The TE position is the toughest to hit on in all of fantasy football. Too many players are TD dependent which makes it hard to predict. Over my next few articles I will slowly release my top-36 dynasty TEs and how I currently have them ranked. I go in depth on these guys and tell you what I believe you should be doing with them on your dynasty rosters. I hope you enjoy reading and let me know why you think of the rankings so far. You can find me at @DynastyHoser on Twitter – and my previous articles here.
Tier 5 – Can’t Trust This
For various reasons this group can’t be trusted as every week starters in fantasy football; with the exception of Gronk (is he coming back?). However, some of these guys could provide a safe floor if a starter goes down for you. Upside youth in Harrison Bryant and Trey McBride, but can’t be trusted yet.
26. Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams) 85-61-560-5
For what you paid for or where you drafted Higbee, he got the job done on your fantasy football team. He averaged 7.8 points per game. Higbee only had a few games where he really hurt you, but also only had one monster game and it was in Week 18.
He was just behind Van Jefferson in targets this year, which placed him third. However, if you combine Robert Woods and Odell Beckham’s targets, it would move him to fourth. In a high-flying offense, fourth in targets isn’t bad, but it’s not going to lead to consistency either.
Higbee just turned 29, and has two years left on his contract. Which, after this season can be dumped for only a 1.4 million cap hit. He is valued between a late second and early third, I’d be looking to move him if I can for anything close to that value.
Watch for sophomore tight end Jacob Harris, who was injured for most of the year, to start cutting into Higbee targets. Higbee already blocks on nearly 50% of his plays (48%), if he starts losing passing work to Harris, his value will plummet quickly.
27. Harrison Bryant (Cleveland Browns) 28-21-233-3
For the price tag of an early 4th, why not get ahead of the curve and grab a tight end already established in his offense? Tight ends take the most time to adjust out of the skill positions, Bryant is now going into his third season.
Harrison Bryant was quiet in his second year, but ended the year with touchdowns in three of the last four games. He also flashed his potential in a few games last year. In particular week seven, when he caught 4 passes for 2 TDs and 56 yards.
The Browns three-headed monster looked like it was going to lose David Njoku, but instead it’s Hooper out the door. According to sharpfootballstats.com the Browns have run multiple tight end sets on 46% of offensive plays this year. Njuko and Bryant will be on the field lots together.
Hooper ended the year second in targets for the Browns and first in red zone targets. Njuko was fourth in targets and third in red zone targets. The evidence shows that the tight end is an important target in the Browns offense. If Bryant can take a step forward in year three and continue to develop, there is a chance in the near future that he can be fantasy relevant.
In his SR year in college with Florida Atlantic, he put up a 1000 yard season on only 65 receptions, with 7 TDs.
His price tag is very low to acquire compared to Njoku, but with Watson in town and Hooper gone Bryant will be utilized. Njoku is playing on the franchise tag and Bryant is still under contact for the 2023 season. Meaning, if Njoku doesn’t sign a long term deal Bryant could be the main tight end next year. The other thing to make note of is Njoku has dealt with injuries in two of his four seasons.
28. Rob Gronkowski (Free Agent) 88-55-802-6
Gronkowski has been nothing short of dominant when on the field. Over his eleven years he has nine finishes inside the top-12 in fantasy football, with five of those years inside the top-5. Injuries have always been an issue, but even in shortened seasons he put up top flight numbers.
He missed 5 games this last year dealing with multiple injuries. However, he averaged 12 points a game when active. Which was his highest total and first time averaging over 10 points since the 2017 season.
His longtime QB Tom Brady is now back after a few short months of retirement. If Gronk does come back it will be to play with Brady. He is worth having if you are competing, but I’d ship him away the second he signs if I am not sure where my team will finish.
29. Hayden Hurst (Cincinnati Bengals) 31-26-221-3
The former first round pick of the Baltimore Ravens has found a new home with the Bengals. He is only going into his fifth year, but is already 29 years old!
Hurst’s best season was in 2020. That year he finished as the TE9, but only averaged 7.6 fantasy points per game after being traded to the Falcons in the offseason.
I believe he is a good fit for the Bengals. He is a well rounded tight end who can block and be a force in the run game, but also mobile enough to get open. I think even with the Bengals high flying offense he is at best a high end tight end two. He could be a plug and play option, much like Uzomah last year.
Tier 6 – Borderline Waiver Wire Worthy
Both these players were under utilized by their teams. Do we see a change this year or are these guys both worthy of the waiver wire?
30. Jonnu Smith (New England Patriots) 45-28-294-1
I want to believe the Patriots had more in mind for Smith when they signed him to a four year 50 million dollar contract. It’s hard to find a positive for the season, but Smith was third on the team in red zone targets with ten.
Does Smith take a step forward in year two? I think there is a possibility as he gets more comfortable with the offense and Mac Jones develops. We have seen Bill Belichick use two tight end’s before with great success. Now of course I am not comparing Smith and Henry’s skill level to Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernedez, but the opportunity could be there.
31. Adam Trautman (New Orleans Saints) 43-27-263-2
Trautman was seen as a potential breakout candidate last offseason, but did nothing this season to give anyone hope. He had one useful game against the Eagles, who were terrible against tight ends in fantasy football all season long.
One positive, and the only reason I have Trautman this high, is besides Michael Thomas the pass-catchers are not scaring anyone.
He is going into his third year, which is typically a year we see tight end’s step up. I am willing to hold him on my bench to see what additions the Saints make through the offseason. I am not looking to acquire him even with the slight chance he does become a top target on his team.
Tier 7 – Desperation Plays
These guys shouldn’t be on your roster unless it is your taxi squad. I hope none of these guys need to see your starting lineup.
32. C.J. Uzomah (New York Jets) 63-48-493-5
Uzomah was fourth on the Bengals in targets this last year. He tied with two others on the team for third in red zone targets with seven. However, four of his five TDs came from outside the redzone. Which means he only converted on one of the seven chances inside the red zone.
Two massive fantasy weeks inflated his average PPG. His only two weeks with double digit fantasy points were Weeks 4 and 7, where he scored multiple TDs. That resulted in him finishing as the TE1 on both weeks. He only had one other week inside the top-12.
The Jets found their tight end when they signed Uzomah to a three year contract. I don’t expect much upside from Uzomah, especially since they also signed Tyler Conklin. Sadly, even with the Bengals high-flying offense last year he only finished as the TE19, I don’t see that rising with the Jets.
33. Hunter Long (Miami Dolphin) 3-1-8-0
The Dolphins drafted Hunter Long behind Kyle Pitts and Pat Freiermuth. They took him in the middle of the third round.
In his final year with Boston College, Long put up 685 yards and 5 TDs in 11 games. He didn’t see much of the field this past year, but back up Durham Smythe is a free agent and had 34 receptions, 357 yards.
The Dolphins have a ton of cap space and brought back Gesicki on the franchise tag. Long might be worth the stash in your fantasy football league, since there is no guarantee Gesicki signs a long-term deal. New head coach Mike McDaniel’s has been part of offenses that use the tight end. If Gesicki doesn’t work in McDaniel’s system, maybe Long can!
34. Dan Arnold (Jacksonville Jaguars) 52-35-408-0
After his trade to the Jaguars, from Weeks 4-10, Arnold averaged 7.5 fantasy points per game. He had a goose egg in Week 11 before an injury in Week 12 ended his year.
He was a decent waiver wire add in fantasy football PPR leagues, but wasn’t able to score a TD, which capped his upside. The big question is, was Arnold’s production during this time linked to Urban Meyer?
I expect Arnold will see the field. New head coach Doug Pederson has featured two tight end’s in his offense before. However, I expect Engram to take the reins. Dynasty wise, I don’t see much beyond this next year. His contract is up after the 2022 season and without much of a resume, I don’t see a team desperate to sign and feature a 28 year old journeymen tight end. His sleeper appeal dropped as soon as the Jags signed Engram.
35. Foster Moreau (Las Vegas Raiders) 44-30-373-3
He really only had one decent game in the absence of Darren Waller. That was Week 7 against the Eagles where he caught all six of his targets for 60 yards and one TD. In his rookie year he caught all seven of his red zone targets, capitalizing on five of them!
I have Moreau here for a couple of reasons. The first is because Josh McDaniels comes to town as the new head coach. We have seen him utilize two tight end sets in the past. And, the more someone is on the field, the better chance they have to put up fantasy points.
The second reason; Moreau is in the final year of his contract, he is only turning 25 in May. We need to see more from him. He led the Raiders tight ends in snaps this last year, but blocked 57% of the time. What seems like a good all around tight end has yet to prove it and make the jump.
36. Jelani Woods (Indianapolis Colts)
Early third round draft capital with an athletic profile. Give him a year or two and I think he can make some noise.
His only college production came after transferring from Oklahoma State to Virginia this past year. He scored 8 TDs and had nearly 600 receiving yards on 44 receptions.
A few names to watch…
- Jacob Harris (Los Angeles Rams) – His rookie year was riddled by injuries. He profiles like a beast!
- Tommy Tremble (Carolina Panthers) – The Panthers traded away Dan Arnold, many were excited for Tremble, but he did nothing to excite fantasy players. Keep an eye on him as he develops.
- Ricky Seals-Jones (NY Giants) – If you need a one year shot in the dark guy, RSJ is the only guy in town for the Giants.
- Greg Dulcich (Denver Broncos) – With third round draft capital he could become a nuisance to Albert O in Denver, but nothing too flashy here.
Is there anyone from these tiers I am too low or high on? Next article I look into my next two tiers of TEs in fantasy football. These two tiers have a mix of upside youth, trusted veterans and everything in between.
Sheldon Hand
Sheldon Hand is an elementary school teacher. He started writing in 2019, and started working with The League Winners in 2021. He has been playing fantasy football for fifteen years, got into dynasty seven years ago and have become a bit obsessed.