Where to Spend the Last Picks of Your Draft – TEs (Fantasy Football)
With TEs, the idea is usually to go great or late. You can pay up for those elite-level TEs, such as Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews, or Travis Kelce, or choose to punt the position and attack it at the end of your draft. Heading into the 2024 season, if I cannot grab one of the top-tier TEs, and for me, that is the top six or so ranked players, I am drafting two TEs later in my draft to cover my bases. If this is your strategy this season, here are some TEs to target at the end of your draft. A reminder that all of the TEs mentioned here are currently being drafted after round 12, courtesy of the Sleeper ADP tool on the website. We are also using 12-team, half PPR data.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (14.12)
I dare to say the name Taysom Hill, and when I do, I do it quietly and with absolutely no eye contact. In 2024, he had seven weeks where he was TE9 or better, but he also had six weeks where he was TE29 or worse. Pick your poison and embrace the volatility.
The upside with Hill is that if he has a good week, he usually has a GREAT week and will win you your matchup. Whether through a trick play or as a pass-catcher, Hill has multiple ways to get you fantasy points. Add in some time at RB in 2024 – there is news coming out of New Orleans that Hill has been lining up with the RBs in individual drills – and why not? Over the last two seasons, during the 26 games that both Hill and Alvin Kamara were active, Hill has 26 carries inside the 10 that have turned into seven TDs. Compare that to Kamara, who had 28 carries for five TDs. In the preseason, Hill lined up for two snaps out wide, two as a slot WR, eight at TE, and four as a fullback.
Hill has QB and TE eligibility on multiple sites now, which is another way you can squeeze out value from the man. In addition, he seems to be the only guy on the Saints that HC Dennis Allen likes. Seriously, Allen adores that man.
"Taysom Hill can do everything… He is more than just a "wildcat QB"… I'd play him at Sam linebacker and I'd rush him about 50% of the time"
— Dennis Allen on Taysom Hill pic.twitter.com/2ktGRjDEnk
— Saints Film Room (@SaintsFilmRoom) August 22, 2024
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets (15.11)
We have yet to see Aaron Rodgers as a successful New York Jet, and fingers crossed, it will happen this season. If he does stay healthy, it could mean a solid year for TE Tyler Conklin. Rogers always targeted his TEs in Green Bay. Whether it was Jermichael Finley, Donald Lee, Robert Tonyan, or Jimmy Graham, there always seemed to be a Packers TE who was at least partially fantasy-relevant.
Conklin had the second most red zone targets behind Garrett Wilson last season, and with OC Nathaniel Hackett still pushing his West Coast offense, there are worse TEs to take a shot on in your draft this season. Don’t forget that the Jets have the fourth easiest strength of schedule, according to Warren Sharp.
Aaron Rodgers hits Tyler Conklin in stride 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NAxTaKvLc3
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) July 24, 2024
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (17.03)
Who is the primary pass-catcher in New England this year? Exactly. We know how valuable TEs are when they get the most targets on their team (ahem, Mark Andrews), and Henry Henry could very well be that guy. Alec Van Pelt spent the four previous seasons as the OC in Cleveland before coming over to New England, and there is a strong chance he will feature the Patriots’ TEs similarly to what he did in Cleveland. With Van Pelt last season, David Njoku finished as TE6 and a 22% target share, his career high. Njoku was also targeted plenty in the red zone, with 20 targets in 2022 and 17 in 2023.
There is no guarantee that Henry will follow this path, especially with rookie QB Drake Maye or Jacoby Brissett under center, but he could be the number-one target in New England. Beyond Henry, we are looking at DeMario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton, and K.J. Osborn, and the team also drafted Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. The atmosphere is ripe for Henry to be elevated to the “WR1.”
Henry is battling a leg injury, which might make his ADP even more palatable, but HC Jerod Mayo has confidence that he should be able to suit up for Week 1.
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers (13.10)
A member of one of the youngest offenses in the league, TE Luke Musgrave might be an afterthought to many drafters with the amount of offensive firepower on that team, but he shouldn’t be at his draft capital. If you want to grab a piece of the Green Bay offense, this might be how to do so at a discount.
Last year, Musgrave had 46 targets and had the second-best completion percentage among the Packers’ pass-catchers with 74%. Musgrave will be battling with multiple talented wide receivers in Green Bay to get targets, but with faith in the Packers’ offense, getting three to four high-value targets each week might be enough to give you a solid floor.
Honorable Mentions:
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Isaiah Likely, BAL (17.10) – Likely stepped in valiantly in the stead of Mark Andrews last year and proved to be a talent in his own right.
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Greg Dulcich, DEN (23.01) – Someone has to catch the football in Denver, right? RIGHT?
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Ben Sinnott, WAS (15.10) – Mike has singlehandedly pushed up his draft cost, and with the departure of Jahan Dotson, the light is shining slightly brighter in redraft.