I did my first version of tight end tiers in the middle of July, just before the start of training camp. Now, it's time for an update.
Some of the changes for this version include moving Kyle Pitts ahead of George Kittle and Evan Engram, putting Brock Bowers back at No. 11, and shuffling around the bottom two tiers. Also, in case you can use Taysom Hill as a tight end, he would be in Tier 4 as a high-end No. 2 Fantasy option. I'll explain all of this below.
For context, this is based on PPR, as well as one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving. Hopefully, these tiers can help with any draft decisions you have to make this year. And for context, this is based on PPR, as well as one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving. Hopefully, these tiers can help with any draft decisions you have to make this year.
Tier 1
Sam LaPorta
Travis Kelce
Trey McBride
Mark Andrews
Nothing has changed with this tier or the order of the tight ends, and all four of these guys should be in contention for the No. 1 tight end this season. I don't expect to see any of these guys run away from the field, and all four of them should be drafted in the first four rounds.
I lean slightly toward LaPorta over Kelce because of youth. And the Chiefs will likely limit Kelce's snaps again after he played 77 percent of the snaps last year, which was his lowest total since 2014. Both of these guys should be drafted in Round 3.
I'll take McBride over Andrews in PPR because McBride should be among the league leaders at tight end in receptions. Andrews might score more touchdowns since McBride only had three last year, but both of these guys should be drafted in Round 4.
Tier 2
Dalton Kincaid
Kyle Pitts
George Kittle
Evan Engram
Jake Ferguson
You can make a case that Kincaid belongs in a tier by himself. But I'll put him in this group just because I don't think he has the same ceiling as the top four guys. That said, Kincaid is one of my favorite breakout candidates this year.
I didn't have Pitts ahead of Kittle and Engram in the first version of tiers, but I moved him ahead of those guys based on upside. If Kirk Cousins can unlock Pitts' potential then he could be a top-five tight end in 2024, and that's the hope.
Kittle will move to the top of this tier or into Tier 1 if Brandon Aiyuk is traded. But for now, he's someone to settle for in Round 6 or 7. Keep in mind that Kittle's PPR points per game has declined every season since 2018 from 16.1 to 12.7 last year. He also averaged just 5.6 targets per game last year, which dips to 5.1 in games where Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel were healthy.
Engram was having an OK season with Christian Kirk healthy at 10.4 PPR points per game through Week 12, but he took off once Kirk suffered a season-ending groin injury in Week 13. From that point on, Engram averaged 19.3 PPR points per game. So which version of Engram will we get this year? He's someone to target in Round 7, and hopefully, he can build off last year's solid campaign.
For most of the offseason, we've said that Ferguson is the next tight end after the "Elite Eight." I think Ferguson belongs in this tier, and he's really the last tight end you can draft confidently this season. We saw his upside in the playoff loss against Green Bay with 10 catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns on 12 targets, and he had nine games last season with at least 10.1 PPR points.
Tier 3
Dallas Goedert
Brock Bowers
Pat Freiermuth
David Njoku
When we say wait on a tight end, this is the group of guys you're waiting for with a late-round pick. All of these guys have top-10 upside, but they also have warts.
Two of my favorite late-round tight ends are from this tier in Goedert and Freiermuth, mostly because of their new offensive coordinators. Kellen Moore coming in as the offensive coordinator should be a huge boost for Goedert, especially with the Eagles expected to throw more in the red zone. And Freiermuth should benefit with Arthur Smith calling plays for the Steelers. In Atlanta, Smith dedicated 34.3 percent of his targets to his tight ends in 2023, and Freiermuth should be the No. 2 target in Pittsburgh behind George Pickens.
I'm drafting Bowers and Njoku in this tier if they fall, but I'm nervous about their production. I'm concerned about the ceiling for Bowers on what should be a low-scoring offense for the Raiders. Davante Adams should dominate targets, and Bowers will have to fend off Jakobi Meyers to be second in that category, all while catching passes from Gardner Minshew.
Njoku scored at least 16.4 PPR points in each of his final four games, but that was with Joe Flacco. Njoku scored 6.8 PPR points or less in three of five games with Deshaun Watson, and I'm worried he'll be a bust.
Tier 4
T.J. Hockenson
Dalton Schultz
Luke Musgrave
Hunter Henry
Ben Sinnott
Juwan Johnson
Tyler Conklin
If healthy, Hockenson belongs in Tier 3, and hopefully, that's the case. Last year, he was a monster at 14.6 PPR points per game, but he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 16 and didn't undergo surgery until late January. There's a good chance he's not ready to play in Week 1, and we know he has to adjust to life with Sam Darnold at quarterback.
Schultz and Musgrave have to contend with a crowded receiving corps, but there's still upside for them as low-end starters in deeper leagues. They might need touchdowns to save their Fantasy production, but there's also a path to a big year if any of the receivers on their teams get hurt.
Henry might end up being a reliable weapon for either Drake Maye or Jacoby Brissett. And the addition of new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in New England could help Henry in a big way. Van Pelt has been in Cleveland the last four seasons, helping to run one of the more tight end-centric offenses in the NFL. Last year, the Browns threw 166 passes to tight ends, the seventh-highest mark in the league.
I'm more excited for Sinnott this year than Zach Ertz because the rookie has much more upside. And Jahan Dotson getting traded to Philadelphia should open more playing time for Sinnott, who could be a beast by the end of the season.
Johnson (foot) was activated off the PUP list this week, and he has sleeper appeal for the Saints, who should have a better passing offense this season under new coordinator Klint Kubiak. Johnson also scored at least 11 PPR points in three of his final four games last year.
And Conklin gets a healthy Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) back, and Conklin has earned exactly 87 targets in three straight seasons, which is freaky. He could be second on the Jets in targets behind Garrett Wilson.
Hill would be at the top of this tier in leagues where he's eligible at tight end, and we know he's going to be a do-it-all threat for the Saints again. His most important role could be in the backfield for New Orleans as a rusher behind Alvin Kamara, and Hill is worth drafting with a late-round pick.
Tier 5
Greg Dulcich
Cole Kmet
Zach Ertz
Jonnu Smith
Noah Fant
Mike Gesicki
There's something new for all of these tight ends, and I would consider drafting all four as No. 2 Fantasy options with enough bench spots. That said, I don't want to trust any of these guys (for now) as starters heading into Week 1.
Dulcich is healthy and gets a new quarterback in Bo Nix. While he might lose playing time to Adam Trautman, Dulcich is the preferred tight end on passing downs.
I'm nervous about Kmet with Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Gerald Everett joining D.J. Moore in Chicago to make this a crowded receiving corps, and Caleb Williams has to support all of these guys. But Kmet could still be a security blanket for Williams, and last year Kmet broke out when he averaged 10.7 PPR points per game. Hopefully, he can still stay in that range this year, but his playing time could be a factor due to Everett.
I like Sinnott better than Ertz, but Ertz can still be a factor for the Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, especially with Dotson gone. That said, I expect Sinnott to improve as the year goes on, and if that happens then Ertz's role could decrease toward the end of the year.
Smith goes to Miami and will hopefully emerge as the No. 3 target for the Dolphins behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and his speed should fit in this offense. And Fant could take on a bigger role in Seattle under new coordinator Ryan Grubb. Fant just has to stay healthy, and right now he's dealing with a foot injury.
And while Gesicki has never been a consistent Fantasy option, his move to Cincinnati will hopefully lead to quality production. With Tyler Boyd gone, Gesicki could emerge as the No. 3 target for Joe Burrow behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Tier 6
Isaiah Likely
Cade Otton
Chigoziem Okonkwo
Colby Parkinson
Ja'Tavion Sanders
Theo Johnson
Hayden Hurst
Dawson Knox
Gerald Everett
This is the leftovers tier, but there is the potential for some guys to surprise us. Likely will hopefully earn a bigger role this season with Andrews healthy, and Likely was a star last year when Andrews hurt his ankle in Week 11. With Andrews missing the final six games of the regular season, Likely scored at least 11.1 PPR points in four of five games, including three outings with at least 18 PPR points.
Otton and Okonkwo have the ability to post quality stats, and Parkinson could be a factor with Tyler Higbee (knee) out for the Rams. And the rookies in Sanders and Johnson have the potential to be factors toward the end of the season, so they are worth stashing in deeper leagues.
Hurst should emerge as the best tight end for the Chargers, and Knox could still be a red-zone threat for the Bills behind Kincaid. Everett also is a Shane Waldron guy, which should help his role in Chicago and make him a potential Fantasy option in tight-end premium leagues.
