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FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

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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Player Notes
Tank Dell Sep 27 4:40pm ET
Tank Dell

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (chest) was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The sophomore wideout suffered a chest injury in last week's game against the Minnesota Vikings and was not able to log a practice throughout the week. Dell will now set his sights on returning in Week 5 when the Texans face the Buffalo Bills. The 24-year-old has had a modest start to the season but did post a season-best 62 yards in last week's game but has yet to find the end zone. Fantasy managers should expect Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs to see the majority of targets this weekend, with Robert Woods and Xavier Hutchinson rotating as the No.3 option.

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Tyjae Spears Sep 27 4:40pm ET
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears faces the Miami Dolphins this coming Monday night in Week 4. The sophomore running back put up his highest yard total of the season last week with 61, and was on the field quite a bit when the Titans were playing catch up vs. Green Bay. He's still been a clear RB2 behind Pollard in terms of opportunities, but with how poor Miami is at defending the run and Spears ramping up in the passing game, he could be a sneaky good option for a flex spot, albeit in deeper leagues.

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Joe Mixon Sep 27 4:40pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game with an ankle injury. Mixon suffered the injury in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears and was held out of action last weekend. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding the 28-year-old's status over the weekend. The Texans will already enter this game shorthanded with wideout Tank Dell (chest) and No.2 running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) already ruled out. If Mixon misses his second-straight game, fantasy managers should expect Cam Akers to lead the backfield again in a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed the 29th most points to running backs this season.

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Ja'Marr Chase Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) does not carry an injury designation and is set to play on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Chase opened the week on Wednesday as a limited participant with a shoulder injury but logged a full practice on Thursday and Friday. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable locking the LSU standout in their lineup as a high-end WR1 for the remainder of the season. After starting the season slowly through the first two weeks, Chase broke out in a big way on Monday night as he caught six passes for 118 yards and two scores against the Washington Commanders.

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Will Levis Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis faces the Miami Dolphins in a Week 4 Monday Night Football road showdown. Levis has been on the front page of every NFL meme account due to his not-top ten plays through the first three games of the year. The young quarterback has seen pressure at one of the highest rates in the NFL which has made moving the ball downfield very difficult for this Titans' offense. On the road against a formidable defense with the lowest over/under on the Week is not a good spot for Levis to bounce back. While he did throw for a career high 327 yards last year in an almost identical spot last season, Levis cannot be trusted in any formats as the QB28 through three weeks.

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Chris Olave Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (hamstring) reportedly suffered a hamstring injury during Friday's practice, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter further noted that the 24-year-old wideout is considered "day-to-day" for the time being. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the injury report later this afternoon, as it should provide clarity on Olave's status for Sunday's game. Olave has posted back-to-back games of at least 80+ yards and scored his first touchdown of the 2024 season last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. If Olave is able to suit up this weekend, he should be viewed as a high-end WR2.

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Tony Pollard Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard heads to Miami to face the Dolphins in a Week 4 primetime matchup. After two strong weeks to start the season Pollard took a major step back last week with only 4.4 points in half-PPR scoring. The positives were that he still drew four targets, and managed to out-rush his backfield mate Tyjae Spears for the third consecutive week. With Levis' struggles at the helm of this offense, the Titans may opt to lean on their dynamic RB duo more often, and this coming week against a porous rush defense that just let James Cook go hog-wild, Pollard remains a strong play.

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Sam LaPorta Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Sam LaPorta

With Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) returning to practice on Friday and the Lions playing on Monday night against the Seahawks in Week 4, it makes for a risky proposition to start LaPorta on fantasy teams. The Iowa product has not had a large role in the Lions' offense so far and coming off the injury he could remain a secondary target for Jared Goff against Seattle. LaPorta's season-high in targets was five in Week 1 against the Rams. It is worth monitoring Saturday's practice to make sure he is a participant. If he is, that is a good sign he will be able to suit up after getting in a Friday practice. It is tough to move off of LaPorta and onto another tight end with all the injuries at the position so far this season. It is understandable for fantasy managers to want to pencil in LaPorta for Monday night if he practices on Saturday. But he has yet to show the same target share as last season.

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DeVonta Smith Sep 27 4:20pm ET
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (concussion) will not play this Sunday due to a concussion. The 25-year-old took a hard helmet-to-helmet hit during last weekend's game and will need at least another week to recover from his injury. However, fantasy managers could expect the Alabama product to potentially return in his next game in Week 6 as the Eagles are off next weekend. This weekend, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson should continue to see an increased role in this offense, while No.1 wideout A.J. Brown (hamstring) remains questionable for Sunday's game. Smith has performed very well in the revamped Kellen Moore passing attack this season, averaging 17.0 PPR points per game.

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Jameson Williams Sep 27 4:20pm ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is coming off a lackluster Week 3 performance at Arizona and should continue to be behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery in the offensive pecking order as far as touches. What Williams brings, however, is the ability to turn one touch into a big play. His deep-ball threat is there in every game but Seattle has two good corners on the outside in Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. This projects as a tough matchup for Williams as the running back duo figures to be heavily involved and St. Brown should see a majority of the wide receiver targets. So Williams will be reliant on the big play in this matchup making him a somewhat risky option. The upside is certainly there but there is also a low floor.

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David Montgomery Sep 27 4:10pm ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery should continue his featured rushing role in the team's backfield in a Week 4 matchup against Seattle on Monday night. Star center Frank Ragnow (pectoral) has already been ruled out, but the Lions' talented offense line should still be able to create holes for the powerful back. Jahmyr Gibbs will be involved in the game plan as well but Montgomery is coming off a game of 23 carries with 105 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 3. He also caught three passes in that game. Montgomery has a rushing touchdown in each of the first three games for the Lions and is a good bet to find the end zone again on Monday. He should be locked and loaded as a starting fantasy running back.

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Bijan Robinson Sep 27 4:10pm ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (shoulder) logged a full practice on Friday and does not carry an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Robinson popped up on Thursday's injury report as a limited participant but returned in full on Friday, suggesting this was a very minor injury. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable locking in Robinson as their RB1 this weekend. The Texas standout scored his first touchdown of the campaign last weekend as he ran for 31 yards with a score and added 21 yards off two catches. Robinson remains one of the top running backs in fantasy due to the elite volume he will see both as a runner and a pass-catcher on a weekly basis.

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Amon-Ra St. Brown Sep 27 4:10pm ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

After a quiet Week 1, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has started to make some noise again the past two weeks. He saw 18 targets and caught 11 passes for 119 yards in Week 2 against Tampa Bay. In Week 3 at Arizona, St. Brown hauled in seven of his eight targets for 75 yards and a touchdown. He faces a tough matchup against a talented Seahawks secondary on Monday night. But expect St. Brown to move around the formation and be a target for Jared Goff in the middle of the field. He is starting to pick up steam of late and looks like a good play in Week 4. He is a PPR monster because of his heavy involvement. Against a high-powered Seattle offense, this matchup could be high-scoring so there figure to be plenty of opportunities for St. Brown.

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A.J. Brown Sep 27 4:10pm ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. The standout wide receiver returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday after not participating earlier in the week. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding Brown's status ahead of Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. Brown was sidelined over the past two games due to a hamstring injury and would be a welcomed addition to the offense, as DeVonta Smith (concussion) will not suit up this weekend. If Brown is able to play, fantasy managers should view him as a WR1 with upside. If the 27-year-old misses his third-straight game, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson should serve as the starting wideouts on Sunday.

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Bradley Chubb Sep 27 4:00pm ET
Bradley Chubb

There is currently no timetable for Miami Dolphins pass-rusher Bradley Chubb (knee), who is eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list next week. "Chubb is in all of our meetings - gives me the feel we will see him at some point this year," defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said. The fact that Chubb doesn't have a clear timetable yet leads us to believe that he probably won't be officially activated off the PUP list next week. The 28-year-old former Denver Broncos pass-rusher is recovering from a torn ACL in his knee that he suffered in Week 17 of 2023. The Dolphins are holding out hope that he will be able to return to their defense later this season, but it also sounds as though he has plenty of work to do. Chubb probably isn't going to be on the IDP radar this year as he eases his way back onto the field for the Dolphins.

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Jahmyr Gibbs Sep 27 4:00pm ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Jahmyr Gibbs has been featured in the Lions' backfield so far this season alongside David Montgomery and that should continue to be the case in Week 4. The versatile running back had a season-high 16 carries against the Cardinals in Week 3 and scored a touchdown on a lateral play after a catch by Amon-Ra St. Brown. He had 20 total touches in Week 2 and 15 touches in Week 1, so expect him to continue to be a focal point of the Lions offense and remain involved in the passing game. As always, Montgomery will be involved as well. But expect the Lions to pound the ball on the ground despite having center Frank Ragnow (pectoral) already ruled out for Monday's game. The absence of Ragnow could hurt the rushing attack but the Lions have a well-balanced offensive line and Gibbs can always fall back on his pass-catching chops out of the backfield. Gibbs should continue to be started with confidence.

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Jared Goff Sep 27 3:50pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff faces a stiff test with the Seattle Seahawks defense on Monday night. The Seahawks come in with the No. 2 overall defense and No. 1 pass defense in the NFL through three weeks. At the same time, Goff represents the best quarterback the Seahawks will have faced after matching up with Denver's rookie Bo Nix, New England's Jacoby Brissett, and Miami's Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle. Seattle boasts a strong secondary and Goff has yet to break out through three weeks of this season. Expect a run-heavy focus for the Lions' offense on Monday night with Goff attempting to get the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams whenever possible against Seattle's tough corners in Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. Goff profiles as a mid-range QB2 in this matchup with better options available.

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Nico Collins Sep 27 3:40pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) popped up on the Week 4 injury report on Thursday and was limited in practice the last two days, but he says he's good to go on Sunday against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. It's good news for Houston's offense with fellow wideout Tank Dell (chest) unlikely to play after missing practice all week. Mid-week additions to the injury report usually aren't a good sign, but the fact that Collins practice on Thursday and Friday give him a good shot to play in Week 4 and see his typical amount of snaps. And with Dell unlikely to play, both Collins and Stefon Diggs have higher ceilings and floors against a Jaguars defense that was torched by the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. Collins, who leads the league through three weeks with 112.7 yards per game, should be locked in as a high-end WR1 this weekend.

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Anthony Richardson Sep 27 3:30pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) missed practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Highsmith injured his groin in the Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers and will miss at least one game. The good news is the 27-year-old is not expected to need surgery, but he could still very well miss multiple games moving forward. Fantasy managers in IDP leagues obviously need to bench Highsmith this week and keep him stashed on the bench until further notice. The impressive Nick Herbig should step into a starting spot in the middle of Pittsburgh's defense on Sunday against the Colts. Even with Highsmith out of action this weekend, the swarming Steelers defense/special teams unit should still be considered a top-five fantasy play against struggling Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.

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Jordan Love Sep 27 3:30pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) was listed as limited for a third straight practice this week on Friday. "Any time he's out there, it's encouraging," head coach Matt LaFleur said. Fantasy managers need to check back soon for Love's official designation heading into Sunday's divisional clash against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. LaFleur won't say one way or another if he knows what Love's availability will be on Sunday. Love is trending toward being a game-time decision, but the good news is fantasy managers will know early on Sunday whether he's available or if the Packers will roll with backup Malik Willis for a third straight game. Love is attempting to return from an MCL sprain suffered in the season-opener. The 25-year-old was close to playing in the Week 3 win over the Titans, for what it's worth. Love will be a more volatile QB1 option with potentially limited mobility if he's active.

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