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.
San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody went 0-for-2 on field goal attempts and 3-for-4 on extra points during Monday evening's loss to the Detroit Lions. Moody missed field goals from 51 and 58 yards out. This was also his first missed extra point of the campaign. Entering Monday night, he had held a disappointing 76.7% FG conversion rate. He has struggled from 50+ yards out all season, as he has gone 3-for-8 from this range. However, Moody has been perfect from within 40 yards out. This is a stark drop in production compared to the 84.05% FG conversion rate he posted in his rookie campaign last season. Given his struggles, fantasy managers should not view Moody as a viable streaming option in Week 18.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Allen Robinson II brought in his lone target for 21 yards during their victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday evening. Robinson's lone reception came in the third quarter. While the vast majority of the passing opportunities went to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, it is a positive sign for Robinson to see more targets than the presumed No.3 option, Tim Patrick. Robinson has now seen at least one target in two of his past three contests. However, given how often Jared Goff looks to his top pass-catching options, Robinson may only see a handful of targets in each game moving forward. As a result, fantasy managers should not view Robinson as a viable play in Week 18 and in any postseason competitions.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs was sharp in relief on Monday evening. He went 3-for-4 with 35 yards and added seven yards and a score on his lone rushing attempt. Dobbs came in to relieve Brock Purdy (elbow), who suffered an injury on their final offensive drive of the game. Dobbs connected with Jauan Jennings twice, once on a 15-yard strike, and the other on a nine-yard pass. His other completion went to his tight end, George Kittle, for 11 yards. Dobbs would then rely on his legs to punch in the seven-yard score in the red zone. When Purdy missed time earlier this season due to a shoulder injury, Brandon Allen was given the No.2 role; however, it appears that Dobbs now holds that spot on the depth chart. If Purdy cannot play in Week 18, Dobbs will likely get the starting nod and could be worth a look as a deep league streaming option and a value play in DFS against the Arizona Cardinals.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson was given just three attempts during their victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday evening. However, all three attempts were within the San Francisco ten-yard line. With David Montgomery (knee) sidelined, Jahmyr Gibbs has been deployed as the workhorse option in this backfield, but with the Lions having little to play for regarding their position in the standings, they opted to give Gibbs occasional rest on Monday evening. While Gibbs still finished the game with 18 attempts and four targets, he would have likely been given this goal line work in a must-win situation. Instead, Jefferson was given some high-value touches but could not punch in any of them as he finished with just nine total yards. In addition, Jefferson saw four fewer carries than the presumed No.2 option, Craig Reynolds. Fantasy managers should expect Gibbs to take on a three-down role during Week 18 and throughout the entire postseason, leaving just a handful of attempts for Jefferson and Reynolds.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick did not see a target during Monday's victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Instead, quarterback Jared Goff relied on his top playmakers, Amon-Rs St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, who all saw the vast majority of targets and attempts. This was Patrick's second time this season not seeing a single target in a game. Last weekend, during their victory over the Bears, Patrick saw just one pass his way but was unable to bring it in. This is a significant drop off compared to the solid 5.2 targets per game he saw during Weeks 11 through 15. During this stretch, he averaged 40.4 yards per game with 3.5 receptions per game. Being deployed as the clear No.4 option in this offense makes Patrick a difficult player to project weekly. Fantasy managers should continue to view him as a high-risk, desperation flex play heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
From RotoBaller
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the San Francisco 49ers are non-committal on quarterback Brock Purdy's status for Week 18. During Monday evening's loss to the Detroit Lions, Purdy suffered an elbow injury late in the game, which caused him to leave early during their final offensive drive. Schefter reported that Purdy is dealing with a nerve-related issue and will undergo further testing on Tuesday. With the team remaining non-committal, it is possible Purdy will not play in their final game on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Before exiting, Purdy went 27-for-35 with 377 yards, three scores, two interceptions, and an additional 12 yards and the score on the ground. In relief, veteran Joshua Dobbs went 3-for-4 with 35 yards and a seven-yard rushing score on the final drive. Dobbs would likely get the start in Week 18 if Purdy is eventually shut down.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle had another valuable fantasy day in a 40-34 home loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night. Kittle hauled in all eight of his targets for 112 receiving yards. For most Kittle managers, tonight caps off an excellent fantasy season. It marks his fourth 1,000-yard season and while he falls short of his 2022 career-high 11 touchdowns -- he's at eight with one game to play -- Kittle was incredibly dependable this season after a rollercoaster 2023 campaign. Excluding the two games missed due to injury, Kittle has come in below 10 half-PPR points just three times this season. He'll try to defend his 0.2-point lead as the season-long half-PPR TE1 over Las Vegas Raiders rookie phenom Brock Bowers when the 49ers travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals on Sunday in Week 18. He'll be a must-start for anyone still in redraft championships, but DFS players would be wise to consider the injury status of starting quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow).
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall popped off with the best game of his young career during a 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium on Monday night. For the first time this season, Pearsall had quarterback Brock Purdy's eye throughout. The 24-year-old out of Florida finished with a co-team-high 10 targets and eight receptions for a team-leading 141 yards and a touchdown. He also took two carries for six yards. Pearsall flashed his first-round skills, including winning a strong-hand battle at the goal line against standout safety Brian Branch and a one-handed, toe-tapping tip and grab on the sideline. Anyone still playing meaningful fantasy football in Week 18 may be tempted to consider Pearsall as a FLEX option after his breakout game, but first should track the injury news of quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) going into the team's game on Sunday at the Arizona Cardinals.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. returned to fantasy mediocrity in a 40-34 loss to the Lions in Santa Clara on Monday night. The 2021 First-team All-Pro took three carries for 16 yards on the ground. His only target in the passing game was not much of a target at all, a pop-pass on a reverse from the five-yard line that was essentially another carry. Luckily for some fantasy managers, Samuel Sr. managed to take it into the end zone. Unless he bounces back with a big game in Week 18, Samuel Sr. will record career lows in receptions per game, receiving yards per game, and rushing yards per attempt. He'll also bottom out this year in important counting stats like total touchdowns and rushing yards if throwing out the 2020 season in which he only made five starts. Samuel Sr. will try to build momentum for next year when he takes on the Cardinals in Arizona on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings had a passable performance during the team's 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara on Sunday night. Jennings finished with seven receptions on 10 targets for 67 yards. While his final line was unspectacular, it was almost worse. Half of Jennings' targets and nearly half of his receptions and yards came on San Francisco's final drive with the team in desperation mode and down by two scores. It all counts the same for fantasy managers who needed only a halfway-decent showing in the final week of the fantasy season. Those who needed more from Jennings were certainly tearing their hair out watching rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall (8/141/1) eclipse Jennings throughout the night, for just the second time this year. Jennings will look to finish his breakout season on a high note when the 49ers travel to Arizona for a meaningless Week 18 contest.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (right elbow) likely avoided a serious injury during the fourth quarter of Monday's loss to the Detroit Lions. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan (via a post on X from ESPN's Nick Wagoner), Purdy likely just got hit in the wrong spot, which led to a nerve issue. Shanahan did note that the 49ers need to conduct further testing on Purdy, but the expectation is that he will be okay. It's still to early to tell whether Purdy, who totaled 377 passing yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions on Monday night, will play in Week 18. Next weekend's contest is essentially meaningless for the 49ers, who have already been eliminated from the playoffs and could opt to rest key starters, including Purdy. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for updates on the 49ers' plans over the next few days.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates went 2-for-2 on field goals and 2-for-4 on extra points during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His two field goals came from 42 and 57 yards out. In the shorter kicking game, Bates missed one extra point attempt and had another blocked. The 25-year-old has been terrific in his first NFL season, ranking seventh among kickers in fantasy football. In the primetime victory, he set a Lions single-season franchise record for points scored (135). He'll remain a top fantasy option heading into next week's pivotal matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions D/ST allowed 34 points, intercepted two passes, and registered two sacks during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Kerby Joseph was responsible for both interceptions, bringing his season total to nine. He added six tackles along the way. Elsewhere on defense, Brian Branch had a big game with seven tackles and one sack. Myles Adams added a sack while Jack Campbell led the unit with nine tackles. Although the turnovers helped Detroit boost its fantasy value on Monday night, they came a little late. The 49ers dropped three touchdowns on the Lions in the first half before Brock Purdy finally started to show weakness with his two interceptions. Moving forward, Detroit will rank outside the top 12 fantasy defenses for Week 18 against a strong Minnesota Vikings offense.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo had a useful fantasy day during a 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night. The former high school wide receiver took nine carries for just 34 yards but saved his day through the air by catching all four of his targets for 65 yards. With most fantasy leagues in the books after Monday night, it's fair to say that Guerendo comported himself well in his rookie season by flashing the speed, receiving chops, and scheme fit that caused the 49ers to trade up and select him in the fourth round. Guerendo figures to draw another start while vying for his fifth 10-plus-point half-PPR performance in Week 18's meaningless game in Arizona.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta caught six of his eight targets for 64 yards and one touchdown during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. LaPorta had a relatively quiet and inconsistent start to the season, but he has come on incredibly strong lately, posting double-digit fantasy points in each of his last five contests. In fact, he ranks as the overall TE1 since Week 13, scoring 6.6 points more than the second-highest tight end scorer, Trey McBride. As long as the Lions' offense keeps surging, LaPorta should remain an integral contributor within the passing attack. His ability to command targets, catch passes, rack up yardage, and score touchdowns parallels the NFL's elite tight ends, like McBride, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Brock Bowers. Fantasy managers should continue to view LaPorta as a mid-to-high TE1 option for Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams caught five of his eight targets for 77 yards and two total touchdowns during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He also rushed twice for negative two yards. Williams' first touchdown came on a three-yard rush, and his second came on a trick play that involved a lateral from Amon-Ra St. Brown. The third-year receiver is now the overall WR5 in PPR leagues since Week 11, establishing himself as one of the best No. 2 wideouts in an NFL offense. He should continue to be deployed as a high-end WR2 in fantasy football ahead of next week's pivotal battle with the Minnesota Vikings. With the NFC's No. 1 seed on the line, Williams should remain very heavily involved.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight of his 10 targets for 60 yards and one touchdown during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. The 25-year-old continues to play spectacular football, finding the end zone in four consecutive contests. He also ranks as the overall WR1 in PPR leagues since Week 11, putting up a whole 10 fantasy points more than the next-highest scorer, Puka Nacua. St. Brown has some of the best hands in the league, and his availability has been unmatched. He remains a high-end WR1 for Week 18 and should be one of the first few receivers off the board in 2025 fantasy drafts.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds rushed for 31 yards on seven carries during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He also caught two passes for an additional 35 yards through the air, finishing as this week's RB28 in PPR leagues. The 28-year-old had his largest workload of the season on Monday as David Montgomery (knee) continues to miss time. Reynolds is still clearly behind Jahmyr Gibbs in the pecking order, but he's a productive change-of-pace back and an equally intriguing handcuff. Gibbs is headed for a full workload in Week 18, but Reynolds should see another seven to nine touches against the Minnesota Vikings.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 26 of his 34 pass attempts for 303 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He also lost three rushing yards on a trio of kneel-downs. The veteran quarterback has played fantastic, turnover-free football lately, racking up 1,133 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and zero turnovers over his last three contests. Goff's big game moved him up to the overall QB6 in fantasy football this season, making him one of the few top fantasy quarterbacks who produce points without having much of a rushing impact. He remains a mid-range QB1 option heading into next week's pivotal matchup against the Minnesota Vikings with the NFC's No. 1 seed on the line.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 117 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He also caught all four of his targets for an additional 46 yards through the air. Gibbs' touchdown came in the fourth quarter as he scored from 30 yards out, with help from some of his teammates' key blocks. The second-year running back hasn't missed a beat since taking on an expanded role with David Montgomery (knee) sidelined. He has 431 total yards and four touchdowns over his last three games, ranking as the overall RB1 in PPR leagues during that span. Fantasy managers should continue to view Gibbs as a top running back option heading into Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings. Unlike some other NFL teams, the Lions are still fighting for a playoff position the No. 1 seed in the NFC and therefore will be playing all their starters, including Gibbs.
From RotoBaller