TE Strength of Schedule
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.
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The Paur Report
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2
Los Angeles Rams WR Demarcus Robinson caught two passes for a team-high 50 yards in a 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
Fantasy Spin: A week after Puka Nacua left with an injury, Cooper Kupp exited the Week 2, leaving Robinson as one of top receiving options. If Nacua and Kupp aren't ready for Week 3, Robinson will be worth a look in deeper leagues.
From TheHuddle
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson had a productive game for fantasy managers in the Week 2 meeting against the Chiefs. After making one kick in the Week 1 loss to the Patriots, the 25-year-old had four on Sunday, including a 53-yarder in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, a missed extra-point attempt would prove costly, with the Chiefs winning the contest by one, thanks to a field goal from Harrison Butker as time expired. At any rate, McPherson is one of the best kickers in the National Football League, meaning he deserves starting consideration in all fantasy lineups when the Bengals meet the Commanders in the Week 3 Monday Night Football matchup.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders TE Zach Ertz registered four receptions for a team-high 62 yards on four targets in Week 2 against the New York Giants.
Fantasy Spin: Ertz was productive like the old days in Philadelphia, but he still has a ways to go before he is a regular TE1 again. For now, he remains a TE2, and a streaming option for when your primary option has an injury or a bye.
From TheHuddle
Washington Commanders WR Noah Brown registered three receptions for 56 yards on three targets in Week 2 against the New York Giants.
From TheHuddle
Updating a previous report, Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) was able to return to the lineup in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears late in the third quarter.
Fantasy Spin: Mixon missed a good chunk of the third quarter after what looked like a possible hip-drop tackle, sending the talented back to the locker room. We'll see if he can finish out, and finish up strong. The good news is that he is back.
From TheHuddle
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bears. The former Bengal had a stellar Week 1 showing against the Colts. While he hasn't been as potent in Week 2, he still amassed 20 yards off seven carries, adding three grabs for 25 yards. The Texans were already thin at the running back spot heading into Sunday night, with Dameon Pierce (hamstring) inactive. But if Mixon is ruled out, Houston will rely on Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers to carry the backfield for the remainder of the contest.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. was impressive in a 23-17 loss to the Vikings in Minneapolis on Sunday. He caught eight of 10 targets for 110 yards receiving -- all team-high figures. Samuel Sr.'s hands were particularly sticky in this one, with multiple difficult receptions coming on contested passes. In a bit of a departure from his usual style, relatively few of his yards came after the catch. Although it didn't matter in the end, Samuel made a great hustle play in the 49ers' final possession near the goal line when linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel jumped a backward wide receiver screen pass intended for Samuel, who got back to secure the ball when Van Ginkel bobbled it. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, it counted as a carry for a loss of nine yards. He would finish with two carries for minus-10 yards. Samuel will look to keep it going in a road tilt against the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler rushed eight times for 38 yards in Week 2 against the New York Giants, while adding three catches for 47 yards on his three targets. He also had one kickoff return for 35 yards.
Fantasy Spin: Ekeler has gone from RB1 in fantasy leagues for years with the Chargers, to a RB3 or flex option in leagues of 12 or more teams. As long as Brian Robinson Jr. remains healthy, Ekeler's fantasy ceiling is rather limited.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford completed 19 of his 27 passes for 216 yards in a 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill was seldom used in Sunday's 44-19 blowout win over Dallas. The gadget player rushed the ball three times for 18 yards. He also caught his lone target for an additional yard. The showing was disappointing from a fantasy perspective, but there was no need to mix Hill into the game plan in a game that the Saints controlled from the jump. Hill will look to get more involved in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was the leading receiver in the team's 41-10 loss to Arizona on Sunday afternoon. Robinson caught two of his four targets for 50 yards with 42 of those yards coming on one big completion. The veteran receiver flashed a big play but did little else in a day to forget in the desert. Cooper Kupp (ankle) exited the game early and the team is already without Puka Nacua (knee) who is on the IR. The opportunity is there now for a receiver to step up in a big way but who that receiver will be has yet to reveal itself. Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington are all in the mix for more targets but the foursome might just eat into each other's potential production. Until one or two from the group separate from the pack, it will be a tough fantasy situation to sort out.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams rushed eight times for 39 yards in the win over Dallas. The veteran saw most of his work on the final two drives as the Saints ran the clock to finalize the blowout victory. Williams should be rostered by Alvin Kamara owners as a handcuff, but he holds no standalone value given his lack of usage prior to the game being out of control. The veteran is now over two seasons removed from his NFL-leading rushing touchdown season. He should not be considered for lineups next week against Philadelphia.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki was solid in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. The veteran had three catches for 18 yards in Week 1 against the Pats. He also nearly had a touchdown, although it was overturned. However, Gesicki made up for that performance by amassing a game-high seven grabs for 91 yards in Week 2. Without question, nobody expects him to be a top fantasy tight end. But with Tee Higgins (hamstring) sidelined, Gesicki could remain more involved. Yet, even when Higgins returns, it appears Gesicki has caught the attention of Joe Burrow, giving him value for Week 3 against the Commanders for fantasy managers looking to fill a void at the position.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) suffered an apparent right ankle injury in the third quarter of the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears, and he initially headed to the blue medical tent before eventually heading to the locker room.
Fantasy Spin: With Mixon off, and Dameon Pierce already inactive, journeyman Cam Akers is in the backfield for Houston, with Dare Ogunbowale is also up for the team. If Mixon is out, it appears Akers is next in line.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints third-year receiver Rashid Shaheed has been all "boom" so far this season, as he has now scored long touchdowns in back-to-back weeks. The explosive playmaker caught all four of his targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Week 2 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He also rushed the ball three times for 13 yards. Shaheed's 25% target share was promising, especially after tying for the team lead in targets a week ago. If the speedster continues to see a consistent target share, he will become a more reliable week-to-week starter in fantasy. Shaheed will look to continue his hot streak next week against Philadelphia.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill notched a quieter game in the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. He only received four carries compared to Derrick Henry's 18 and hauled in two receptions on two targets. Hill remains the primary back in passing situations, and the Ravens weren't playing from behind in most of this game. That situation is not likely to change as the season rolls on, so his fantasy value will be dependent on the game script. This offense hasn't been able to find a consistent stride yet, so Hill hasn't been able to get any garbage time opportunities either. In Week 3, the Ravens will hit the road and play the Dallas Cowboys, another tougher defense that will test their offensive potential and could translate to more passing work for Hill.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had four catches for 35 yards in Sunday's narrow loss to the Chiefs. After nearly sitting out Week 1 against the Pats, the wideout finished with six catches for 62 yards. While that wasn't what fantasy managers were hoping for, it was still better than what he produced in Week 2. The former LSU Tiger hasn't met expectations through the first two weeks of the 2024-25 campaign. However, there's no way to justify keeping him out of the starting lineup when the Bengals meet the Commanders for a Monday Night Football showdown. Hopefully, with the distraction of contract talks now on hold until after the season, he'll turn things around.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson was a popular waiver-wire addition headed into Week 2 but did little to reward fantasy managers who took a shot on him this week. Johnson was not involved in the team's 41-10 loss at Arizona on Sunday. The Minnesota Golden Gophers product was targeted just three times, hauling in two passes for 20 yards. The Rams' offense was a disaster in this one and Cooper Kupp (ankle) was forced out of the game early. Despite Kupp's absence Johnson did little of note as the ball was spread around and Matthew Stafford struggled to get anything going downfield. The team will need to regroup after this rough road contest and Johnson could still have a role with all the injuries in the Rams' receiver room. He still will have to compete with Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, and Jordan Whittington for targets, however.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave had a promising Week 2 performance after a disappointing Week 1 showing. Olave was targeted six times, securing four receptions for 81 yards. His 37.5% target share was the most exciting part of the showing, as he saw just two targets in last week's win. Olave connected with quarterback Derek Carr on a 39-yard reception early in the game as the offense got rolling. Game script hasn't favored the passing game with the Saints winning in two blowouts so far, so Olave should only see better days ahead.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas shined in the Week 2 matchup with the Chiefs. Unfortunately, the Bengals lost a close one, courtesy of a Harrison Butker field goal as time expired. Iosivas had only three catches for 26 yards in Week 1 versus the New England Patriots. Although he had only two catches for seven yards in this one, both resulted in a trip to the end zone. With that in mind, nobody can say when Tee Higgins (hamstring) will be back. But if he's not healthy enough to return for the Week 3 clash with the Commanders, Iosivas is at least a flex option in all fantasy formats.
From RotoBaller
