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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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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 10

Player Notes
Jameis Winston Nov 11 12:10pm ET
Jameis Winston

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said coming out of the team's bye week that quarterback Jameis Winston remains the team's starting QB heading into their Week 11 contest against the Winston's former team, the New Orleans Saints. The 30-year-old veteran pulled off a surprising upset of the division-rival Baltimore Ravens in his first start in Week 8 but then fell flat against a tough Los Angeles Chargers defense in Week 9 before going on bye. Although Winston looked pretty bad before the bye, the Browns are going to give him another shot with Deshaun Watson (Achilles) done for the year. The alternative to Winston would be Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Winston doesn't exactly have the greatest supporting cast of receivers and should be considered an interception-prone, low-end QB2 in fantasy against a Saints D that hasn't been a great matchup for opposing QBs.

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Patrick Mahomes Nov 11 11:20am ET
Patrick Mahomes

The Denver Broncos defense/special teams unit failed to stand out in their 16-14 loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10 on Sunday on the road. They did manage to get to quarterback Patrick Mahomes to sack him four times for a loss of 23 yards, and they also held the Chiefs offense to under 20 points. The Broncos D also held KC to only 57 rushing yards, but were unable to slow Mahomes down through the air, surrendering 243 yards through the air and one touchdown. It would have been a more fruitful day for Denver's defense had they been able to force the Chiefs into some turnovers, but that didn't turn out to be the case. Despite the down performance, the Broncos' D/ST is still a top-five unit in overall fantasy points and will have a chance to bounce back at home against the visiting Atlanta Falcons in Week 11.

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Jahmyr Gibbs Nov 11 11:20am ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs led the ground game in the team's 26-23 comeback win over the Houston Texans in Week 10. Gibbs carried the ball 19 times for 71 yards and caught two of his three targets for an additional 37 yards. He outpaced David Montgomery by seven carries, solidifying his lead role in the backfield for this game. However, this marks just the third game this season where he hasn't found the endzone or surpassed 15 fantasy points. He'll look to return to RB1 form in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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David Montgomery Nov 11 11:20am ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery contributed in the Lions' 26-23 win over the Houston Texans in Week 10, recording 12 carries for 32 yards, a touchdown, and a 24-yard catch. Montgomery scored his eighth rushing touchdown of the season on a short three-yard run in the third quarter, salvaging an otherwise modest fantasy outing. Since returning from the bye, Montgomery's fantasy production has dipped, reaching 15+ points in only one of the last five games after starting the season strong. Despite the recent slump, he remains a steady RB2 option, especially with his team-leading nine touchdowns. Montgomery will look to rebound in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Amon-Ra St. Brown Nov 11 11:20am ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown delivered another top-10 fantasy performance in Week 10, securing six catches on eight targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in the 26-23 win over the Houston Texans. St. Brown extended his impressive touchdown streak to seven consecutive games while logging his sixth game with 18 or more fantasy points this season. With this consistent production, he currently ranks as a top-six fantasy WR for the 2024 season. St. Brown remains a must-start as he heads into Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Sam LaPorta Nov 11 11:20am ET
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) made a significant impact in the team's 26-23 win over the Houston Texans in Week 10, catching three of six targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. His performance earned him a TE4 finish for the week, marking his second-highest fantasy output this season. However, LaPorta exited the game early due to a shoulder injury. The Lions later reported an AC joint sprain, so LaPorta's status for Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars remains uncertain. Be sure to keep an eye on practice reports throughout this week. If he cannot play, expect Brock Wright to take over primary tight end pass-catching duties for Detroit.

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Jameson Williams Nov 11 11:20am ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams returned from a two-game suspension for a PED violation and contributed to the team's 26-23 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 10. Williams caught three of his five targets for 53 yards, finishing third on the team in receiving and averaging an impressive 17.7 yards per catch. Through seven games this season, he has recorded 20 catches for 414 yards and three touchdowns. As Williams regains his rhythm in Detroit's offense, he projects as a solid flex option heading into Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Wil Lutz Nov 11 11:10am ET
Wil Lutz

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz was an absolute dud for any fantasy managers that streamed him in the team's 16-14 loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10. Lutz made both of his extra-point attempts but couldn't come through on either of his two field-goal tries, with one being a miss from 60 yards out at the end of the first quarter, and the other being a blocked attempt from 35 yards out that would have given the Chiefs their first loss of the year. We warned fantasy managers that Lutz was extra risky against KC's stingy defense, especially on the road in a hostile environment. The 30-year-old still ranks as the No. 12 kicker in fantasy points through 10 weeks, though, and is tied for sixth among all kickers with 18 FGs made in 2024. His 21 field-goal attempts are also tied for sixth in the league. Lutz could bounce back in Week 11 versus the Atlanta Falcons.

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Jared Goff Nov 11 11:10am ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff struggled in fantasy during the team's 26-23 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 10. Goff threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns but completed just 15 of 30 passes, marking a season-low 50% completion rate. He also threw five interceptions which certainly put a damper on any solid numbers he posted this week. This was his third single-digit fantasy performance of the season and his second consecutive game with under 10 points. Despite Detroit's seven-game winning streak, Goff's fantasy output has been inconsistent and far from elite. He'll look to bounce back in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Evan Engram Nov 11 11:00am ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was a bright spot compared to the rest of the offense in a tough 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. With Mac Jones replacing Trevor Lawrence due to injury, the offense had just 111 yards through the air. Engram managed to get 40 of those yards on six receptions, four higher than the second most on the team. Engram seems to have decent chemistry with Jones, but that won't matter much if the offense continues to struggle like on Sunday. Engram with Lawrence under center has been a top fantasy tight end while healthy, so while his upside is limited with Jones, the veteran tight end should still be viewed as a low-end TE1 if Jones continues to play. Engram will look to improve on this solid performance in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions.

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Brian Thomas Jr. Nov 11 11:00am ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. played after being questionable all week but didn't do much in a 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Jaguars offense as a whole didn't do much, but BTJ specifically finished with just two catches for 12 yards on three targets. With Mac Jones under center instead of Trevor Lawrence who was out due to injury, BTJ seems less likely to get accurate deep shots, reducing his big-play potential. That is arguably his biggest strength, so if Jones is under center going forward, that greatly caps his upside. The rookie has been stellar so far this season, but his chest injury combined with Lawrence's shoulder injury seems to be slowing down the momentum. BTJ will look to return to form in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions.

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Javonte Williams Nov 11 10:50am ET
Javonte Williams

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams set a new season-low for touches with only three in the 16-14 loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Week 10, carrying the ball just once for a gain of one yard while catching both of his targets for six yards. In a day in which neither team could get anything going on the ground -- the Broncos finished with 78 total rushing yards against a tough Chiefs defense -- Denver decided to feature rookie Audric Estime as their primary rusher. The rookie led the team with 14 rushing attempts and 53 yards. The workload distribution was a surprise after Williams had been more efficient on the ground in recent weeks, and it certainly won't make him more attractive as an RB3/flex in fantasy in a Week 11 home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, where Williams should see more than just three touches.

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Tank Bigsby Nov 11 10:50am ET
Tank Bigsby

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby finished with just two carries for four yards in a 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. returned from injury this week, but despite that, most expected the two running backs would split touches. However, Etienne Jr. dominated touches instead, finishing with 11 carries and one reception. The offense as a whole failed against the Vikings, making each offensive player's upside even lower than before as long as Mac Jones is under center. If Bigsby falls back into a full-time backup role, he goes from a decent flex option to exclusively a handcuff, the same fantasy outlook he had to start the season. Bigsby will look to be more involved out of the backfield in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions.

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Marvin Mims Nov 11 10:50am ET
Marvin Mims

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. came into the Week 10 game against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs with seven catches on 15 targets for 56 yards while carrying the ball one time for a pickup of 17 yards. In the 16-14 loss on Sunday, the Broncos made it a point to get him more involved, as he caught all four of his targets for 13 yards and carried the ball three times for 17 yards. His four targets on the day were tied for second on the team with rookie Devaughn Vele behind Courtland Sutton's nine targets. Mims came into Week 10 having not exceeded two catches in any game, so Sunday's involvement was his most of the season. However, the 22-year-old second-year wideout didn't do much with his seven touches and shouldn't be expected to have a similar role when the Broncos look to get back over .500 in Week 11 against the visiting Atlanta Falcons.

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Travis Etienne Nov 11 10:40am ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. performed decently in a 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The 25-year-old back finished with 44 yards on 11 carries and added a catch for negative one yard. Unfortunately, decent sums up Etienne Jr.'s season so far. The Jaguars offense with Trevor Lawrence at the helm has been up and down all season, limiting the running back's upside. Add on the emergence of backup Tank Bigsby, and you have an underperforming high-round pick. Mac Jones in relief of Lawrence finished with just 111 yards passing, and while the Vikings have been great on defense this season, this performance does not bode well for Etienne Jr. in future weeks if Jones remains the starter. Etienne Jr. and the Jaguars will look to improve on their measly seven points against the Detroit Lions in Week 11.

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Mac Jones Nov 11 10:20am ET
Mac Jones

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones struggled to run the offense in a 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Starter Trevor Lawrence was out with a shoulder injury, so Jones was tasked with stepping up in his absence. The former New England Patriot could not take advantage, finishing with 14 completions on 22 attempts for 111 yards, two interceptions, and a rushing touchdown. Besides Christian Kirk, Jones had all of his weapons available, so his effort is disappointing to say the least. The Vikings are a great defense under Brian Flores's tutelage, but if Lawrence is out for the rest of the season, this performance should leave fantasy managers pessimistic about the Jaguars offense going forward. Jones and the Jaguars will look to bounce back in a tough matchup with the Detroit Lions in Week 11.

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Trey McBride Nov 11 9:50am ET
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride delivered another solid performance in the Cardinals' 31-6 win over the New York Jets. McBride recorded four catches for 71 yards and made multiple momentum-shifting plays that became a dagger in the Jets' defense. McBride made a massive play on third down, breaking a tackle and hurdling a defender for the third straight week. Fantasy managers haven't had to put much thought into the position with McBride on their rosters; however, they'll have to look to a streamer with the team entering a bye week.

From RotoBaller

Devin Singletary Nov 11 9:40am ET
Devin Singletary

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary is firmly in the backup role as he was outpaced yet again by Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the disappointing Week 10 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Singletary registered eight carries for 40 yards and one reception for five yards on one target. His nine touches paled in comparison to Tracy's 19. Singletary was efficient with his carries, but if he continues to see this drastic drop in opportunities compared to the beginning of the year, then he's not much of a fantasy option. The Giants head into their bye week now at 2-8 with an eye towards the NFL Draft instead of the playoffs.

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Calvin Austin III Nov 11 9:40am ET
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III remains involved in the passing game during the 28-27 win over the Washington Commanders. He received six targets in this contest but only ended up with two receptions for 20 yards. Russell Wilson's accuracy left a bit to be desired in this game and newly-acquired Mike Williams got involved with a touchdown catch as well. Austin continues to be a boom-or-bust type of player that holds a bit more value in deeper leagues. He'll try to break loose against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.

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Michael Wilson Nov 11 9:30am ET
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson ended up as fourth in the pecking order for targets during the huge win over the New York Jets on Sunday. The second-year wideout finished the game with three receptions for 24 yards on four targets. The Cardinals opted to go more run-heavy in this game as they produced 32 carries compared to 24 pass attempts. This game further proved that Wilson is more of an afterthought in the offense as he's now posted six games with fewer than five targets and seven games with fewer than five receptions. The Cardinals have a bye in Week 11 before taking on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12.

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