Fri Jun 5 12:36pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a strength-of-schedule ranking for the tight end position. We used our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the “Reports” heading. We took each team’s schedule and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season by 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 which tight ends might have the easiest schedules for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
| RANK | TEAM | AVG. OPP FANTASY PPG ALLOWED |
| 1. | Dolphins | 12.35 |
| 2. | Buccaneers | 12.38 |
| 3. | Packers | 12.55 |
| 4. | Commanders | 12.61 |
| 5. | Jets | 12.63 |
| 6. | Bears | 12.72 |
| 7. | Panthers | 12.78 |
| 8. | Steelers | 12.81 |
| 9. | Lions | 12.89 |
| 10. | Chiefs | 12.9 |
| 11. | Patriots | 12.9 |
| 12. | Texans | 12.91 |
| 13. | Saints | 12.94 |
| 14. | Broncos | 12.97 |
| 15. | Cardinals | 13 |
| 16. | 49ers | 13.01 |
| 17. | Chargers | 13.07 |
| 18. | Bills | 13.08 |
| 19. | Rams | 13.08 |
| 20. | Raiders | 13.1 |
| 21. | Colts | 13.12 |
| 22. | Ravens | 13.13 |
| 23. | Seahawks | 13.19 |
| 24. | Cowboys | 13.2 |
| 25. | Titans | 13.25 |
| 26. | Jaguars | 13.29 |
| 27. | Browns | 13.35 |
| 28. | Vikings | 13.45 |
| 29. | Falcons | 13.49 |
| 30. | Giants | 13.49 |
| 31. | Bengals | 13.7 |
| 32. | Eagles | 14.06 |
The Eagles have the easiest fantasy schedule for tight ends. Dallas Goedert is back with the team, and Eli Stowers was added in the draft. Both should get plenty of playing time in this offense, but splitting the work could hurt their fantasy value. Both tight ends are capable of huge games any given week, but it might be difficult to predict when those performances will come. These players might be better suited for best-ball formats because of that. The good news is they have a schedule that should help their production throughout the season.
Cincinnati has the second-most favorable schedule for tight ends. Unfortunately, the Bengals still have some question marks at the position. Mike Gesicki is coming off a disappointing season, and Drew Sample is also in the mix for playing time. Neither player is especially exciting for fantasy teams, so despite the favorable schedule, expectations shouldn’t be too high.
The Giants, Falcons, and Vikings round out the top five most favorable fantasy schedules for tight ends. There are some much more intriguing options on these teams. Isaiah Likely is especially interesting for the coming season. He gets his chance to be a full-time starter from Day 1 on a team looking for more playmakers in the passing game. He could be set up for a breakout season.
Kyle Pitts is coming off a big year and seems set up for similar success this season. The Falcons still have questions behind Drake London at receiver, so look for Pitts to get plenty of opportunities. If the quarterback position improves this year, which is certainly possible, Pitts could take another step forward, especially when you factor in this schedule.
T.J. Hockenson has disappointed in recent years, but a favorable schedule is a step in the right direction for him this season. Plus, he gets a new quarterback throwing him passes in Kyler Murray. Hockenson might be worth a shot for fantasy teams as a TE2. He has upside for the coming year and likely comes at a pretty cheap price on draft day.
Miami has the most difficult fantasy schedule for tight ends. Greg Dulcich is the likely starter for the Dolphins, but he is not especially exciting to begin with, so this schedule should scare fantasy owners away even more. His upside is limited, as he has never topped 35 receptions in a season.
The Bucs have the second-toughest schedule for tight ends. Tampa Bay is another team with fairly uninspiring options at the position, so it might be best to steer clear of them this season. Cade Otton has been the starter in recent years and has done alright in that role, but he has never been a major fantasy factor. Expect more of the same from him this year.
The Packers, Commanders, and Jets make up the rest of the top five most difficult schedules for tight ends. Tucker Kraft has been very productive when healthy for the Packers, but he has struggled at times to stay on the field. This schedule shouldn’t scare you away from him too much on draft day. His bigger concern remains his health.
Washington signed Chig Okonkwo to be its No. 1 tight end this season. He is intriguing in this offense, which has featured the tight end position effectively in the past. The schedule is a little intimidating, but don’t downgrade him too much because of it. He could still see steady weekly usage. Just don’t draft him as anything more than a TE2.
The Jets have two talented young tight ends in Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq. These are exciting players with the potential to play major roles in the offense. The problem is they could split snaps, face a difficult schedule, and have Geno Smith at quarterback. Those are all concerns for the coming season.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers for all schedules from Weeks 15-17, which is the fantasy playoff period for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing which tight ends have the easiest playoff schedules certainly doesn’t hurt, especially in the big-money contests.
| RANK | TEAM | AVG. OPP FANTASY PPG ALLOWED |
| 1. | Dolphins | 9.92 |
| 2. | 49ers | 9.97 |
| 3. | Broncos | 10.49 |
| 4. | Bears | 11.09 |
| 5. | Seahawks | 11.73 |
| 6. | Lions | 11.77 |
| 7. | Texans | 11.79 |
| 8. | Commanders | 11.91 |
| 9. | Buccaneers | 12 |
| 10. | Browns | 12.51 |
| 11. | Cardinals | 12.57 |
| 12. | Giants | 12.88 |
| 13. | Steelers | 12.89 |
| 14. | Chiefs | 13.02 |
| 15. | Cowboys | 13.15 |
| 16. | Bengals | 13.18 |
| 17. | Patriots | 13.31 |
| 18. | Colts | 13.38 |
| 19. | Jaguars | 13.58 |
| 20. | Jets | 13.89 |
| 21. | Titans | 13.92 |
| 22. | Eagles | 14.02 |
| 23. | Packers | 14.02 |
| 24. | Chargers | 14.2 |
| 25. | Rams | 14.27 |
| 26. | Saints | 14.29 |
| 27. | Bills | 14.53 |
| 28. | Ravens | 14.63 |
| 29. | Falcons | 14.86 |
| 30. | Vikings | 14.96 |
| 31. | Raiders | 15.02 |
| 32. | Panthers | 15.72 |
The Vikings and Falcons are the two teams that make both the regular-season and playoff lists for most favorable fantasy tight end schedules. As mentioned earlier, Hockenson is no sure thing, but he has appeal as a rebound candidate this season. Now you can see he also has a very favorable playoff schedule. Things are looking up for Hockenson in 2026. Hopefully, he can build a strong rapport with new quarterback Kyler Murray.
Pitts remains one of the top fantasy tight ends and could once again be huge for fantasy teams. He is looking better and better coming off a big season, and now you can see he has a very favorable schedule for both the regular season and playoffs.
The Panthers actually have the most favorable fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Their tight end room is far from exciting, though. Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders are likely to split much of the work at the position. We aren’t sure either player moves the needle much, even with the favorable schedule.
The Raiders and Ravens are the two other teams with top-five favorable playoff schedules for tight ends. Brock Bowers is already a top fantasy pick, so his playoff schedule is great news for potential fantasy owners. He seems set up for a huge season and could be a league-winner during the fantasy playoffs.
Mark Andrews gets his chance to be the clear starter once again with Likely gone. Andrews appears to have a real chance for a bounce-back season, and he gets a really favorable playoff schedule as well. He could once again make a significant impact for fantasy teams.
The Dolphins have both the toughest tight end schedule for the regular season and the playoffs. Their tight end situation looks even more concerning because of it. You might just want to avoid Dulcich on draft day.
There are no other teams with difficult tight end schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. The other teams making the top five most difficult fantasy playoff schedules for tight ends are the 49ers, Broncos, Bears, and Seahawks.
The one team that really stands out on this list is the 49ers. George Kittle is returning from a major injury but should be healthy again by the time the fantasy playoffs arrive. He is fairly matchup-proof, but the schedule is still somewhat concerning, especially considering he is another year older and coming off a major injury. There are at least a few red flags here on draft day.
Evan Engram was a bit of a bust for the Broncos last year. He returns and should once again be the top pass-catching tight end for the team. However, he has more competition for targets this year and faces a really difficult playoff schedule. Engram looks like a player you may want to let someone else draft.
Colston Loveland has a real chance for a breakout season in Year 2, but his playoff schedule might give fantasy owners a little pause. We wouldn’t get too worked up over it, though. Loveland and the Bears offense are dynamic enough to produce regardless of the matchup. Loveland remains a promising fantasy option on draft day.
Seattle also has a challenging playoff schedule for tight ends. Their options are already somewhat uncertain, with AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo battling for playing time. Both players are likely to be hit-or-miss throughout the season, so drafting either one already carries some risk. A difficult playoff schedule only adds to those concerns. Proceed with caution.
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.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his season debut against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 after tearing his ACL last November. It was his first game back since Week 11. The 26-year-old was solid in his season debut, completing 18-of-25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while rushing twice for minus-2 yards. Penix will look to continue his solid play on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are allowing about 229 passing yards per game. New Orleans was recently shredded by Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins for 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. Penix has a positive matchup and will only get more comfortable as the season wears on. He is a solid Superflex or QB2 option this week, with RotoBaller ranking Penix 24th among all quarterbacks in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eli Stowers (quad) opened his rookie season on injured reserve after a very disappointing training camp. The Eagles would surely like to have some extra tight end depth right now with Dallas Goedert (knee) injured, but even if Stowers returns before Goedert, he's still unlikely to occupy a sizable role. Stowers, who is eligible to play as early as next week, was reportedly taking a while to acclimate to NFL speed in his first training camp, and the quad injury didn't help his progression. Regardless of his exact position on the depth chart when he returns to the field, all signs point to Stowers focusing on his development this year, rather than producing at a fantasy-relevant level. He's a solid dynasty stash and perhaps even an intriguing buy-low in dynasty leagues where fantasy managers are losing faith. However, he can be dropped to waivers in all redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal can be dropped to waivers in all redraft fantasy football leagues. The 25-year-old has taken a backseat on offense this year, and he didn't even log his first touch of the season until last week. His snap share did jump to a season-high 25% mark last week, but he's still buried behind Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell on the depth chart. Given that the coaching staff has placed a significant amount of trust in those running backs, any path to weekly fantasy relevance for Vidal would likely require both Mitchell and Hampton to miss time. Barring anything unexpected, it looks like he will lack fantasy relevance for the rest of the 2026 season. Vidal can be left on waivers in all redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson hauled in all eight of his targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns in the team's Week 3 loss to the Raiders. Despite fellow tight end Noah Fant also seeing occasional involvement in the offense, Johnson continues to dominate the position in playing time, outsnapping Fant 158-109 through three weeks. He has clearly become one of Tyler Shough's favorite targets, and his current 78.9% catch rate, 57.7 yards per game, and 9.1 yards per target are all career highs. Through three weeks, Johnson has posted 15 receptions for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 19 targets, ranking as the PPR TE4. He remains a reliable TE1 heading into Monday night's matchup against the Falcons.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Ricky Pearsall (right knee) is working his way back from a PCL injury that will sideline him for the entire 2026 season. Injuries have plagued the start of Pearsall's career, but we certainly won't discredit him for the gunshot wound that forced him to miss time as a rookie in 2024. With that being said, he will have played in just 20 of his first 51 career regular-season games, calling his long-term durability into question. He's averaging a modest 5.0 catches, 46.4 receiving yards, and 0.2 touchdowns per game in his career, and he has yet to reach 100 career receptions and 1,000 career receiving yards. Upon his return from injury next year, Pearsall will slot into the No. 2 receiver role (at best) behind Mike Evans, and it's still too early to tell whether he'll even be ready for Week 1. At just 26 years old, there's still plenty of time for Pearsall to get back on track as a solid dynasty receiver, but for now, we wouldn't blame managers for trying to trade him away and recoup some of their initial investment.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded three receptions for 39 yards on six targets in Week 3's loss to the Raiders. The third-year receiver has played a key role in the Saints' offense through the first three weeks, leading all skill-position players on the team with a 91% snap percentage. He faces a Falcons defense in Week 4 that has allowed opposing WR2s to average 5.3 receptions and 74.6 yards per game. With another key piece of the offense in Travis Etienne Jr. sidelined, the Saints could also lean more heavily on the passing game rather than putting too much on Alvin Kamara, potentially creating additional opportunities for Vele. He ranks as WR33 in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings but carries some additional upside.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson entered the season with very little redraft value, and he continues to slip down the rankings as the season goes on. Any value that Simpson had prior to the season was driven by his role on the depth chart, as many people expected him to be the backup quarterback and the insurance option behind Matthew Stafford. Instead, Simpson has been inactive as the emergency third quarterback, which means he wouldn't see the field even if Stafford were to get injured. Instead, the backup duties belong to Stetson Bennett, who has more experience in the Rams' system. As a first-round pick, Simpson still has plenty of dynasty appeal, but any glimmer of redraft value is slipping away as long as Simpson remains inactive.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) remains sidelined through Week 5 at the earliest, but he still has some appeal as a player to stash in deeper leagues, especially those that offer injured reserve slots. Lane underwent wrist surgery after the season opener, in which he played 40% of the snaps with three targets, one catch, and 11 yards. The rookie USC product was a third-round pick and has big-play upside, but he'll need to get healthy before he even begins to climb up the depth chart. Once he does return, he'll be no higher than third on the depth chart, putting him behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. With that said, Bateman has an iffy track record of production and Flowers is still less than 100% after a hamstring injury, so Lane could have a path to a meaningful role by the second half of the season. Managers with an open roster spot in deeper leagues should consider stashing Lane in a low-risk move.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave continued his hot start to the season, recording nine receptions for 107 yards in Week 3 against the Raiders. Through three games, Olave has 375 receiving yards, which ranks second in the league, while doing so on a 75.0% catch rate. He has been the focal point of the Saints' passing attack, tying for the league lead in both targets (36) and receptions (27). Olave has clearly developed strong chemistry with second-year starter Tyler Shough, making him one of the most reliable options in the Saints' offense. He now faces a Falcons defense allowing 263 passing yards per game, 29th in the league, setting up another favorable matchup in Week 4. Olave remains a weekly must-start and comes in as WR4 in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders seemed like an inevitable choice to take over as the team's starter at some point this season, but the impressive production from Deshaun Watson has altered the former fifth-round pick's redraft outlook. Entering this season, it seemed like Watson was on a short leash, with Sanders pushing to take over as the team's No. 1 quarterback. Instead, Watson has led the Browns to a 3-1 start, which currently puts them first in the AFC North. The veteran signal-caller has completed 70% of his pass attempts for 855 passing yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions, plus an additional 127 rushing yards. He ranks as the overall QB5 in fantasy scoring so far, albeit with one more game than most quarterbacks because he played on Thursday night. At this point, Watson is trending toward occupying the starting role for the rest of the season, barring an injury. Sanders could still represent the long-term future in Cleveland, but his redraft value has declined significantly. He can be dropped to waivers in redraft formats.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams was expected to see an expanded role with A.J. Brown (ankle) landing on the Injured Reserve. Instead, Williams operated as the fourth receiver during last week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old hauled in one of his three targets for 34 yards in the loss. It doesn't appear that even the injury to Brown will be enough to make Williams a real part of this offense. Williams has the speed to be a legitimate threat, but maybe the Patriots don't view him as an every-down wideout right now. Williams is worth holding in dynasty formats, but he doesn't need to be started versus the Buffalo Bills in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (hand) hasn't played since the season opener due to a fracture in his thumb. Mason underwent surgery and was placed on the Injured Reserve following their Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Getting placed on the IR means that Mason is forced to miss at least four games. The Week 4 matchup versus the Miami Dolphins will be his third absence in a row. Mason could be back in the mix as early as the Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. He'll likely see significant involvement in the backfield once he's healthy enough to play again. Given he could be only a few weeks away from playing again, Mason is worth stashing on an IR spot in most leagues where he's available.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller rushed four times for 14 yards and added two receptions for five yards in Week 3's loss to the Raiders. He was inactive in Week 2, but when called upon in Week 1, Miller looked solid, rushing nine times for 30 yards and a touchdown against the Lions. With a career average of 3.9 yards per attempt, Miller figures to be in line for additional work with starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. out for Week 4. He will likely be part of a timeshare with fellow running back Alvin Kamara and faces a difficult matchup against the Falcons, who surrender a league-low 47.7 rushing yards per game. Miller ranks as RB37 in RotoBaller's rankings for Week 4.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara rushed nine times for 36 yards and added one reception for five yards in Week 3's loss to the Raiders. Most of his carries came after starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. exited with a hamstring injury, but Kamara was unable to turn the increased workload into much production. Though he has played just two games this season, his current mark of 2.8 yards per attempt is by far the lowest of his career. Kamara figures to serve as the team's top running back option against the Falcons on Monday night with Etienne Jr. on IR, but he faces a difficult matchup against a defense allowing a league-best 47.7 rushing yards per game. The difficult matchup puts Kamara at RB27 in RotoBaller's running back rankings for Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Joey Porter Jr. is set to make his season debut against the Houston Texans in Week 4. Porter missed the first three weeks of the season due to a back injury and a contract dispute. He was traded to Dallas on Wednesday and appears to be ready to play only a few days later. It's unclear if he'll play a full allotment of snaps, given that he probably doesn't know the whole playbook and conditioning reasons. He's going to be an immediate upgrade to this defense and should be a key contributor in the secondary for Dallas.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson made his season debut during last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Johnson hauled in all four of his targets for 50 yards in the victory. He didn't do any damage on the ground, but he could get more involved with Ray Davis (hamstring) listed as questionable for this weekend. James Cook III remains the workhorse back in Buffalo, but Johnson might be able to carve out a role for himself in the backfield. Johnson could be someone worth stashing in deep leagues ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the New England Patriots. It's probably best to leave Johnson on the bench, but he could offer value down the road.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby didn't record any carries and lost a fumble on his lone catch during last week's loss to the Chicago Bears. Despite an ugly performance, Bigsby is expected to remain the primary backup to Saquon Barkley. The 24-year-old is unlikely to have a big role while Barkley is healthy. Bigsby carried the ball 13 times for 33 yards and a touchdown when Barkley went down with an injury in Week 2. He still profiles as a high-end handcuff option, but isn't someone that can be started while Barkley is healthy. Fantasy managers can leave Bigsby on the bench ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 29-of-42 passes for 255 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in Week 3's 35-27 loss to the Raiders. Shough was in control of the offense for much of the game, leading the Saints to an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter. He and the offense eventually stalled, committing turnovers on all four possessions in the fourth quarter and ultimately falling short. He looks to bounce back against a Falcons defense on Monday night that is surrendering 263 passing yards per game, 29th in the league. Through the first three weeks, Shough ranks as QB3 and has another plus matchup against the Falcons. Second in the league in passing yards and with rushing upside, Shough has established himself as a weekly QB1 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum is coming off a disappointing performance on the ground, and he'll continue to have a lower floor in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Corum turned in his worst snap share, rushing attempts total, rushing yards total, and efficiency of the young season last week, and although he caught two passes, it resulted in zero receiving yards. He clearly lost ground to Kyren Williams in the running back pecking order, and to make matters worse, he'll get a tough matchup in Week 4. The Eagles have allowed just one total touchdown and the 11th-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2026. Philadelphia has been softer against the run than the pass, but we could still see Corum having trouble producing consistently given his relative struggles last week. Long-term, he's a strong handcuff with matchup-based RB3 appeal, but he can be left on the bench for this specific game.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Seahawks have placed running back Jadarian Price on injured reserve with a chest injury. Dynasty Analysis: Uh oh. Price's poor start is now going to be paused for at least four weeks. It's bad timing for Price as Zach Charbonnet seems poised to return in the next couple of weeks. Price has been less than impressive so far and his two fumbles in three games were as many as Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker had in their entire time together. It's way too early to view Price as a rookie draft bust but he needs to get healthy and take back control of this committee in short order. He remains a hold in dynasty leagues as you'd get pennies on the dollar for him at the moment.