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.
Updating a previous report, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) remained sidelined during the portion of practice that was open to the media, according to John Machota of The Athletic. Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed earlier in the week that the veteran was scheduled to return to the field on Thursday, but he may need some more time to get ready. Cooks has been dealing with a lingering knee injury through most of August but is nearing the end of his rehab process. Fantasy managers should continue to pay close attention to his status prior to the season opener next week. The 30-year-old saw an uptick in touchdowns (eight) last fall compared to the three he caught in 2022 but continued to see a drop in yards, posting only 657. This was his second straight season falling under the 1,000-yard mark. Cooks remains a solid depth option in all leagues, as he should serve as the No.2 receiver in a high-octane Dallas passing attack.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (thumb) remained sidelined during Thursday's practice, according to David Furones of the Sun Sentinel. Hill has been wearing a brace on his right hand for the past few weeks, but Head Coach Mike McDaniel stressed that the star wideout could practice if needed. While the 30-year-old has yet to return to full practice activities, fantasy managers should not be overly concerned with the superstar's status. The Dolphins will lean on the side of caution to ensure that Hill is ready for their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars in just over a week. Last season, Hill eclipsed the 1,700-yard mark for the second straight year while scoring 13 touchdowns. Given his elite speed and consistency, Hill remains a safe pick at the top of all fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was a full participant in practice today, and he is "ready to roll," according to Head Coach Sean McVay. The sophomore wideout suffered a knee injury earlier this month but has avoided a significant injury and should be ready to suit up for next week's season opener. Last season, the former fifth-round selection caught 1,486 yards, which was the fourth-highest at his position. He also caught 105 passes and scored six touchdowns. The 23-year-old was very impressive down the stretch as he scored the third-most PPR points from Weeks 13-17 among wideouts. Nacua will be a popular pick toward the back half of the first round in all remaining drafts, as he should finish near the top among all pass catchers this coming season.
From RotoBaller
There's still no sign of San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) at the start of practice on Thursday. It's not overly surprising to hear McCaffrey is still sidelined by his strained calf, but it's still noteworthy he hasn't fully participated in practice since early August. There's no reason to believe that fantasy's consensus No. 1 overall pick is any kind of real danger of missing the regular-season opener next Monday night against the visiting New York Jets, but he'll need to return to practice at some point next week to restore a full level of confidence in that. With Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) undergoing season-ending surgery, it makes a lot of sense to stash Jordan Mason in all settings just to be safe until CMC is in the clear for Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is at practice on Thursday, but he's not participating in the session. Chase is looking for a contract extension with the Bengals, and the two sides have about a week and a half to reach some sort of settlement before the regular-season opener against the New England Patriots rolls around on Sept. 8. The 24-year-old three-time Pro Bowler should not be moved in rankings by fantasy managers at this time, as this situation doesn't yet look nearly as messy as the impasse between Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers. For any time Chase continues to sit out, Tee Higgins will serve as Cincinnati's WR1 at practice, and he would obviously see a surge in fantasy value if Chase unexpectedly extends his absence into Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said on Thursday he hopes newly signed running back Samaje Perine will be able to play in the regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens next Thursday. It sounds like the Chiefs want to put Perine on a crash course to learning their offense in time for Week 1, despite the tailback just signing with the team on Wednesday. The 28-year-old veteran power back was one of the more coveted RBs discarded to the scrap heap earlier during cutdown week, and he'll have a real opportunity to carve out a meaningful role in KC's backfield after piling up a whopping 6.7 yards per touch across 103 touches with the Denver Broncos a year ago. Lead back Isiah Pacheco remains a trusted workhorse starter, but the incumbent Clyde Edwards-Helaire could be relegated to RB3 duties when Perine acclimates to his new surroundings.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (oblique) is not practicing again on Thursday. Goedert continues to manage an oblique injury that he sustained toward the end of training camp, and he has eight days to recover in order to be ready for the regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers next Friday. The 29-year-old veteran tight end has settled into backend TE1 territory for fantasy managers, but he should be close to an every-down player in a juggernaut of an offense in Philadelphia in 2024. Grant Calcaterra would function as the Eagles' primary TE if Goedert's absence extends into Week 1, but that seems unlikely at the moment.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is once again not on the practice field at the early open portion of Thursday's practice. The standoff between Aiyuk and the Niners rages on, and this situation is becoming at least moderately concerning for fantasy managers with Week 1 of the regular season arriving next week. Given that he hasn't practiced with the team at all during training camp this summer, Aiyuk appears to be at risk of being limited in the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the New York Jets due to his lack of reps, even if he stays put in San Francisco. The 26-year-old wideout is healthy, however, so he shouldn't be falling too far down rankings for the final week of drafts, considering something just has to give one way or another for the best of both sides before the season begins. Aiyuk racked up a staggering 12.8 yards per target over 105 targets last year.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said that wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) will practice on Thursday after he missed time due to a knee injury. Cooks also recently missed time due to a personal issue, but he's returning on Thursday and should be good to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 8 against the Cleveland Browns as the team's WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb. The 30-year-old veteran wideout failed to eclipse 700 yards receiving in each of the last two years, but he did find the end zone eight times in 16 regular-season games in 2023 in his first year in Dallas and could have an expanded role in 2024 with Michael Gallup out of town. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting another 1,000-yard season at all, but Cooks could have some nice weeks when opponents choose to double- or triple-team Lamb.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will see more practice repetitions on Thursday. Lamb, who finally inked a four-year, $136 contract extension with the Cowboys on Monday, returned to practice and will continue to get ramped up with the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8 quickly approaching. Dallas was granted a two-game roster exemption for Lamb on Tuesday and placed him on the commissioner's exempt list, meaning he doesn't count against the 53-man roster. The 25-year-old missed a lot of practice reps with the starting offense this offseason and during training camp, but he's back now and is in play as the first overall wideout to come off the board in drafts. Lamb will be a must-start in Week 1 against Cleveland.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said that wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) had around four or five catches for well over 100 yards in practice on Thursday and is going to be available in Week 1 of the regular season on Monday night, Sept. 9, against the San Francisco 49ers. However, Saleh also said the Jets are going to be smart with how they use Williams, implying that he may not have a normal workload right off the bat after tearing his left ACL in 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers early in the season. The 29-year-old returned to team drills for the first time this Tuesday and is on track to be ready for the start of the regular season. However, fantasy-wise, managers should be hesitant to consider him as anything more than a WR5/flex against the elite 49ers defense as the Jets look to ease him back into competitive games again.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said he feels very good about rookie first-round tight end Brock Bowers (foot) being on the field for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders are just being cautious with the rookie. Bowers hasn't practiced with the team since he missed the preseason game on Aug. 18 against the Dallas Cowboys due to foot soreness. It's a bit concerning that the 21-year-old is missing valuable practice reps with starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II with the regular season quickly approaching, but it sounds like the Georgia product will be on the field in Week 1. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting Bowers to be as good as Sam LaPorta was in his rookie season last year, but he has the ability to be a TE1 in fantasy immediately.
From RotoBaller
In a bit of a surprise move, the Minnesota Vikings waived quarterback Jaren Hall on Thursday and replaced him by signing veteran backup QB Brett Rypien. Hall, who was the team's No. 3 signal-caller last year, had seemingly cemented himself the QB3 role again in 2024 with a strong preseason performance. The Vikings felt otherwise, though, and Hall could now get scooped up by another organization. A fifth-round draft pick last year, Hall started two games in 2023 after starter Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. The 26-year-old suffered a leg contusion in Saturday's preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he was not waived with an injury designation. In three games (two starts) in his rookie season, the BYU alum went 13-for-20 for 168 yards, no touchdowns and one interception for Minnesota.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran quarterback Brett Rypien on Thursday and waived Jaren Hall in a corresponding move. It's a mild surprise after Hall seemingly cemented the job as the QB3 behind starter Sam Darnold and backup Nick Mullens with a strong preseason. The 28-year-old Rypien was released earlier this week by the Chicago Bears. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Denver Broncos, starting three games, before moving to the Los Angeles Rams last year. The Vikings were hit with tough news earlier in training camp with rookie first-rounder J.J. McCarthy (knee) having to miss all of his rookie season. In his four years in the NFL, Rypien has completed 58.3% of his 168 pass attempts for just 950 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 games (four starts).
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Brown re-signed running back D'Onta Foreman to their 53-man roster on Thursday after releasing former Pro Bowl quarterback Tyler Huntley, according to sources. Foreman was initially cut on Tuesday when they trimmed their roster down, but he'll now rejoin the team as RB depth behind Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. (ribs) to begin the year with both Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee) starting the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Expect Foreman and Strong work in tandem in a change-of-pace role behind Ford for at least the first four games of the 2024 season. The 28-year-old Foreman isn't going to see enough volume in Cleveland's backfield unless Ford also misses time due to injury early on, so fantasy managers in most leagues can avoid him for now. In his only year with the Chicago Bears in 2023, Foreman had 109 carries for 425 yards (3.9 yards per tote) and four TDs.
From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions signed wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones to their practice squad on Thursday after releasing him on Tuesday. In other moves, the team placed defensive lineman John Cominsky (knee) on Injured Reserve and released safety C.J. Moore from the practice squad. Peoples-Jones will remain in the Detroit organization as wideout depth to start the 2024 regular season. He began last year with the Browns before joining the Lions for eight games (one) start, where caught just five passes for 58 yards. The 25-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Browns in 2020 out of Michigan struggled last year after a career year in 2022 in Cleveland in which he had a 61-839-3 line in 17 games (14 starts). DPJ should eventually see time in Detroit again in 2024 if any of the receivers on the 53-man roster go down with an injury, but he's currently off the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle figures to play an enhanced role in 2024 following the departure of veteran running back Tony Pollard. The team brought back longtime Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott early in the offseason and recently signed Dalvin Cook, but both aging backs appear to be well beyond their primes. When asked if this is his best opportunity for extended playing time, Dowdle said, "I think so for sure, with the way things have went out there, practice and things like that. I think I definitely should get a bigger role this year. And I'm looking forward to it." Last season, the South Carolina product rushed 89 times for 361 yards and two touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 144 yards and two more scores as Pollard's breather back. Although he's unlikely to get the backfield to himself, he has a chance to be the leading rusher in an explosive offense. At his preseason draft cost around the RB45 spot, he's worth taking a flier on for fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson started just 13 games in his collegiate career at Florida and four games last year during his rookie campaign. The elite athlete from the QB spot has all the physical tools to succeed, but it could take time for him to develop. Heading into 2024, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said the team expects "roller-coaster moments" from the 22-year-old. "Most quarterbacks, when they're young, they go through those moments, but you have to learn from them, grow from them, and keep moving forward," Ballard said. "Just look around the league and it's a little bit up and down." While Richardson is likely to be inconsistent as a passer, his rushing floor and ceiling should stabilize his fantasy value. Despite leaving three of his four games early last year, he racked up at least 17.7 fantasy points in three of four contests, and he scored 29.6 fantasy points in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. If he can stay healthy, he has a clear path to a QB1 season in fantasy football, even if he struggles through the air.
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Browns are releasing quarterback Tyler Huntley on Thursday, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini. Cleveland's initial 53-man roster included quarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Huntley, and the team reportedly was open to trading one of the backups. However, that did not happen, so Huntley is being cut loose. Huntley spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted out of Utah in 2020. Overall, the 26-year-old has thrown for 1,957 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 20 game appearances. He also has 509 rushing yards and three rushing scores to his name. Huntley has proven to be a somewhat serviceable backup, so he should land on a new team before the start of the 2024 regular season.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys signed wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to a four-year extension this week, and with that situation taken care of, all eyes shift toward quarterback Dak Prescott. The former fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State is entering the final year of his current deal, and time is running out to reach an extension before Week 1 of the regular season. However, team owner Jerry Jones said the situation remains unchanged, and Todd Archer of ESPN reports the two sides don't appear to be close to a deal. This will be a situation worth monitoring, but there is no indication Prescott will miss any game action if he heads into the season without a long-term contract. With the Cowboys' rushing attack likely to be downgraded this season, Dallas could have a pass-happier offense in 2024. Prescott could be a value pick as his QB10 ADP, especially if he sees additional red zone carries and pass attempts.
From RotoBaller