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FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

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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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 5

Player Notes
Kareem Hunt Oct 5 4:40pm ET
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (shoulder) doesn't carry an injury designation heading into Monday's matchup with the Saints. He was limited at practice on Thursday and Friday. However, he logged a full session on Saturday. The veteran looked good in his first game back with the Chiefs, amassing 69 yards off 14 carries, adding two catches for 16 yards in the Week 4 win over the Chargers. With Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) doubtful, Hunt should get most of the work out of the backfield in Week 5, so he's worth a start in any fantasy format. The same can't be said for Samaje Perine, who had a touchdown versus Los Angeles, and Carson Steele.

From RotoBaller

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Oct 5 4:30pm ET
Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) is doubtful for Monday's matchup with the Saints. The 25-year-old has practiced somewhat throughout the week, so he's moving in the right direction. However, fantasy managers must wait a little longer to see him back on the field. With Kareem Hunt (shoulder) off the injury report, he'll absorb most of the carries out of the backfield in Week 5, so he should be considered a starting fantasy option. While Samaje Perine found the end zone in the Week 4 win over the Chargers, he's hard to trust despite the potential for more work.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Oct 5 4:30pm ET
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon hasn't seen much action this season, but that is set to change in Week 5. With starting running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) confirmed out, Sermon is set to be the starter for Indianapolis in Sunday's matchup against the Jaguars. He also draws a favorable matchup, with the Jaguars allowing the seventh most fantasy points to the position. It's unclear how much of a split there will be between Sermon and RBs Tyler Goodson and Evan Hull, which might hinder Sermon's production in the matchup. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues needing a replacement for Taylor can look to Sermon, but managers with more depth might want to wait to see how the backfield plays out this week. He is the RB20 in our half-PPR rankings.

From RotoBaller

Taysom Hill Oct 5 4:20pm ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (ribs) won't play on Monday night. He hasn't practiced all week due to fractured ribs and was listed as doubtful, so fantasy managers had a feeling things were heading in this direction. The 34-year-old has only two catches this season. However, he has two rushing touchdowns, meaning fantasy managers in multi-tight end setups may need to find a replacement. While Juwan Johnson could see more snaps, he's hard to trust from a fantasy standpoint.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Oct 5 4:10pm ET
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs had his best game of the season in Week 4, grabbing eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown in the team's win. Since returning from injury, Downs immediately went back into a starting role in the offense, offering a deep-threat ability with his speed. Downs is in for a favorable Week 5 matchup against the Jaguars, a team allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to the position and the second-most receiving yards this season. Jacksonville's defense has also been below-average against slot receivers, allowing the 11th most points to the position. The starting QB for Indy in Week 5 has yet to be confirmed, but Downs' value would see a slight uptick if QB Joe Flacco is named the starter for Sunday. With the favorable matchup and his big-play ability, fantasy managers can view Downs as a solid WR3 option. He is the WR34 in our half-PPR rankings.

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Alvin Kamara Oct 5 4:10pm ET
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (hip, ribs) practiced in full on Saturday and doesn't carry an injury designation heading into Monday night's meeting with the Chiefs. Kamara is battling multiple ailments. However, the 29-year-old will likely continue to play through the pain barring any setbacks. He looked great in the Saints' first four contests, amassing 362 yards and five touchdowns off 80 carries, adding 17 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown. He's a must-start despite a challenging matchup with a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2024-25. His presence versus Kansas City will mean fewer snaps for Jamaal Williams, who would have been in line for more work.

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Chris Boswell Oct 5 4:00pm ET
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell is tied for second in the NFL in field goals made so far this season and will look to stay involved against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. The Cowboys, dealing with numerous injuries to key defensive starters, have allowed 26 points per contest through the first four weeks. This should be a competitive affair in which the Steelers can effectively move the ball. Although Boswell has not been nearly as prolific for fantasy purposes since his six-for-six showing in Week 1, he remains a reliable option with a handful of opportunities every week. The 33-year-old can be deployed in starting lineups by fantasy managers without an elite-level option.

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Michael Pittman Jr. Oct 5 4:00pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. had his best performance of the season in Week 4, grabbing six targets for 113 yards. He now gears up for a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. The Jaguars have allowed the fifth most points to the position this season and the second-most receiving yards. No. 1 WR options have succeeded against Jacksonville this season, most recently in Week 4 when WR Nico Collins grabbed 12 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown. While there is still uncertainty at the QB position for Indy with Anthony Richardson (hip) doubtful, Pittman makes for a strong start regardless of the starting QB. Fantasy managers can prioritize him as a WR2 in Week 5. He is the WR27 in our half-PPR rankings.

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Pat Freiermuth Oct 5 3:40pm ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth found the end zone in Week 4 and hopes to be similarly productive in a Week 5 bout with the Dallas Cowboys. Freiermuth is enjoying a prominent role in new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's system as the only tight end in the NFL with at least four receptions in all four weeks this season. Although the Cowboys have been stout against opposing tight ends in 2024, Freiermuth's consistent utilization gives him a floor that many players at the position cannot provide for fantasy purposes. He is essential to Pittsburgh's success as a preferred weapon in the passing game second only to receiver George Pickens. Freiermuth may have trouble repeating his success of last week on Sunday night, but fantasy managers can rely on him as a low-end TE1 nonetheless.

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George Pickens Oct 5 3:30pm ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had his best showing of the campaign in Week 4 and will look to carry positive momentum into a primetime showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Through the first four weeks of the season, Pickens has earned over 28% of the team's targets with quarterback Justin Fields at the helm. Fields has been steady as a passer in 2024 and consistently displays trust in Pickens as his go-to receiver. Dallas' defense has been solid against opposing wideouts but did allow rookie sensation Malik Nabers to post 12 receptions for 115 yards last week. The Cowboys are a bit banged up defensively, with linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) out and defensive back Trevon Diggs (ankle) questionable for Sunday night's contest. Although Diggs is expected to suit up, Pickens could benefit from any limitations faced by the former All-Pro corner. Pickens is yet to find the end zone this season but continues to offer fantasy managers plenty of upside due to his ability to make plays down the field. The 23-year-old should be locked into lineups as a WR2 this week.

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Evan Engram Oct 5 3:20pm ET
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is not expected to play on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Engram has been sidelined since Week 1 but returned to practice this week, participating in a limited capacity each day. He suffered the hamstring injury during pregame warmups in Week 2 and could miss a fourth consecutive game as a result. Unless something changes unexpectedly, the Jaguars will attempt to secure their first win of the season without this crucial target. In Engram's absence, Brenton Strange has stepped up as the clear starter, recording eight receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. However, his target share has declined over the past two weeks. While Strange can be considered a risky streaming option, he may still provide value in a pinch this week.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Oct 5 3:10pm ET
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris was underwhelming for fantasy purposes last week but will hope to capitalize on an enticing matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. The Steelers will once again be without Jaylen Warren (knee), and with Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) also sidelined, Harris is poised to amass a large volume of touches. Dallas's defense has struggled to stop the run this season and has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to running backs through the first four weeks. In addition to his utilization on the ground, Harris has been extremely involved in the passing game over the past two weeks, recording eight receptions on 11 targets. Pittsburgh lacks proven depth in the backfield, and although Aaron Shampklin is likely to mix in, Harris should operate in a workhorse role on Sunday night. He can remain in fantasy lineups as a solid RB2.

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Romeo Doubs Oct 5 3:10pm ET
Romeo Doubs

The Green Bay Packers have placed wide receiver Romeo Doubs on the reserve/suspended list for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team. Reports indicate that Doubs missed practice this week out of frustration with his role in the offense. Although he participated in practice on Wednesday, he did not attend on Thursday. Concerned for his well-being, team representatives visited him at home. Doubs currently ranks second on the team in receiving yards and receptions, trailing only Jayden Reed in those categories. He has recorded 12 catches for 169 yards this season but has yet to score a touchdown. With fellow receiver Christian Watson also expected to miss tomorrow's game against the Rams, the Packers will rely on Reed and Dontayvion Wicks to step up in a more significant capacity for Sunday's matchup in Los Angeles.

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Trey McBride Oct 5 3:00pm ET
Trey McBride

The Arizona Cardinals have downgraded tight end Trey McBride (ribs) to questionable for Sunday's game due to a rib injury. McBride had cleared concussion protocol earlier this week after missing Week 4 against the Commanders, but he has now appeared on the injury report with this new issue. This season, McBride has recorded 14 receptions on 21 targets for a total of 122 yards. In his last outing against San Francisco in Week 15 of 2023, he caught 10 passes for 102 yards. Backup tight end Elijah Higgins saw an increase in playing time last week, managing two receptions for 12 yards against Washington. However, it's difficult to project his future role, especially since the Cardinals had effectively lost that game by halftime. More updates on McBride's injury are expected before Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff against the 49ers.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Oct 5 2:40pm ET
Jacoby Brissett

The San Francisco 49ers defense/special teams unit hosts the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 5 divisional matchup on Sunday. The Niners rank as the fourth-most productive D/ST in football so far, propelled by a big performance against New England last week. San Francisco sacked quarterback Jacoby Brissett six times, recovered two fumbles, and intercepted one pass which was taken to the house by linebacker Fred Warner. Arizona's offense has been decent so far, ranking 13th in both yards per game and points per game. They're relatively healthy, though tight end Trey McBride (ribs) was tagged as questionable on Saturday after clearing concussion protocol, and starting right tackle Kelvin Beachum (hamstring) is also questionable. On the other side, the 49ers are a bit beat up on defense with tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps) still on Injured Reserve and Warner (ankle) questionable. A few backups are also unavailable, which could make things more difficult in Santa Clara's predicted 99-degree weather. The 49ers D/ST is RotoBaller's seventh-ranked option in Week 5, with a bit of a boost if Warner plays.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Oct 5 2:30pm ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is coming off a three-touchdown performance and will hope to keep rolling against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. This should be a favorable matchup for Fields as Dallas has surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points and sixth-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks through the first four weeks of the season. Fields' fantasy potential will additionally benefit from the absence of star linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle), who the Cowboys have ruled out for Sunday night. Although the Steelers are favored at home, Dallas' offense has plenty of firepower and should be able to put up points. This bodes well for Fields, who proved in Week 4 that he can effectively command Pittsburgh's offense when trailing. The 25-year-old signal-caller can be started as a low-end QB1 with upside this week.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Oct 5 2:00pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) and center Ryan Kelly (neck) have both been downgraded from questionable to doubtful to play in Week 5 against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. Richardson suffered an oblique injury in the Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and was relieved by veteran Joe Flacco, who now appears to be in line for his first start in Indy in 2024. Fantasy managers were probably already considering benching Richardson this week after his disappointing start to his sophomore season, and now you can officially move him to the bench for Week 5. The 39-year-old Flacco becomes a clear QB2 streamer in superflex leagues against a Jaguars defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to QBs so far this year. Flacco went 16-for-26 for 168 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Richardson last week against Pittsburgh.

From RotoBaller

Jake Moody Oct 5 2:00pm ET
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody has a home matchup in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. Last week versus New England hit all three field goal attempts -; from 22, 26, and 41 yards -; and made all three extra-point tries. Moody is tied with Dallas' Brandon Aubrey for the second-most kicker fantasy points per game in Yahoo default scoring. Last year San Francisco's red zone offense was hyper-efficient, which meant that Moody only attempted 25 field goals in his rookie year while leading the league in extra points. In 2024 however, Moody is already nearly halfway to that field goal attempt total with 12 through four games. The Cardinals' defense is allowing 26.5 points per game to opposing offenses -- fourth worst in the NFL -- so Moody's floor is safe even if it turns into one of his patented extra-point games. Moody is a top-5 option in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Evan Hull Oct 5 2:00pm ET
Evan Hull

The Indianapolis Colts elevated running back Evan Hull and cornerback David Long Jr. to the active roster from the practice squad on Saturday. The team also signed cornerback Alex Johnson to the practice squad and released running back Trent Pennix from the practice squad. Hull will provide more backfield insurance with Jonathan Taylor (ankle) ruled out for the Week 5 divisional contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend. With Taylor sidelined for at least one week, Trey Sermon is expected to operate as Indy's lead back, with Tyler Goodson backing him up. The Colts' offense is likely to be without quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique), too, with veteran Joe Flacco expected to make his first start in 2024. Hull had one carry for one yard and caught his only target for a six-yard pickup in one game in his rookie season with the Colts in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Romeo Doubs Oct 5 1:50pm ET
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs skipped practices on Thursday and Friday because he is upset with his opportunities in the passing game through the first four weeks of the 2024 season, according to sources. Because of Doubs' skipped practices, he's now doubtful to play in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams due to personal reasons. "It's still day-to-day," head coach Matt LaFleur said after Friday's practice. Doubs is third on the team with 20 targets, only two behind Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, who have 22 apiece. Last year, he had a team-high 96 targets -- two more than Reed and well ahead of Wicks (58) and Christian Watson (53). Green Bay didn't throw as much with quarterback Jordan Love (knee) missing two games due to injury. With Watson (ankle) and Doubs doubtful to play in Week 5, Reed and Wicks and tight end Tucker Kraft will be more attractive in fantasy.

From RotoBaller