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.
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 10
Per Rich Cimini of ESPN, New York Jets offensive tackle Tyron Smith (neck) will have an MRI exam early this week, according to interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. Smith picked up a neck injury in the Jets' 31-6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday. As reported by Cimini, the 33-year-old had played every snap for the Jets this season before picking up the injury. The severity of the veteran's ailment is unknown at this time, but if he were forced to miss more action, it'd be a massive blow to New York's offensive line. Rookie offensive tackle Olu Fashanu took over for Smith when he went down, and the first-round pick projects to stand in for the eight-time Pro Bowler again if he cannot suit up for the team's Week 11 home tilt against the Indianapolis Colts.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski expects linebacker Jordan Hicks (triceps, elbow) to return to action in Week 11, as reported by Fred Greetham of the NFL. The 32-year-old has already missed four contests this year as he's worked through multiple injuries and hasn't been active since Week 7, with his most recent tricep/elbow ailment. However, it appears he's turned a corner in his recovery coming out of the team's Week 10 bye. His practice participation this week will be telling of his potential status on Sunday when the team visits the Caesars Superdome to square off against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran linebacker has recorded 24 tackles and one quarterback sack in five appearances this season.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier received 11 carries for 59 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Saints. That includes a 24-yard scamper and was good for a 5.4 YPC. The 24-year-old nearly had an even better day, with the Falcons giving him three consecutive chances to punch it in from the 1-yard line in the second quarter, finally acquiescing and giving Bijan Robinson the final (successful) try on fourth down. It was the third time in the last five games that the BYU product has received double-digit carries, but his involvement still seems to be erratic and not necessarily game-script dependent. With zero targets in the passing game for the third consecutive week, Allgeier will again be a risky RB3/Flex play in Week 11 against the Broncos.
From RotoBaller
According to head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) is "very close" to returning. Matt McMullen of the team reported the news. Pacheco has been on the shelf since fracturing his fibula back in Kansas City's Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. It's unclear exactly when he may again be active, but the third-year back has yet to resume practicing, so one figures he will not be active this upcoming weekend. Kareem Hunt has filled in well for the 25-year-old since the team acquired him back in Week 3, and he'll continue to lead the Chiefs' backfield in Pacheco's stead. While this weekend's matchup against the Buffalo Bills would be a long shot for the Rutgers product to suit up, fantasy managers who have held onto him should be rewarded in short order.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts backup running back Tyler Goodson did not receive a single carry in Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Bills, but found the end zone through the air on one of his two catches for a total of nine yards. It certainly perturbed Jonathan Taylor managers, as Taylor was one of the lone bright spots on offense for most of the day for the Colts, but alas, it was Goodson who found paydirt. Nevertheless, without an injury to Jonathan Taylor, the 23-year-old is not usable in most fantasy formats, especially not in Week 11 against a strong Jets run defense. The second-year pro did a decent job filling in for Taylor in Week 7 with 14 rushes for 51 yards and a score, so he could be considered a low-end handcuff.
From RotoBaller
Matt McMullen reports that Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid noted that wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is "very close" to a return to the lineup. Smith-Schuster had a breakout game in Week 5 when he caught 7-of-8 targets for 130 yards in Kansas City's 26-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints. However, following the team's bye in Week 6, he participated in just seven snaps before injuring his hamstring. He then missed the next three contests, but it appears he'll return to the lineup over the next few weeks at the latest. It will be interesting to see how the 27-year-old is worked into the team's scheme with the acquisition of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Additionally, tight end Travis Kelce's reemergence could put a damper on the veteran's work in the passing game. Fantasy managers will want to continue to monitor his status.
From RotoBaller
After recording just one catch in Week 9, Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts got back on track in Week 10, hauling in four of six targets for 55 yards in a 20-17 loss to the Saints. There have been more productive and consistent options at tight end, but Pitts is still top 10 at the position in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns, so while he can be a bit volatile, the 24-year-old remains a TE1 in a solid Falcons offense. He may even be in a better spot than his fellow receivers next week against the Broncos, who have been good against WRs but not as great against TEs, with Brock Bowers, Cade Otton, and Travis Kelce each catching at least seven balls against them. As such, Pitts will again be a volatile TE1 in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo's recent struggles proved costly in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Saints. The 30-year-old missed three of four field goals in Week 10, and after starting the season 13-for-15 over the first six games, he's now 2-for-7 over the last four. Thankfully he is a perfect 23-for-23 on extra-point attempts, but it may not matter if missed field goals will cost Atlanta games. For now, his job seems to be safe, but fantasy managers should monitor in the event something unexpected happens. The Falcons travel to Denver on Sunday in a game that has a fairly low expected total at this point (43.5), so opportunities may be limited and managers may want to consider pivoting to a more reliable option anyway in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said on Monday that the team isn't benching rookie quarterback Caleb Williams following another disappointing loss to the New England Patriots in Week 10 on Sunday. "Caleb is our starter," Eberflus said. The first overall pick was sacked nine times and went 16-for-30 for 120 yards in the 19-3 loss on Sunday. Since the team's bye in Week 7, the Bears' offense has managed just one touchdown (in Week 8), and Williams has been sacked 18 times behind a banged-up and ineffective offensive line. While the 22-year-old will remain the starter, Chicago is considering taking play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron heading into a Week 11 divisional clash against the Green Bay Packers. It could be more tough sledding for Williams against a Packers defense that has been stingy against opposing QBs of late.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson paced the team in receiving in the 34-6 blowout loss against Philadelphia on Sunday. Ferguson caught four passes for a team-high 24 yards in what was an abysmal showing from the Dallas offense. His fantasy ceiling has taken a hit with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) likely done for the season. The 25-year-old is no longer a must-start entering Monday's matchup with Houston.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert struggled along with the rest of the offense in the 34-6 loss to Philadelphia. The third-year receiver was targeted five times, catching three receptions for 14 yards. Tolbert has fallen off of the fantasy radar with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) likely done for the year, as Cooper Rush and Trey Lance have not proven to be capable of supporting multiple pass catchers from a fantasy perspective.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle was the clear-cut lead back on Sunday in what was an abysmal offensive showing. Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 53 yards and caught all three targets for just three yards. He ripped off a 19-yard run, good for the longest Dallas offensive play of the game. Dowdle appears entrenched as the top running back in the offense, although his value has taken a clear hit without quarterback Dak Prescott. He should be a matchup-dependent flex option moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott only touched the ball six times in the blowout loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Elliott was returning from a one-game internal suspension related to team conduct. He gained 22 yards on the ground and was not targeted in the passing game. Elliott remains off the fantasy radar as a handcuff to Rico Dowdle in what is now a defunct Dallas offense without quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring).
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb saw a team-high 10 targets on Sunday in the 34-6 loss to Philadelphia. Lamb caught six of those passes, but only gained 21 yards. He also rushed once for a three yard gain. The Cowboys' star receiver's fantasy stock has taken a clear hit with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) likely done for the season. He will look to bounce back next Monday night against Houston.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears offense has been stagnant ever since the team's bye in Week 7, which has the team considering making a change at offensive play-caller entering Week 11 against the division-rival Green Bay Packers. Head coach Matt Eberflus said on Monday that the team was "in the middle of that process of that evaluation" about a possible switch away from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron calling the plays. Chicago's offense has produced just 27 points in their last three games combined after scoring 36 and 35 points, respectively, in Weeks 5 and 6. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams hasn't thrown a TD pass since Week 6, and the Bears offense hasn't scored a TD since Week 8. Nine games into the season, Chicago's offense ranks 31st in yards per play, 30th in yards per game, 30th in yards per pass, 28th in yards per carry, 32nd in sacks allowed per pass and 31st on third down.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush had a poor outing in his first 2024 start as the Cowboys fell 34-6 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Rush completed 13-of-23 passes for just 45 yards, losing two fumbles in the game. He scrambled twice for two yards as well. Rush was pulled late in the game for Trey Lance, who did not look much better. It remains to be seen if Rush will maintain the starting job going into next week's Monday night game against Houston, but even if he does he is off the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain after undergoing an MRI exam and is expected to miss a couple of weeks, according to a source. Although it's bad news that Wirfs will have to miss time, it's a sign of relief for the Bucs that the injury wasn't worse. The 25-year-old was injured in the 23-20 loss to the visiting San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Week 10. With Wirfs now out for a couple of weeks, the expectation is that Justin Skule become a starter for a Tampa defense that continues to be hurt by injuries. It's more bad news for the blind-side protection for quarterback Baker Mayfield, who continues to make the most of what has become a very thin receiving corps with both Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) injured.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance stepped into the game late on Sunday, replacing a struggling Cooper Rush in what turned out to be a 34-6 blowout. The former third-overall pick struggled to get the offense going but did provide a bit more of a pop than Rush. Lance completed 4-of-6 passes for 21 yards and an interception while scrambling three times for 17 yards. Mike McCarthy has not named a starter for next Monday's matchup with Houston, but with how poorly Rush played there is a shot that Lance could draw his first start.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) is heading to New York on Monday to visit with a hamstring specialist, where he ultimately will make the decision on whether to have season-ending surgery for a hamstring avulsion that he suffered in the Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Prescott's hamstring partially tore off his bone and will require six to eight weeks of recovery if he decides to avoid the surgical route. Either way, Prescott is unlikely to play again this year, but if he undergoes surgery, he'll be facing a three-month recovery period. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that Prescott is leaning towards having surgery. Fantasy managers can drop Prescott in single-year fantasy leagues at this point. Cooper Rush looked awful in his first start in Week 10 against the Eagles and could eventually give way to Trey Lance if things continue to go south in Week 11 versus the Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
The Cincinnati Bengals are working out veteran free-agent running back Leonard Fournette on Monday. The Bengals apparently are considering adding to their RB room after Zack Moss (neck) suffered a season-ending injury in the Week 9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, despite trading for Khalil Herbert at the deadline last Tuesday. Chase Brown should operate as the team's unquestioned lead back moving forward, with Trayveon Williams as the RB3 behind Brown and Herbert. If the Bengals were to add Fournette, he'd almost certainly start on the practice squad before potentially working his way onto the active 53-man roster as additional RB depth. The 29-year-old veteran played in two games with the Bills in 2023 and has 12 carries for 40 yards on the ground. There's no guarantee that Lenny would find a significant role in Cincy if he were to be signed.
From RotoBaller