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FFL: Week 9 | NFL: Week 9

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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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9

Player Notes
Christian Watson Nov 3 8:50pm ET
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had an uneven game as the Packers suffered defeat at the hands of the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions 24-14. Watson led the Packers in targets with seven, only bringing in three receptions for 37 yards. In the fourth quarter, Watson added a successful two-point conversion with a catch to prop up his fantasy day a little more. It's been an up-and-down season for Watson and he's had a hard time separating from a talented group of pass-catchers in Green Bay, which limits his fantasy value. The Packers have a week off in Week 10 but against the division-rival Chicago Bears in Week 11, Watson should be a boom-or-bust flex play for fantasy.

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Tucker Kraft Nov 3 8:50pm ET
Tucker Kraft

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft blended into the background a bit as the Packers suffered defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions 24-14. Kraft has been very productive for fantasy managers this season but his Week 9 output was very quiet. With six targets on the afternoon, Kraft put up just four receptions for 34 yards. Kraft also had one rushing attempt for two yards to convert a fourth-down conversion early on in the game. With the wide array of pass-catchers on the Packers, it can be a bit easier to blend in and with the Lions pressuring quarterback Jordan Love, that's exactly what happened. Kraft and the Packers will have Week 10 off on bye, but will be back on the field in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears. For fantasy purposes, Kraft should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in that matchup.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Nov 3 8:40pm ET
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was one of the bright spots for the Packers as the team lost at home to the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions 24-14. Reed led the Packers in receptions (5) and receiving yards (113), while finishing second on the team in targets with six. Reeling in all three passes that traveled at least 20+ yards, Reed's role was stark compared to the last couple of weeks, where Reed had been used in a lot of short-area throws from quarterback Jordan Love. This impressive game was a great to see from his fantasy managers, but he'll have to wait to build upon that performance as the Packers are on bye in Week 10. Reed should be considered a mid-range WR2 for fantasy when Green Bay travels to take on their division rival Chicago Bears in Week 11.

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Jared Goff Nov 3 8:40pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff delivered a subpar fantasy outing in the team's 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers, finishing with just 9.6 fantasy pointshis second-lowest total of the season and only his second game without reaching double digits. Despite the weather and a limited passing workload, Goff completed 18 of 22 passes for an efficient 81.8% completion rate. He totaled 145 yards with one touchdown and kept his streak of five straight games without an interception intact. While the game didn't yield high fantasy numbers for Goff, his consistency and ability to manage the game helped secure another win for the Lions, solidifying their spot atop both the division and conference standings. The Lions will look to keep their momentum going against the Houston Texans in Week 10.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba Nov 3 8:30pm ET
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught seven passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams. With no DK Metcalf (knee) in the lineup, Smith-Njigba made the most of his increased opportunities. He once again led Seattle in targets and scored his second and third touchdowns of the season. Smith-Njigba continues his up-and-down season in 2024. He seems to deliver great fantasy output in random games. When he was the No. 1 wide receiver in Week 8, he had a modest output but he was the total opposite in Week 9. The Seahawks are headed into their bye and continue to be inconsistent on offense from week-to-week or even quarter-to-quarter. Perhaps the bye will give both the Seahawks and Smith-Njigba time to figure a few things out.

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Tyler Lockett Nov 3 8:30pm ET
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett scored for the second time in 2024 in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams. As expected, Lockett was a safety valve for quarterback Geno Smith with DK Metcalf (knee) out of the lineup. While Smith struggled with interceptions all game long, Lockett was still able to deliver solid fantasy value. Lockett has rarely sunk your week in any given week in 2024. That should continue to be the trend once Metcalf returns and there is less attention on Lockett and fellow wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks head into a bye in Week 10 and need to sort things out on offense. Hopefully the reset helps all the skill players in this offense moving forward.

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Jordan Love Nov 3 8:30pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (groin) was good to go to play in Week 9 after two limited practices and a questionable tag, but he was lackluster in the Packers' 24-14 loss at home to the Detroit Lions. Love was 23-of-39 passing for 273 yards, but did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season and threw an interception which led to a return for a touchdown by Kerby Joseph that broke the game open at the end of the first half. While Love was not sacked, he was pressured from the jump by the Lions' defense and fumbled the ball three times, but he didn't turn the ball over on those instances. The Packers get their bye at a great time as Love can rest up during Week 10 before heading to take on their oldest rival, the Chicago Bears, in Week 11. A healthy Love is still in the fantasy QB1 conversation despite Week 9's misstep.

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Kenneth Walker III Nov 3 8:30pm ET
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III finally received high-end rushing volume once again in Week 9 when the Seahawks met the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, he was highly inefficient with his volume. Walker only averaged 3.3 yards per carry on 25 carries. However, he did manage to catch all three of his targets for 24 yards. Walker's receiving numbers in 2024 have given him a great base in fantasy football. After being on fire earlier in the season, Walker has faltered in recent weeks. While he is still delivering useable fantasy numbers, he has been nowhere near producing the top five weeks that he was providing fantasy managers earlier in the season. Some of it is not his fault as the Seahawks' offense has been unable to get out of its own way over the past couple of weeks. Turnovers and mental errors have derailed drives and put the Seahawks in unfortunate circumstances. With their bye ahead of them in Week 10, look for this offense to right the ship moving forward.

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Raheem Mostert Nov 3 8:30pm ET
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert rushed the ball ten times for 56 yards and added two receptions for 32 yards in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He also lost a fumble. While Mostert has been putting up solid rushing stats since his return in Week 5, his fumbling troubles have overshadowed some of the production. Miami is third in fumbles since 2023 (14). He contributed four of them in 2023 and has two more in 2024. Nonetheless, his yards per carry output remains solid, and he still received 12 touches. The 2023 rushing touchdown leader went empty on the day, but that won't be a regular occurrence. De'Von Achane was able to get in twice from inside the red zone, obviously hurting Mostert's production. He'll look to bounce back in Week 10 at the Los Angeles Rams.

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Geno Smith Nov 3 8:30pm ET
Geno Smith

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith struggled once again in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams. Without his top target in DK Metcalf (knee) for a second straight week, Smith threw three interceptions. He did continue his high-end passing yardage output and he threw multiple touchdowns in a game for just the second time this season. Despite the interceptions, Smith likely did not sink your fantasy team in Week 9. Due to a solid rushing baseline, Smith continues to be a useable asset in fantasy. Smith did find his footing towards the end of this game when he was able to find wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a game-tying drive in the fourth quarter. Nobody seems to need Seattle's Week 10 bye more than Smith who clearly needs Metcalf back in the lineup. Hopefully, things will improve for Smith and Seattle's offense come Week 11.

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Josh Jacobs Nov 3 8:30pm ET
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) was questionable heading into Week 9 and was cleared to play against the Detroit Lions, where the Packers lost 24-14. Jacobs was efficient on the ground, totaling 95 rushing yards on just 13 attempts before the Packers were in catch-up mode for the sizable portion of the second-half. In the receiving game, Jacobs also added two catches for 13 yards on three targets. With the Packers on bye heading into Week 10, that will give Jacobs this week to get healthy before a divisional slugfest with the Chicago Bears in Week 11. For that contest, Jacobs should be considered a low-end RB1 for fantasy purposes given his huge chunk of the rushing volume for the Packers.

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Saquon Barkley Nov 3 8:10pm ET
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley took 27 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown, added three receptions for 40 yards and an additional score, and lost a fumble during the team's 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 27-year-old's 199 scrimmage yards were his most in a single game this season, and he posted his best numbers as a receiver this year as well. Quarterback Jalen Hurts did not take any goal line opportunities away from Barkley this week, and got things started for the Eagles and threw a 20-yard score to the star back to give Philadelphia its first points scored in the first quarter all season. The Eagles may be without A.J. Brown (knee) for the second time in 2024, but regardless of his status next week the Eagles will likely lean on Barkley again as they face a struggling Dallas team.

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Khalil Shakir Nov 3 8:00pm ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught six passes for 50 yards in the team's 30-27 win over the Miami Dolphins. The slot receiver only trailed rookie running back Ray Davis in receiving yards and led the team in receptions. As usual, Shakir was efficient with his targets. He missed one this week, bringing his total uncaught targets this season to three. Shakir has at least six catches in three straight games and will bring a safe PPR floor into Indianapolis in Week 10.

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Keon Coleman Nov 3 8:00pm ET
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught one pass for 21 yards on two targets in the team's 30-27 win over the Miami Dolphins. It was a disappointing afternoon for the rookie who had been breaking out in recent weeks. Coleman's uncaught target went right off his hands inside the 10-yard line and landed in cornerback Jalen Ramsey's lap. He was unofficially targeted on the Bills' game-winning drive, resulting in a penalty that set up a Tyler Bass field goal. Amari Cooper (wrist) may return in Week 10. His presence has helped the second-round pick. The Bills travel to Indianapolis next weekend.

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Jalen Hurts Nov 3 8:00pm ET
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 18 of 24 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns, adding 13 carries for 67 yards and an additional score, during the team's 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This game marks the fourth in a row that the 26-year-old has not committed a turnover and he had a fantastic day as a passer despite losing A.J. Brown (knee) in the early third quarter. The brotherly shove was actually ineffective this week but Hurts still found his way into the end zone on an 18-yard run where he went over a defender to dive in for the score. We will need to wait for an update on Brown's status, but even if he is absent, Hurts will remain a must-start against a Dallas team that is reeling with injuries.

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Dalton Kincaid Nov 3 8:00pm ET
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught four of 10 targets for 32 yards in the team's 30-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins. That was a season-high target mark for Kincaid but he could not reel in half of them. Kincaid has over 30 yards in every game except the opener this season but hasn't logged more than 52. It's a continuation of a disappointing 2024 campaign for the second-year tight end. He'll look to have his breakout game in Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Josh Allen Nov 3 7:50pm ET
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 25 of 39 pass attempts for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the team's 30-27 victory over the Miami Dolphins. He also threw one interception on a mishandled pass by wide receiver Keon Coleman. As has been the case for the last few weeks, Allen didn't do much with his legs (two carries for seven yards). Rookie running back Ray Davis did the heavy lifting on Allen's longest touchdown pass, turning a short gain into a 63-yard catch-and-run. Allen's other two scores were short completions to Mack Hollins and Quintin Morris. Allen will be ranked as a QB1 next weekend when the Bills travel to Indianapolis.

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James Cook Nov 3 7:50pm ET
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed the football 10 times for 44 yards and caught five passes for 25 yards in the team's last-second victory over the Miami Dolphins. It was the second-fewest carries that Cook has logged in a game this season (nine versus Baltimore). Backup running backs Ray Davis and Ty Johnson combined for seven carries. Cook's stat line was far from what he did against the Dolphins in Week 2 when he scored three touchdowns. Fantasy managers in PPR leagues got a double-digit performance out of Cook, but non-PPR and half-PPR managers weren't as fortunate. Cook draws a positive matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10.

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CeeDee Lamb Nov 3 7:30pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) will undergo an MRI to address an AC joint issue in his shoulder. The wideout exited Sunday's meeting with the Atlanta Falcons, although he still managed to return to finish with eight catches for 47 yards. Without a doubt, the Cowboys can't afford any more injuries, considering Dak Prescott (hamstring) will also need an MRI to address the hamstring injury suffered in Week 9. If Lamb can't play in the NFC East showdown with the Eagles, Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, and Jake Ferguson would all likely see more attention on the receiving end.

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Darnell Mooney Nov 3 7:30pm ET
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney hauled in five of nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-21 win over Dallas. With fellow wideout Drake London going down with an injury early on in the game, Mooney and Bijan Robinson picked up the slack, accounting for 12 of Kirk Cousins' 19 completions. The 27-year-old has now earned six or more targets in seven of nine games and has gone over 80 yards receiving in four of them, with Sunday's TD giving him five on the season. An early look at next week's contest with New Orleans provides another favorable matchup with the Saints in the top third in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. If London were to miss any time, it would give an additional boost to Mooney and the rest of the receiving corps.

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