role he plays in the Los Angeles offense. Last weekend, the No.2 running back Blake Corum logged only one offensive snap while Williams saw all the others. This week, the 24-year-old will face a Miami defense that has allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing RBs which makes him a safe, high-end RB1 in all formats.

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Matthew Stafford Nov 9 2:50pm ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford could have another successful fantasy outing despite the difficult matchup in Week 10. With both of his top wideouts, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back in action, Stafford has averaged an impressive 26.3 PPR points over the past two weeks. In this span, Stafford has thrown at least two passing scores in each game and averaged 288.5 yards per game. On Monday, Stafford will face a tough Miami defense who has allowed the fewest points to opposing QBs this season. However, despite the unappealing matchup, his two star wideouts will provide Stafford with enough upside to consider him a low-end QB1 in all formats.

From RotoBaller