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FFL: Week 2 | NFL: Week 2

TE Strength of Schedule

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

Related photo caption below

Bowers could have big year one


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  TE SOS  
1. Cincinnati Bengals 186.39
2. Miami Dolphins 193.98
3. Philadelphia Eagles 196.38
4. Washington Commanders 197.75
5. Houston Texans 198.15
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 199.18
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 199.68
8. New York Giants 201
9. Dallas Cowboys 201.18
10. Los Angeles Rams 201.38
11. Buffalo Bills 201.39
12. Chicago Bears 201.66
13. Arizona Cardinals 201.76
14. New York Jets 202.56
15. Jacksonville Jaguars 202.86
16. Baltimore Ravens 203.04
17. Denver Broncos 203.95
18. Los Angeles Chargers 204.02
19. Atlanta Falcons 204.25
20. Cleveland Browns 204.59
21. New Orleans Saints 205.62
22. Seattle Seahawks 205.73
23. San Francisco 49ers 206.80
24. Indianapolis Colts 206.89
25. Detroit Lions 207.92
26. New England Patriots 208.23
27. Kansas City Chiefs 210.92
28. Tennessee Titans 211.44
29. Green Bay Packers 212.07
30. Minnesota Vikings 212.23
31. Carolina Panthers 213.66
32. Las Vegas Raiders 213.81


A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.

Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.

The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.

Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.

Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.

The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.

Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.

There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.

Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last. 

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.

  TE PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Atlanta Falcons 175
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 182.37
3. Philadelphia Eagles 184.73
4. Arizona Cardinals 187.67
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 187.77
6. New England Patriots 189.83
7. Miami Dolphins 190.37
8. New Orleans Saints 191.3
9. Los Angeles Rams 192.17
10. Pittsburgh Steelers 192.43
11. Cincinnati Bengals 196.1
12. Detroit Lions 196.12
13. Houston Texans 196.2
14. Indianapolis Colts 198.97
15. Buffalo Bills 199.63
16. Kansas City Chiefs 203.03
17. New York Jets 204.13
18. Carolina Panthers 205.7
19. Baltimore Ravens 205.9
20. Green Bay Packers 207.7
21. Chicago Bears 213.73
22. New York Giants 214.27
23. Seattle Seahawks 214.72
24. Cleveland Browns 214.97
25. Dallas Cowboys 215.8
26. Las Vegas Raiders 219.4
27. Washington Commanders 220.13
28. Denver Broncos 220.8
29. Minnesota Vikings 221.72
30. Tennessee Titans 223.73
31. San Francisco 49ers 225.53
32. Los Angeles Chargers 228.53


The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.

Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.

The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.

George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.

The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.

The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.

Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Fantasy Preview: Week 2

Player Notes
Chris Godwin Sep 12 6:10pm ET
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin was surprisingly the leading receiver during the season opener. The veteran wideout led the team in both targets and receiving yards during the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders. Godwin finished the day with eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. The 28-year-old is back in the slot and looks to be fully healthy once again. He'll get a Detroit Lions defense in Week 2 that allowed the sixth-most passing yards last season. The Bucs should continue to air it out which makes Godwin a fine WR2 for Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey Sep 12 6:10pm ET
Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles, calf) was on the practice field in uniform with the rest of the team on Thursday for what was not a fully padded session. McCaffrey was listed as limited for the first practice of the week on Wednesday and probably will end up with another limited designation on Thursday. Still, the fact that the 28-year-old is practicing at all after being a surprise inactive in Monday night's win over the New York Jets is good news. Last year's rushing champion is reportedly dealing with Achilles tendinitis in addition to a calf injury he suffered early in training camp. CMC hasn't been ruled out for Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, but signs are pointing to him being unlikely to suit up as the 49ers play things extra cautious with their star back. If McCaffrey is held out again this Sunday, Jordan Mason will be a must-start in this high-scoring 49ers offense as the lead back.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Sep 12 6:10pm ET
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan was able to find the end zone during his NFL debut last week. The rookie wideout won the No. 3 role with an impressive performance during camp. He was able to make some noise by hauling in one of his three targets for a 32-yard touchdown in the win over the Washington Commanders. As expected, McMillan isn't going to have a huge role with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin seeing a bulk of the targets. That is likely going to continue which means McMillan might only see a few chances each week. It probably won't be enough to warrant rostering McMillan is most fantasy formats. He's worth stashing in dynasty formats but probably won't see much action in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Addison Sep 12 6:10pm ET
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) missed another day of practice on Thursday as the team manages a right-ankle injury that he suffered in the Week 1 win over the New York Giants. Addison's status for the Week 2 showdown against the San Francisco 49ers is now firmly in question after two missed practices this week. The 22-year-old second-year pass-catcher will most likely need to practice in some capacity on Friday to avoid being ruled out entirely. In addition to injuring his ankle last Sunday, Addison caught just three of four targets for 35 yards despite Minnesota's offense blowing out the Giants. If Addison is ruled out entirely or limited in any way by his ankle in Week 2 in a difficult matchup, Jalen Nailor figures to serve as the team's No. 2 wideout behind Justin Jefferson, with Brandon Powell also seeing an increased role.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Sep 12 6:00pm ET
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving outperformed lead back Rachaad White during the season opener last week. The fourth-round rookie rushed nine times for 62 yards while hauling in two receptions for an additional 14 yards. It was a nice debut for Irving who could carve a bigger role for himself as the season goes on. However, White is expected to remain the workhorse back for now. If he continues to struggle then Irving could continue getting more carries. The Bucs head into a tougher matchup against the Detroit Lions in Week 2. A defense that allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the league last season. Irving is worth stashing in deep and dynasty formats, but his usage is unknown right now which makes him a shaky fantasy option.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Sep 12 6:00pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had seemingly no issues as he tore apart the Washington Commanders defense last week. The veteran wideout hauled in five of his six targets for 61 yards and two touchdowns in the blowout win. Evans has been one of the most reliable wideouts over the last decade and that doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon. He will get a tougher challenge in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions defense. However, the Lions secondary still has holes, so Evans should be able to continue producing WR1 numbers in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Sep 12 5:50pm ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. is still a great starting option for fantasy managers in Week 2 despite a mediocre Week 1 performance against the Miami Dolphins. He had 44 rushing yards on 12 carries, a rushing touchdown, two receptions for 15 yards, and a costly fourth-quarter fumble. The Jaguars face the Cleveland Browns this week, a defense better against the pass than the run. The offense struggled in Week 1, especially in the second half, meaning establishing the run early could be the strategy to try and get back on track. Tank Bigsby, who surprisingly led the team in rushing against the Dolphins (12 carries for 73 yards), could be a part of that strategy. However, Etienne Jr. still led the team in touches, and losing his starting job would be a massive overreaction to one game. Etienne Jr. managers will be disappointed that a guy they drafted as an RB1 is already viewed as an RB2, but the upside for RB1 status remains.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Sep 12 5:50pm ET
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White struggled to find much room to run during the season opener. White rushed the ball 15 times, but managed only 31 yards on the ground during the win over the Washington Commanders. Luckily, White was able to salvage his fantasy value with six receptions for 75 yards through the air. Rookie back Bucky Irving was more efficient on the ground, but White should remain the workhorse back for now. It won't get any easier for White against the Detroit Lions in Week 2. A defense that allowed the second-fewest rushing yards last season. The good news is that White is heavily used in the passing game. That being said, White should be fine to plug in as a RB2 in PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Baker Mayfield Sep 12 5:40pm ET
Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off a fantastic season opener against the Washington Commanders. Mayfield threw for 289 yards with four touchdowns in what ended up being a blowout win for Tampa Bay. The former first-round pick was nearly flawless with only six incomplete passes during the opener. He looks to keep the good times rolling against the Detroit Lions in Week 2. Mayfield will have a tougher challenge in Week 2, but still remains a solid fantasy choice. The Lions defense allowed the 10th-most points per game last season. Mayfield should be considered a low-end QB1 for this game.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Lawrence Sep 12 5:20pm ET
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence struggled in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. He had 161 passing yards and one touchdown, producing a measly 11.3 fantasy points. In Week 2, Lawrence faces the Cleveland Browns, a defense that held Dak Prescott to 11.5 fantasy points last week. The Browns defense is known for a great pass rush and elite secondary, which allowed the least passing yards per game in the NFL last year. It may be easy for fantasy managers to see 33 points allowed in Week 1 by the Browns and think they should start the Jaguars QB, but context is important. After an Ezekiel Elliot rushing touchdown with five minutes left in the second quarter, the Cowboys didn't score a single offensive touchdown. Similarly, the Jaguars scored zero points entirely in the second half against the Dolphins. Lawrence is firmly entrenched as a QB2 this week, meaning managers should look to the waiver wire to find a higher upside option.

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Sep 12 5:00pm ET
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) did not practice again on Thursday due to a heel injury. Allen was sidelined during Thursday's practice and could be in danger of missing Sunday's game if he doesn't have successful practice on Friday. The 32-year-old was on the injury report all week prior to their season opener but was able to suit up. In that game, Allen saw a hefty 37.9% of the team's targets and was targeted on an impressive 47.8% of the routes he ran. If Allen does suit up for Sunday's game, he should present a solid floor in PPR formats, making him a safe WR2. However, if Allen were to be limited or miss Sunday's game, DJ Moore should see an uptick in targets and potentially tight end Cole Kmet, who saw just one pass come his way in the opener.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Sep 12 5:00pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (illness) was limited during Thursday's practice due to an illness. The budding receiver practiced in full on Wednesday. The Texans could be leaning on the side of caution ahead of their Week 2 matchup to give him an extra day of rest. However, fantasy managers should pay close attention to Friday's report as it should suggest if Collins will be ready to suit up. In the season opener, Collins continued his 2023 breakout campaign by catching six passes for a team-high 117 yards in their victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Collins should remain locked into all lineups as a high-end WR2 over the weekend.

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Rome Odunze Sep 12 4:50pm ET
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) did not practice again on Thursday, according to ESPN's Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Odunze suffered an MCL sprain in the season opener but was considered to be "day-to-day" according to Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus on Wednesday. The ninth-overall pick in this year's draft was held to just one catch for 11 yards in his regular-season debut. However, he saw the second-highest total snaps among Chicago wideouts, which is a promising sign going forward. Fantasy managers should look to find an alternate option for Odunze, as he may play in a limited capacity if he does suit up for their Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans.

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Myles Garrett Sep 12 4:40pm ET
Myles Garrett

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (foot) did not practice on Thursday due to a foot injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Garrett was surprisingly added to the injury report as he did not show any signs of an injury earlier in the week. The Browns could be exercising caution with their superstar pass rusher. Fantasy managers in IDP leagues should follow any updates regarding Garrett's status before Sunday's game. In the season opener, the former first-overall pick made two solo tackles, one of which was a sack. He also forced a fumble. The Texas A&M product has tallied double-digit sacks in all but one season throughout his career. Garrett remains one of the top IDP options in leagues that value sacks.

From RotoBaller

Cameron Dicker Sep 12 4:40pm ET
Cameron Dicker

Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker has a strong matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Coming off a game in which he made all three of his field goals and his only extra point try, Dicker could see even more chances to kick against a team that just gave up 47 points to the New Orleans Saints. Dicker's Week 1 field goals came from 53, 24, and 25 yards out. He doesn't have the strongest leg in the NFL in terms of distance, but he's shown excellent accuracy and was the overall K10 in fantasy last season. He's a top-10 option again for Week 2 lineups.

From RotoBaller

Quentin Johnston Sep 12 4:30pm ET
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston will look to increase his momentum from a relatively solid performance in Week 1 when the Chargers take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Johnston drew five targets in the season's opening game, making three catches for 38 yards. He was on the field for 67% of the team's offensive snaps. Johnston has shown that he is certainly able to get open against an NFL secondary, but actually catching the ball when it is thrown perfectly to him by an NFL quarterback has proven to be a challenge. Week 1 was a positive sign but certainly not yet enough to move him into starting lineups.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Sep 12 4:30pm ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) remained a limited participant during Thursday's practice, according to Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News. Williams appeared on the injury report on Wednesday with an ankle injury and remained in the same status on Thursday. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Friday's report as it should provide some clarity on the severity of his injury. For now, Williams should be considered day-to-day heading into Sunday's matchup. The Alabama product enjoyed a breakout game in Week 1 as he caught a team-high 121 yards and a touchdown. Williams should be valued as a high-end WR3 in Week 2, as the Lions will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what could be a high-scoring affair.

From RotoBaller

Hayden Hurst Sep 12 4:30pm ET
Hayden Hurst

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hayden Hurst is a low-end floor play at best in a Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. In the first game of the season, Hurst saw three targets and made two catches for 33 yards. He was on the field for 61% of the team's offensive snaps while fellow tight end Will Dissly showed up on the field for 44% of them. Dissly had a few costly penalties which may have led to him playing fewer snaps, but this looks to still clearly be a tandem tight end situation. Hurst would be the pass catching side of that group, but his production will be limited by a run-first approach and several wide receivers who traditionally excel at shorter routes. Hurst is touchdown-dependent in terms of being any kind of a fantasy difference maker, but should at least have a decent floor each week based on his role.

From RotoBaller

Robbie Chosen Sep 12 4:20pm ET
Robbie Chosen

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Robbie Chosen was elevated to the active roster ahead of their matchup on Thursday against the Buffalo Bills. Chosen rejoined the Miami Dolphins practice squad in August after appearing in nine games for the Dolphins last season. During that small stint, the 31-year-old caught four passes for 126 yards and a score. Anderson was brought up from the practice squad before their Week 1 matchup as well. On Sunday, he logged just 11 snaps, which was tied for the lowest among Miami wideouts, and did not see a target. Fantasy managers should expect Anderson to serve in a similar depth role on Thursday evening. He should not be considered for any DFS competitions given his current placement on the depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Josh Palmer Sep 12 4:20pm ET
Josh Palmer

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee) had a rough game in Week 1, picking up a knee injury and getting ejected while only putting up two catches for 15 yards. Assuming he's healthy after picking up a limited tag in practice, Palmer should be in a much better place to perform against a Panthers defense that coughed up 47 points in the season opener. Palmer should operate as the team's WR1 and was on the field for 81% of the offensive snaps in Week 1. As long as he plays, he's essentially a lock to outscore his 2.5 fantasy point performance from the Raiders matchup. If healthy, Palmer is a fairly safe WR3 with decent upside.

From RotoBaller