The tight end position has been steadily growing over the years as one of the most important fantasy football assets. Having an elite tight end goes a long way, considering there aren’t many to choose from. Last season, there was a noticeable difference between the top two tight ends in the league compared to the rest.
Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller round out the “Big 3” of fantasy football tight ends. If Kittle didn’t suffer from injuries, he likely would have finished second behind Kelce. That left Kelce and Waller to run away with it as the clear top two options in fantasy football.
If you didn’t have one of those two on your team, you were either hoping Mark Andrews would catch fire, or you were streaming the position all season long. That might be the case again next year, but there are a handful of young tight ends that have the potential to become more consistent fantasy options.
The first three are nearly a guaranteed given. The rest of this list can be interchangeable based on who you prefer. No matter your strategy in regards to tight ends for redraft formats, you’re going to want to find the best available players for your team. Here is my way too early top 10 tight ends for the 2021 season.
Fantasy Football: Top 10 Tight Ends
1 | Travis Kelce | Kansas City Chiefs
This is a no-brainer. Kelce put up 1,416 yards and 11 touchdowns off of 105 receptions last year. Darren Waller finished second behind him and was still over 200 yards behind. Patrick Mahomes has an obvious favorite target and Andy Reid knows how to utilize Kelce to his fullest extent.
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Look for Kelce to do much of the same next season, as there is no reason to believe his production drops anytime soon. At 31-years old, we’re likely to see Kelce continue playing like this for a few more years at the very least. If you have a late first-round pick in your fantasy draft next year, it might be wise to use it on Travis Kelce and give yourself the biggest advantage fantasy football has to offer.
2 | George Kittle | San Francisco 49ers
Kittle only played in eight games last year as he was dealing with an injury. However, when he was on the field, he produced like the true TE1 we know him to be. He finished the season with 48 receptions, 634 yards, and two touchdowns. The San Francisco 49ers plan to use Kittle as their prime pass catcher, meaning he will continue to dominate the league.
Had Kittle played all 16 games, he likely would have finished with more yards than Waller. The 49ers have a nice little offense building in San Francisco and they just traded up to the third pick in the NFL draft. Even with a new rookie quarterback possibly under center next year, Kittle will still likely be a top fantasy option across the board.
3 | Darren Waller | Las Vegas Raiders
Darren Waller was a monster for the Las Vegas Raiders last year. He was easily the best pass-catcher on the team, and as of right now, looks to retain that title for another season. The Raiders’ tight end has one of the most inspiring stories you could hear, as he’s made a major turnaround in his life over the last couple of years. He finished 2020 with 107 receptions, 1,196 yards, and nine touchdowns.
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The front office in Las Vegas has made some questionable decisions this offseason, but even so, Waller will be a large part of the offensive game plan. With a less than stellar wide receiver group and a depleted offensive line, Derek Carr will be looking Waller’s way frequently.
4 | TJ Hockenson | Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are completely rebuilding the team after acquiring Jared Goff via trade and sending Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams. Luckily for this offense, Goff will have a consistent tight end he’ll throw to. TJ Hockenson is in a position to become the top pass catcher in Detroit. He finished last year with 67 receptions, 723 yards, and six touchdowns.
D’Andre Swift will likely be the focal point of the Lions’ offense. However, Goff is a gunslinger that likes to throw the ball. Detroit hasn’t acquired anyone too exciting during free agency to boost the passing game. They’ll likely draft a wide receiver or two, but even then, Hockenson should remain as the top target for Goff. He has the best chance to potentially join the “Big3” as an elite tight end this year, putting him fourth on this list.
5 | Noah Fant | Denver Broncos
Noah Fant has consistently shown improvements each year of his career so far. After Courtland Sutton went out with a season-ending injury, Fant became one of Drew Lock’s favorite targets. The two-year player finished last year with 62 receptions, 673 yards, and three touchdowns.
The Denver Broncos are not too far away from becoming a playoff-caliber team again. They have a decent defense and the weapons on offense to make some noise. Fant can play a large role in the success of this team next season, but Lock will have to improve for that to happen. Draft Fant next year knowing you have a reliable streaming option who has the potential to be a weekly starter.
6 | Mark Andrew | Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens tight end, Mark Andrews boomed onto the scene two years ago. He faded away into the offense during his 2020 campaign after the front office parted ways with Hayden Hurst. Andrews finished with 58 receptions, 701 yards, and seven touchdowns.
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The Ravens are not a pass-heavy offense, and they won’t be as long as Lamar Jackson is under center. It’d be wise for the front office to find another tight end so the offense can run two tight end sets again. It would improve their scheme overall and improve Andrew’s chances of repeating his spectacular performance from 2019. If that happens, Andrews becomes a weekly starter once again for fantasy football.
7 | Robert Tonyan | Green Bay Packers
Having a breakout year on the Green Bay Packers, Robert Tonyan came out of nowhere as a legitimate fantasy option in 2020. Many believed it was going to be Jace Sternberger to be the Packers’ top tight end. Instead, Tonyan finished with 52 receptions, 586 yards, and 11 touchdowns, proving he’s one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets in the red zone.
Outside of Davante Adams, Green Bay’s receiver group is less than spectacular. The front office hasn’t done anything to improve the pass catchers for Rodgers, which makes Tonyan a solid fantasy option next year. Even if the Packers select a wide receiver in the draft, Tonyan should still be viewed as a great streaming option next year.
8 | Dallas Goedert | Philadelphia Eagles
Zach Ertz is somehow still on the Philadelphia Eagles roster, but even so, Dallas Goedert should finally emerge as the top tight end on the team. Goedert has the potential to be considered an elite tight end one day, but he still has to prove it. Last year was his best season yet, as he racked up 46 receptions, 524 yards, and three touchdowns.
The Eagles are another team that desperately needs help in the wide receiver department. However, after trading back from sixth to 12th in the NFL draft, it’s unclear whether or not they select a top pass catcher this year. With that in mind, Goedert aims to be the top target for Jalen Hurts in 2021, giving Goedert the volume he needs to become a valuable fantasy football asset.
9 | Logan Thomas | Washington Football Team
Logan Thomas actually finished as the TE3 last year with Kittle out for half of the season. He burst into the scene after transitioning from quarterback to tight end, playing for the Washington Football Team. He served as a solid second option behind Terry McLaurin, finishing with 72 receptions, 670 yards, and six touchdowns.
The front office loaded up the offense with weapons, as they signed Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries to the receiving core. With Ryan Fitzpatrick likely under center next year, look for the Washington Football Team to make improvements. Even with these additions, look for Thomas to be heavily involved in Washington’s offense. Ron Rivera has a history of scheming plays for Greg Olsen during his tenure with the Carolina Panthers. This bodes well for Thomas’s future and fantasy football.
10 | Kyle Pitts | N/A (Rookie)
The only rookie on this list, Kyle Pitts makes the cut as a possible top 10 tight end in 2021 without ever playing a snap in the league. He has NFL scouts drooling over him, as he’s arguably the best pass catcher available in the draft this year. He ended his final season with the Florida Gators with an impressive 43 receptions, 770 yards, and 12 touchdowns.
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Pitts making this list should prove to you how unpredictable the tight end position is after the “Big3.” Some have Pitts higher on their rankings already. However, considering we won’t know what team he’s on until April 29th, we should hold back expectations a tad. Also, rookie tight ends seldom produce. He’s bound to be a monster in the NFL but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves for year one. The NFL draft takes place on April 29th. Wherever he lands, Pitts will have the potential to make an immediate impact. For now, 10 seems to make the most sense, as we don’t know what team he’ll play for until the draft.
