Thu Jun 9 9:51am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Ebron could surprise for Jaguars
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.
2022 TE SOS | ||
1. | New York Jets | 191.3 |
2. | Los Angeles Rams | 193.2 |
3. | Cincinnati Bengals | 196.4 |
4. | Green Bay Packers | 196.6 |
5. | Baltimore Ravens | 196.8 |
6. | Las Vegas Raiders | 196.9 |
7. | Seattle Seahawks | 198.1 |
8. | Carolina Panthers | 199.1 |
9. | Detroit Lions | 199.1 |
10. | Miami Dolphins | 199.1 |
11. | Philadelphia Eagles | 199.5 |
12. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 199.5 |
13. | Minnesota Vikings | 200.1 |
14. | San Francisco 49ers | 201.1 |
15. | Atlanta Falcons | 201.7 |
16. | Buffalo Bills | 201.8 |
17. | Arizona Cardinals | 203.9 |
18. | Los Angeles Chargers | 204.6 |
19. | Indianapolis Colts | 205.8 |
20. | Chicago Bears | 206.5 |
21. | New England Patriots | 210.2 |
22. | Cleveland Browns | 210.9 |
23. | New Orleans Saints | 211.1 |
24. | Kansas City Chiefs | 212.6 |
25. | Washington Commanders | 213.8 |
26. | Houston Texans | 214.2 |
27. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 219 |
28. | Dallas Cowboys | 221 |
29. | New York Giants | 222.3 |
30. | Denver Broncos | 223.8 |
31. | Tennessee Titans | 226.2 |
32. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 227 |
A lot of the teams that have very favorable fantasy schedules for tight ends don’t have a great tight end situation, which is a little unfortunate. Eric Ebron signed with the Jaguars this offseason and gets the easiest schedule in football for tight ends. Ebron could make some waves his first season in Jacksonville as a favorite target of Trevor Lawrence. Austin Hooper landed with the Titans and could quickly become a top target for Ryan Tannehill. Tennessee has the second easiest fantasy schedule for tight ends. Two top tight ends with good schedules, though, are Dalton Schultz and Pat Freiermuth. These guys can have big seasons in favorable situations.
The Jets continue to land on all the unfavorable passing game lists. New York leads the way for toughest fantasy tight end schedule. The Jets upgraded their tight end position with the additions of C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin, but both could be hit or miss in this offense. Be wary. The Rams, Bengals, Packers and Ravens also have challenging fantasy tight end schedules. A couple big names hit this list, including Mark Andrews and Tyler Higbee. Andrews is pretty matchup proof, but the erratic Higbee is more of a concern with this schedule. It could be more of the same for Higbee this season.
Take a close look at this entire ranking when figuring out your fantasy rankings for the coming season.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Weeks 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.
2022 TE PLAYOFF SOS | ||
1. | Arizona Cardinals | 164.2 |
2. | Cincinnati Bengals | 166.6 |
3. | Las Vegas Raiders | 168.9 |
4. | Philadelphia Eagles | 178 |
5. | Atlanta Falcons | 185.2 |
6. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 186.2 |
7. | Miami Dolphins | 187.4 |
8. | Denver Broncos | 187.5 |
9. | Green Bay Packers | 191.9 |
10. | Houston Texans | 192.4 |
11. | Detroit Lions | 193.4 |
12. | Baltimore Ravens | 196 |
13. | Washington Commanders | 197.1 |
14. | Kansas City Chiefs | 199.2 |
15. | Seattle Seahawks | 199.5 |
16. | New York Jets | 210.3 |
17. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 212.2 |
18. | Los Angeles Chargers | 212.8 |
19. | New England Patriots | 215.9 |
20. | Buffalo Bills | 216.2 |
21. | Indianapolis Colts | 217.9 |
22. | Carolina Panthers | 218.8 |
23. | Cleveland Browns | 220.4 |
24. | Chicago Bears | 223.1 |
25. | Dallas Cowboys | 225.4 |
26. | New Orleans Saints | 225.7 |
27. | Los Angeles Rams | 229.2 |
28. | San Francisco 49ers | 229.4 |
29. | Minnesota Vikings | 232.4 |
30. | Tennessee Titans | 235.5 |
31. | New York Giants | 236.1 |
32. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 242.7 |
A big-name tight end that has a favorable playoff fantasy schedule is George Kittle. So if you are going early on a tight end, Kittle could be worth the early draft capital. And Pat Freiermuth is one name that lands on both the regular season and playoff fantasy schedule for tight ends. He could be a good mid-round target for fantasy teams at the tight end spot, helping post consistent numbers in the regular season and playoffs.
Darren Waller has a really challenging playoff schedule, ranking third overall. He also has Davante Adams to compete with for targets this year, so he might be a player you just avoid. Two other talented tight ends with tough playoff schedules are Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. These guys are low-end No. 1 tight ends, so maybe target a different option around their skillset because of their playoff schedules. It is definitely something to keep in mind come draft day.
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.
The Buffalo Bills signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. MVS is no stranger to playing with elite quarterbacks between his time with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, and he'll now be in line to catch passes from Josh Allen in Buffalo. The 2018 fifth-round pick out of South Florida has not posted monster fantasy football numbers, but he has spike-week upside thanks to his field-stretching speed. That said, he's likely going to be more useful in "real life" compared to fantasy football based on his production profile thus far. In six NFL seasons, the 29-year-old has not eclipsed 690 yards or six touchdowns in a single season. Last year, he caught just 21 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown in 16 games. He's an interesting late-round flyer in best ball formats, but he might be a wasted roster spot in traditional leagues. MVS will compete with Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel for snaps in 2024, as second-round rookie Keon Coleman should be a locked-in starter.
From RotoBaller
The Denver Broncos signed free-agent wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and cornerback Quinton Newsome to undisclosed deals on Monday, according to the team. In corresponding moves, the Broncos waived punter Nik Constantinou and receiver Lincoln Victor. Dorsett was released by Denver last Friday after initially signing with the team's practice squad before the 2023 season. The 31-year-old former 29th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 out of Miami was elevated just twice during the regular season last year and was unable to reel in any of his three targets. In his eight NFL seasons, Dorsett has a total of 151 catches for 2,001 yards and 12 touchdowns in 94 games (20 starts). He'll serve as receiver depth for the Broncos this summer behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr., rookie Troy Franklin and Tim Patrick.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling made a stop in Buffalo on Monday night. The wideout had a recent visit with the Chargers, although it appears nothing came of it. MVS hasn't been productive in years, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by recording career lows in catches (21), receiving yards (315), and touchdowns (one). However, the Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs this offseason, so Valdes-Scantling could work his way up the depth chart. Yet, he'll need to prove his value to fantasy managers no matter where he signs, which won't come until he has at least a few decent performances.
From RotoBaller
Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff's four-year deal includes an option in the fourth year, per source on Monday, May 13.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chiefs) is meeting with the Buffalo Bills Monday, May 13, according to a source.
From TheHuddle
The Denver Broncos continued voluntary offseason workouts on Monday. However, the team remains without wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who continues to work out at his residence in Florida. The veteran has two years left on a four-year, $60 million extension, but has made it clear he wants a raise. He also requested a trade, although the team is apparently not looking to move him. Of course, there will be updates on the situation moving ahead. Yet, it won't be as much of a concern until the summer when Denver begins training camp. With that said, several teams will monitor things, especially with Sutton coming off a massive year, which included a career-high 10 touchdowns. But if he stays with the Broncos, his fantasy outlook is directly related to how Bo Nix and Zach Wilson look heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent WR Phillip Dorsett (Broncos) signed with the Denver Broncos Monday, May 13. The team also signed undrafted free-agent CB Quinton Newsome (Nebraska). Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff agreed to a four-year $212 million contract extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the two sides were working on an extension last week, and they evidently worked quickly and got the deal done. The 2016 No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams has been fantastic since being dealt to Detroit along with draft picks for Matthew Stafford. He led Detroit to a playoff win for the first time since 1991 last year, and he's posted 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions through his first 48 games with the organization. He's now under contract through the 2028 season and will remain a fringe QB1 option in fantasy football as long as his offensive weapons remain on the roster. Given his job security and upside in Detroit's offense, he should be viewed as a strong dynasty QB2 in Superflex formats.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with the Lions Monday, May 13, worth $212 million, according to sources. The deal includes $170 million in guaranteed money.
Fantasy Spin: Goff will be the starting quarterback for the Lions for the foreseeable future and is coming off a terrific 2023 season. He could be a possible low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback in deeper leagues but probably will be a No. 2 quarterback in most standard leagues that can also be a starting option against favorable matchups.
From TheHuddle
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson was spotted at voluntary offseason activities on Monday despite his recent request to be traded. It's a notable development considering the practices and workouts are entirely voluntary, but it's too early to assume it means he wants to remain with the team if he does not receive a new contract. The 2017 third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints had a monster season in 2023, racking up a Bengals' franchise record 17.5 sacks. He is the 11th-highest-paid edge rusher (average salary) and is entering the final year of his four-year, $60 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2021. The 29-year-old's situation will be worth monitoring this offseason, as there will likely be no shortage of interested suitors if the team is willing to listen to offers. With quarterback Joe Burrow already signed to a $275 million contract, and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins seeking a new deals, Hendrickson may be expendable.
From RotoBaller
The Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent tight end Ross Dwelley on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dwelley was undrafted out of the University of San Diego in 2018, but he stuck around on the San Francisco 49ers' roster for six seasons and played in 84 games. Overall, the 29-year-old has 44 receptions for 518 yards and five receiving touchdowns to his name. He'll look to compete with Charlie Woerner and John FitzPatrick to see the field in multi-tight end sets and to be Kyle Pitts' direct backup in 2024. For now, he's nowhere near the fantasy football radar heading into his seventh NFL campaign.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent TE Nick Vannett (Chargers) agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans Monday, May 13. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed. The team also waived CB Rod Gattison.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent tight end Nick Vannett is signing with the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. The 31-year-old spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and caught one pass for three yards in eight games played. Vannett is a former third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 and has spent time with seven organizations in seven years. Overall, he's hauled in 91 of his 130 career targets for 877 yards and six touchdowns. He'll likely compete with 2023 fifth-round pick Josh Whyle for the TE2 role in 2024, but Chigoziem Okonkwo remains the lead tight end for quarterback Will Levis after this signing.
From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions signed free-agent tight end Parker Hesse to an undisclosed deal on Monday. Hesse entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons. He has spent all three of his seasons in the NFL with the Falcons and has totaled 14 receptions on 17 targets for 132 yards and no touchdowns in 28 games played (eight starts). The 28-year-old tight end played in only three games last year in Atlanta while also playing 28 snaps on special teams. In his three games played, Hesse wasn't targeted at all in the passing game. He'll merely be hoping to stick around on Detroit's roster after training camp and the preseason while providing depth at the position behind Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra.
From RotoBaller
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. reached an agreement on a four-year, $84.1 million on Monday that will make him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, according to sources. It's the first time in modern NFL history that a safety has set this mark. The deal was negotiated and confirmed by agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First. The new extension for the 25-year-old means Winfield won't have to play the 2024 season on the franchise tag, which would have paid him $17.1 million this year. The All-Pro safety is one of the most productive players at the defensive back position in IDP fantasy formats and had 122 tackles (76 solo), six sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defended, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 17 stars in 2023.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent cornerback Anthony Averett to an undisclosed one-year deal on Sunday, according to a source. The deal for Averett comes after he worked out at the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend on a tryout basis. The 29-year-old split time between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions last year but didn't play in any regular-season games. His last NFL action came in 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders, when he recorded 13 tackles and a pass defended in seven games (six starts). He was originally a fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 out of Alabama. In his four seasons in Baltimore, he had 101 tackles, three interceptions and 22 passes defended. Averett will have plenty of competition at the cornerback position in training camp this summer as he tries to make the final roster.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets agreed to terms with first-round pick Olu Fashanu on his rookie deal on Monday. The deal is for four years and $20,510,710 fully guaranteed and includes the standard fifth-year team option. It was reported on Sunday that Fashanu strained his quadriceps while running the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and could miss some or all of the Jets' organized team activities this offseason. The Jets took the 21-year-old with the 11th overall pick in this year's NFL draft to give veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers some more protection in 2024. Barring a setback, Fashanu should be ready to go for the start of his rookie season this fall. So far, he's been working off to the side with trainers during the team's rookie minicamp.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Cardinals have signed wide receiver Zay Jones. Dynasty Analysis: Jones has had some nice moments over his seven seasons in Buffalo, Las Vegas, and Jacksonville, though he's never posted more than 823 receiving yards or seven touchdowns in any given season. Jones could be viable opposite Marvin Harrison, Jr. if he can beat out Michael Wilson but that's no given. At this point, Jones looks like a roster worthy player but a potential roster clogger at the same time.
Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders said his goal in the NFL is to be as good as former All-Pro Greg Olsen. Sanders, a converted receiver at Texas, averaged 49.5 catches a year with the Longhorns with an average of 648 yards and 3.5 touchdowns. His role with the Panthers is not clear yet, but head coach Dave Canales said on Saturday that Sanders will play both the "F" and the "Y" roles, dependent on pass plays versus 12 personnel. "He's a guy, you can move around a little bit more, maybe play him in the slot a little bit," Canales said, adding, "we look for those versatile type of tight ends." The 21-year-old was taken with the 101st overall pick in the fourth round this year but could immediately become the team's best pass-catching tight end over both Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas. Still, fantasy managers in single-year leagues in 2024 should temper expectations for Sanders in Carolina's offense.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo said that rookie quarterback Drake May, who was taken third overall in last month's NFL draft, "has a lot to work on." Saturday's practice featured a heavy emphasis on footwork fundamentals, with Maye spending the first few periods of practice taking snaps directly under center instead of the shotgun, which he mostly used the last two years at North Carolina. "The guy can sling it, man," said wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, the second-round pick from the University of Washington. "He's very confident. He's a leader, very vocal; he's setting the tone in practice, trying to get guys moving around and operating at a high level." Maye is expected to compete with veteran Jacoby Brissett for starting duties in 2024. The Patriots aren't going to rush Maye's development, so he's more of a dynasty/keeper asset in fantasy this year than a redraft one.
From RotoBaller