The Fantasy Footballers’ TE Rankings Countdown: Top 10
Andy, Mike, and Jason go through their top 10 tight ends and also share some late-round TEs to target.
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TE10 – David Njoku (Browns)
ADP: 9.01 / TE10
Andy – TE9 / Jason – TE10 / Mike – TE11
David Njoku posted a career-high in receptions last season, but in order for him to put up top 10 TE numbers this year, Deshaun Watson will have to outperform expectations. He will presumably be the second option in Cleveland behind Amari Cooper, which means he should get a fair share of targets. The Ballers agree that the talent and athleticism have always been there, but he’s never been able to put it all together. If the Browns throw more with Watson in tow, settling for Njoku in the ninth round could pay dividends.
TE9 – Evan Engram (Jaguars)
ADP: 8.04 / TE8
Andy – TE10 / Jason – TE12 / Mike – TE7
It had been a long few years since Engram’s rookie breakout with the Giants in 2017, but much to Mike’s delight, Engram had his best season as a pro with the Jaguars in 2022. The main concern this year is the target hierarchy behind Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Travis Etienne, and the team’s new potential WR1 Calvin Ridley. Still, the Jaguars decided to invest in him with a hefty contract, so he should be relatively safe. There will be some high-scoring games for Engram, but he could also potentially disappear in some weeks.
TE8 – Pat Freiermuth (Steelers)
ADP: 8.09 / TE9
Andy – TE8 / Jason – TE5 / Mike – TE9
Not only can The Muth get Luth, but he is also The Truth. He is sometimes a forgotten man in fantasy because the Steelers’ offense was so bad last year and he only scored two touchdowns. But he saw 98 targets in 2022, he’s talented, and the offense should improve in Kenny Pickett‘s second year at QB. If Freiermuth sees close to 100 targets this year, a late eighth-round pick seems like a great spot to draft him.
TE7 – Dallas Goedert (Eagles)
ADP: 6.05 / TE6
Andy – TE3 / Jason – TE8 / Mike – TE8
Andy is the highest on Dallas Goedert, projecting him for 74 receptions, five touchdowns, and just a smidge under 1,000 yards receiving. He doesn’t cost a high price for a potential top-three player at a onesie position. The biggest question is whether Jalen Hurts can sustain three dominant fantasy options in A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Goedert. The talent and potential are there, but there might not be enough targets to go around.
TE6 – George Kittle (49ers)
ADP: 5.04 / TE4
Andy – TE6 / Jason – TE7 / Mike – TE6
George Kittle is a great all-around tight end but hasn’t played a full season since 2018. One of Jason’s ice picks, Kittle can have huge week-winning performances but could also suffer from inconsistent play and is plagued by nicks and bruises each season. If he drops past the fifth round there is value in drafting him in the late sixth, but his current ADP makes him pretty much undraftable according to The Ballers. If one of the other skill position players in San Francisco gets hurt, Kittle could be an intriguing trade target during the year.
TE5 – Darren Waller (Giants)
ADP: 6.09 / TE7
Andy – TE4 / Jason – TE6 / Mike – TE4
Darren Waller has it all when it comes to the tight end position: size, athleticism, and a proven track record. He’s been a top-three TE in the past but that was more than two years ago and with a different team. There is potential for him to return to that top-three status this year with the Giants. One of Andy’s fire picks, The Wallerus could easily end up as the number one target in New York based on their other receiving weapons. He’s been a target monster before and if he can do it again and stay healthy with the Giants, he will undoubtedly outperform his sixth-round ADP.
TE4 – Kyle Pitts (Falcons)
ADP: 5.12 / TE5
Andy – TE7 / Jason – TE4 / Mike – TE3
Kyle Pitts is arguably the most athletic and capable TE in the league, but he hasn’t been able to show it in his first two seasons because of a combination of injury and the Falcons’ play style. Atlanta is a run-first team and has struggled with sustaining drives, which hasn’t equated to much success for Pitts. Nonetheless, the talent and target share (albeit as part of a smaller pie) is still there and that always leaves room for breakout potential. Andy has been burned by Pitts in the past and is out, but Jason believes grabbing him in the sixth or seventh round can pay off this year.
TE3 – T.J. Hockenson (Vikings)
ADP: 4.10 / TE3
Andy – TE5 / Jason – TE3 / Mike – TE5
T.J. Hockenson is your middle-of-the-road tight end. He isn’t the flashiest player but will get targets week in and week out, and sometimes that’s all you need at the TE spot. You can start him every week without concern, especially in a PPR league, but you won’t necessarily be excited about it, especially at a fourth-round draft cost. He was on pace for 146 targets last year after getting traded to the Vikings, so if he sees a similar trajectory this season he could pay off as a top-three tight end.
TE2 – Mark Andrews (Ravens)
ADP: 3.03 / TE2
Andy – TE2 / Jason – TE2 / Mike – TE2
Mark Andrews has missed some time in the past but is still an extremely safe pick, especially at the top of the third round. Baltimore brought in some new wideouts to help the offense, but Andrews is still Lamar Jackson‘s favorite target. Drafting Andrews at the top of the third is one of Jason’s favorite strategies, pairing him with two elite players at the WR and RB positions to start.
TE1 – Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
ADP: 1.07 / TE1
Andy – TE1 / Jason – TE1 / Mike – TE1
For those thinking that Travis Kelce will start to drop this season, looking at the WR depth chart in Kansas City should curb those thoughts. The offense will continue to run through Kelce just like it has the last several years. Drafting the most elite TE in the league allows for a huge positional advantage, but will cost a first-round pick to do so. But with the amount of first-round picks that bust in fantasy, Kelce is a can’t-mess-up selection.
Andy, Jason, and Mike also gave out three names for some late-round TEs for fantasy players punting at the position.
Andy likes Tyler Conklin paired with Aaron Rodgers in New York. Conklin is going undrafted and could be a huge beneficiary of the new QB in town.
Despite his lack of action in the Broncos’ first preseason game, Jason still believes in Greg Dulcich, citing the fact that teams don’t show their true offense before the season starts.
Continuing his love of Dallas Cowboys tight ends, Mike threw out Jake Ferguson‘s name, who is slowly climbing up draft boards. Listed as a co-starter at the position, Ferguson ran nine routes on 13 snaps in the Cowboys’ first preseason game.
Comments
I believe Juwan Johnson will crack this top 10 this year. He will surpass production from players like Engram, Njoku, and the Muth. Carr will utilize him as he did Waller, even with some targets being absorbed by Olave, Kamara and a hopefully healthy Michael Thomas. I penciled him in for 77 rec, 930 yards and 8 TD.