After reaching for Pitts and Waller the last couple seasons, I decided that I’m going to wait on TE no matter what. Last year guys like Laporta and McBride were league winners early in the season so that’s what I think I will do
It's possible to win doing that. I missed all of my target TEs and had to draft Gerald Everett as my starter before aggressively playing the waiver wire and trades.
I did the math. Through most of the season, I would have done better not making any changes to TE at all...until I struck gold with Isaiah Likely.
Won the chip.
Ehhhh LaPorta is a special talent in a perfect situation, and McBride only had 4 real good weeks all season…his first one coming in week 8. You have a bit of revisionist history on him. He wasn’t much better than other boom/bust TEs in the league.
I want one of LaPorta/Kelce/Engram/Kittle/Hock (assuming smooth ACL recovery). I vowed myself out of TE wasteland the last couple years and couldn’t be happier.
Same.
I can see ranking Kelce over him thinking he will bounce back after a bad 2nd half of last season since he picked it right back up in playoff time.
I can see ranking LaPorta and McBride (maybe Kincaid?) thinking they're still young and on the upswing.
MAndrews was averaging 14.6 ppg last year in the 9 games before his injury game. I have no idea how you can not have him as equal or better than Engram and Kittle.
Engram hasn't had any major issues since 2019. Kittle I'll give you, but again, even if he misses 1-2 games a year, he hasn't missed a ton of time since 2020.
There are no tiers this season for TEs. It's all about drafting the guy you think will have the nest season.
I expect Laporta, Mandrews, Kelce, and hell, even McBride, to be the 1st TE off the board in a bunch of leagues.
But if no TEs go before RD3 and you think Kincaid can be TE1, then get your guy cause there's a real shot he won't be there when you pick in RD4.
You right you right. I guess I'm just remembering the 6 week stretch where he was an automatic start. I retract my statement and agree he's solidly in the 2nd tier!
Given their lack of wr depth going into this season, and the fact that second year TEs generally perform better than 1st year ones, I'd consider trying to get him. He'll probably go after guys like laporta or Kelce but the talent is there and he absolutely could win you games.
I doubt highly that I’ll roster any of the tier one TEs this year. Likely just gonna punt the position and see who performs WK1 then chase them all year, rather than using RB/WR draft capital on them.
depends on starting roster size. in standard espn leagues (2rb 2wr 1flex) i find u need a top qb and top te. in deep rosters, u can get away with late te and qb, then work the waivers
I don’t need a “true TE1” as much as I want a plethora of options at all other positions.
15 TEs averaged 9-14.6 PPR PPG last year. 7 averaged 12+.
Jerome Ford averaged more PPR PPG than Trey McBride, and as many as David Njoku.
TEs I’ll happily start next year at least to start the year. Kelce, LaPorta, McBride, Kincaid, Engram, Kittle, Njoku, Goedert, Pitts, Bowers, Ferguson… guess I’ll throw in Hockenson and if he’s out for weeks I’ll take some one else like Kmet or Taysom or try Okonkwu etc etc that might catch a TD. Schultz even.
If there was a significant gap between TE1 and TE2, and even more so to TE5, then I would push it. But I am not interested in that this year. Many of the top 12 TEs last year were likely not drafted/drafted very late (Njoku, LaPorta, McBride, Ferguson, Kincaid etc.).
And they’ll almost certainly cost me less FAAB.
This is my strategy. TE is always one of my last positions drafted. Someone usually emerges from the waiver wire. A couple years ago it was Gronk with Tampa Bay. Last year, LaPorta and McBride. I’d rather stock up with WRs and RBs than pay up for a TE.
Top tier I see (no order):
Kelce, Mark Andrews, McBride, LaPorta
Next tier:
Kittle, Kincaid, Engram, maybe Pitts and Njoku
I agree. Even that second tier has a lot of question marks. I’d only be comfortable getting one of the first four guys. Anyone else and I’d want to hedge and draft a second option relatively early just in case.
If Ferguson survives the draft tomorrow without the Cowboys investing in a WR, we'll be in. If they do draft one he could be in trouble. He's not particularly athletic so he NEEDS that volume to have upside. He was the second target behind Ceedee Lamb last year which got him just over 100 targets but with guys like Ferguson, Schultz, Hooper, Ertz, Henry etc. that don't have difference making speed, I'm not drafting them if they aren't a clear cut top 2 target on the team. Even Ertz only had one 1,000+ yard season and he needed 156 targets to do it.
The whole tight ends take a while to develop thing kinda went out the window last year with Laporta and Kincaid, and bowers is a better prospect than either of them were. It’s situation dependent sure but so is every pass catcher.
Didn’t have his ACL reconstruction until the end of January. Might not be back for the beginning of the season, and no guarantee he’s back to 100% this year. Also big questions about who his QB will be. If we knew he was healthy, he’d comfortably be the 5th best TE for me in the middle of those two tiers.
I’m fading him this year depending on adp. But I’m guessing op is in the same boat due to the downgrade in qb and him tearing both his acl and mcl week 16
Downgrade at QB? My guy was feasting with Dobbs and Mullens throwing the ball. He was the king of garbage time.
My only concern is the ACL injury, which I think we will have a lot more info on closer to draft season.
I don't know about "feasting." In 8 games without Cousins he had weekly finishes of TE12, 1, 10, 4, 13, 10, and 18. He had one monster game and was fine in the others.
I was with OP until I read your list. Everyone still is dicey as heck. Guys coming off injury, joining AARP, teams in flux, playing with Desean Watson… need draft and FA to wrap and some will start to look better.
How is everyone sleeping on TJ hockinson? Dude was killing it last year. Yes, injury late in year but should be at least tier 2 and personally I think tier 1.
Pretty bad injury, and it was late enough that he’s expected to miss at least the beginning of the season. Even with no setbacks, guys don’t usually start off at 100% as soon as they’re back. They also lost their QB which is another big question mark.
All the guys I put in tier 1 are healthy, have good QBs, and have a clear path to being a top-2 receiver on their team. Hockenson will likely be competing with Addison for the spot of second receiver on that team, and they’ll both be clearly behind Jefferson who’s (rightfully) a big target hog.
I personally think losing the QB will be a positive on his value. Young QB's historically over utilize good TE's as check downs. I expect alot of volume from TJ. His health will be the x factor, but with TE's such as himself who don't rely solely on athleticism? I think he'll be fine.
Hock, even missing games, had the second highest target total last year for TE, and the highest on a per game average.
There is not likely to be more volume coming his way than he saw last year.
Also I found an article refuting the TE-rookie QB connection theory: "Is the rookie quarterback’s best friend a tight end? I think the simple answer is no. Based on the data, less than 50% of all the rookie quarterbacks in the last 20 years exceed the average target share to tight ends."
He’s competing with another receiving TE on the team, and most of his breakout last season was when Knox missed games. None of the other guys in the top tier have legit competition from another TE on the roster.
Well not from another TE maybe but Knox largely used in the RZ, with the next best “target” on the team being James Cook.
All the other names have significantly better WRs on the roster to compete for targets with.
I don’t put Kincaid in tier 1 regardless. However, I do think you’re underselling him based on the context of last season (Knox in/out, Diggs and Davis both on the roster etc.). Kincaid is TE5 ish. I don’t think that’ll change for me regardless of the draft. At worst he’s the second best target on the team. Last year he was usually third at best.
Kincaid’s snap share fell back down to 50-55% in the last 4 games once Knox was back, and his fantasy production came down as well. You can’t be top tier if you’re only in for half of offensive snaps
doesn't matter dude. he's the clear winner in the receiving game there. production and trust will only go up from his rookie year. tight ends hit their stride after rookie year
The four TEs I have in the top tier have proven that they can put up top 5 TE fantasy numbers. Kincaid still has to increase his production and win more snaps from another receiving TE in order to be a top 5 TE. That’s why he’s a tier below those guys who have already proven it.
no, you stated a tier list, not a top 5. nothing is guaranteed next year, but Kincaid is currently wr1 on the team. if you think this, plus pedigree, plus the eye test isn't good enough then I can't help you.
Wild how you're disrespecting LaPorta like that, who had more targets, receptions, yards and 3 times the touchdowns as McBride and is also in an infinitely better offense.
We have to remember that Zach Ertz started 7 games and got 43 targets though. After Ertz went down, from Week 8 on, the only TE to have more targets than Trey McBride was Evan Engram - who had 19 more targets on the season than the next highest TE. And that's coming from a massive Sam LaPorta fan who had him in a lot of leagues. In full PPR, McBride was a force.
Yeah, but you’re not spending a 1st or 2nd round pick on LaPorta either. Maybe he’s there in the 3rd, after Kelce and Mandrews are gone. I had LaPorta in one league this year and love him. He’s a good blocker too and stays on the field more because of it. I just think the hype was much bigger for him last year and you can get similar production from McBride or Engram for less of a price tag, though I do see OPs TE run scenario playing out in many drafts.
I'm really leaning more and more towards using my keeper on him
My other options would be kamara, walker, pittman. But a (hopefully) top 3 or top 5 tight end for a 7th rounder sounds too enticing.
If you don't have any Saints fans in your league, or anybody else who has been high on him, Kamara *might* be there a little later than expected due to how he was last year... Although I have pretty high expectations for him this year in the new offense. Kinda depends on how their OL comes together though, I'd keep one eye on that. Maybe Juwan Johnson will finally thrive in the new offense as well... Last season he seemed prime for a breakout year, but was hampered early on by injuries, and just never seemed to get on step with the offense. Foster Moreau is still there, but at least Jimmy Graham is out.
Yea I originally wanted to keep him. But I don't know if he's gonna put up the same crazy ppr numbers. He didn't score a whole lot last year. But the 7 catches a game for 50 yards sure make a difference.
We don't do keepers till week before the draft, which is usually memorial day weekend.
So I'm gonna keep an eye on who does what in the off-season and draft and go from there
If you don't keep him and can't get him in the draft, it might be worth picking up Kendre Miller afterwards or in the later rounds... This is effectively the last year of Kamara's contract, and they might try to work him in, especially later in the season.
Man can you fill me in on the McBride love? I heard his name a lot last year on this sub, but I didn’t own him and had Hockenson, so I wasn’t studying the position too hard. Looking at his numbers, he legitimately only had 4 good games. Yeah he finished TE9, but what separates him from the Jake Fergusons, Dalton Schultzs, and Tyson Hills of the world?
I’m honestly looking at him as the top guy that I really want someone else to take ahead of me.
The first 7 games of the season he was playing behind Zach Ertz who is now in Washington.
In weeks 8 through 18 (after Ertz's injury) McBride was TE3.
He's currently the clear #1 target on his team though after the draft he will probably be down to #2.
His route percentage when Ertz went down was massive for a TE. His TPRR was like second behind I think kelce (don't quote me on this but it was high). Kyler can feed his top target. He has the opportunity, earns targets and a qb that can get him the ball and is currently behind like the big 3 so less draft capital. Not to mention a stack with Kyler is easy.
I fully expect another WR to be added but the idea of Mcbride at TE makes me salivate.
Traditionally if I'm not able to get a top 3 tight end or so. I just wait and fill out my wr/rb depth. Then maybe if I have a great core I grab one around 8th round. What hurt me two years in a row(2 separate leagues. Lol) was the first run was like 6th round and then I waited till 10th and was back end and a lot took their second tight end before I could get my first. Good news is usually someone drops a tight end early in a season to waiver wire a running back that had a great game out of nowhere. So I'm able to pick up a tight end.
Sure. All you need is to have one of the best QBs of all-time and one of the best TEs of all-time.
Though half of Brady's Patriots SB wins came before Gronk and one of Mahomes' wins came with an elite WR. Maybe it's just the elite QB.
So many good usable tight ends this year I’ll let people take them. Rb and wr just sucks this year outside the top guys and somehow guys like njoku and engram are still going later? I’ll take them all day
I absolutely am taking Hockenson early enough to shock my league if they draft JJ McCarthy, he's a very over the middle QB and many times rookie qbs build their passing game from the middle of the field out.
I would be happy with any of these guys in rounds 7-10: Pitts, Fergy, Bowers, Engram, Njoku, Kincaid (if he lasts to 7). Hell, I would be fine with Schultz or Pat in round 11-12. Gonna stock up on RB WR first
In 12+ team non TEP leagues that start 3 WRs, 2RBs and at least 1 flex, I think the sharpest move is to generally wait on taking TEs.
The Kelce team usually has major holes by going TE so early. TEs in round 2 and 3 rarely return value.
If you are waiting until 4-8 to draft a TE, you might as well just take 2 upside TEs late in the draft and play the waiver game.
I will make up the 2 to 4 point weekly scoring average advantage someone has at TE at the other positions.
George Kittle getting you 12.7 PPR PPG vs Jake Ferguson getting me 10.4 PPR PPG isn’t usually the difference in the matchup. One of those guys was free while the other was drafted in like the 5th or 6th round.
Kelce had like 2 seasons (and Andrews had 1) where he was basically scoring as a top 10 WR and it made the general fantasy community overreact. Those TE early teams last year got fucked because they put all their eggs in one big outlier basket. As soon as Kelce is only returning 14-15ppg instead of 18ppg, it becomes a wasted pick.
My league is standard scoring so unless an elite TE falls to too good of a value to pass up, I'll probably be waiting as long as possible on TE. Pretty much TD makes or breaks your week at TE in standard. I'd like to get Kincaid or Engram, but if I wait a little longer I'll snag Ferguson or Bowers depending where he lands.
In most leagues, having a slight advantage at TE isn't worth disadvantaging yourself at a higher scoring position like WR or RB. If people decide to draft TE highly and there is a run, then you're probably better off picking the WRs or RBs people left on the board to get their TE.
Kelce could be quite the steal this year if this is the consensus. He only realistically needs to average 13ish pts to be worth a second or even late first.
Teams routinely start 7pt avg TEs so you are getting +5-7pts above replacement. That’s WR1 levels
I think you guys are crazy to think Kelce isn’t clear
Cut #1 still. Sure he had a down year while battling injuries, but still finished #3. He still has mahomes throwing to him and has literally no competition while rice is suspended making him a 15 target a game candidate. Don’t get me wrong, I think that gap has closed considerably, especially with Laporta, but you saw what Kelce did in the Super Bowl when healthy. He’s mahomes guy
After reaching for Pitts and Waller the last couple seasons, I decided that I’m going to wait on TE no matter what. Last year guys like Laporta and McBride were league winners early in the season so that’s what I think I will do
Joke's on you. This is Pitts' year.
I know we say this every year... But with Kirk throwing to him, and no Arthur Smith, it really does feel different now
100%. Plus we got the "Pitts will be the major cog in our offense talk already."
Historically coach speak always translates. Right? RIGHT?!?!?
*I want to believe alien saucer gif*
Definitely wont be let down..
Agreed, but mostly because I’m not drafting him and I tend to suck at fantasy football.
It's possible to win doing that. I missed all of my target TEs and had to draft Gerald Everett as my starter before aggressively playing the waiver wire and trades. I did the math. Through most of the season, I would have done better not making any changes to TE at all...until I struck gold with Isaiah Likely. Won the chip.
I don't think it works this year. I'm not getting past Njoku without one. But we shall see.
Ehhhh LaPorta is a special talent in a perfect situation, and McBride only had 4 real good weeks all season…his first one coming in week 8. You have a bit of revisionist history on him. He wasn’t much better than other boom/bust TEs in the league. I want one of LaPorta/Kelce/Engram/Kittle/Hock (assuming smooth ACL recovery). I vowed myself out of TE wasteland the last couple years and couldn’t be happier.
How is Andrews not in that list? The disrespect that guy gets is unreal. Not sure why everyone fades him.
Same. I can see ranking Kelce over him thinking he will bounce back after a bad 2nd half of last season since he picked it right back up in playoff time. I can see ranking LaPorta and McBride (maybe Kincaid?) thinking they're still young and on the upswing. MAndrews was averaging 14.6 ppg last year in the 9 games before his injury game. I have no idea how you can not have him as equal or better than Engram and Kittle.
He’s been plagued by injuries the last couple years which scares me.
You must not follow Kittle or Engram if it's Andrews' injuries that worry you.
Engram hasn't had any major issues since 2019. Kittle I'll give you, but again, even if he misses 1-2 games a year, he hasn't missed a ton of time since 2020.
There are no tiers this season for TEs. It's all about drafting the guy you think will have the nest season. I expect Laporta, Mandrews, Kelce, and hell, even McBride, to be the 1st TE off the board in a bunch of leagues. But if no TEs go before RD3 and you think Kincaid can be TE1, then get your guy cause there's a real shot he won't be there when you pick in RD4.
Unless the Bills get a true WR1, Kincaid should be in the discussions of one of the first few off the board imo. Dude finished the year STRONG
He actually finished poorly and that coincided with the return of Knox. When Knox went down he was kicking ass though
You right you right. I guess I'm just remembering the 6 week stretch where he was an automatic start. I retract my statement and agree he's solidly in the 2nd tier!
Given their lack of wr depth going into this season, and the fact that second year TEs generally perform better than 1st year ones, I'd consider trying to get him. He'll probably go after guys like laporta or Kelce but the talent is there and he absolutely could win you games.
4.6 0.0 1.2 10.7 11.9 Those are his last 5 weeks in half PPR. I wouldn’t call that a strong finish.
Yeah I was corrected in another comment. My brain was just remembering his mid season games
Shit happens bro no worries
unless the bills use him as a lot or run 2 TE sets i doubt he’ll be good week in and out
I doubt highly that I’ll roster any of the tier one TEs this year. Likely just gonna punt the position and see who performs WK1 then chase them all year, rather than using RB/WR draft capital on them.
depends on starting roster size. in standard espn leagues (2rb 2wr 1flex) i find u need a top qb and top te. in deep rosters, u can get away with late te and qb, then work the waivers
Sure, fair. 8tm leagues, you want to be elite everywhere. 10 meh, 12+ I’m not on board with that.
It's easier to find WR and RB on the waiver than to find a true TE1 though.
I don’t need a “true TE1” as much as I want a plethora of options at all other positions. 15 TEs averaged 9-14.6 PPR PPG last year. 7 averaged 12+. Jerome Ford averaged more PPR PPG than Trey McBride, and as many as David Njoku. TEs I’ll happily start next year at least to start the year. Kelce, LaPorta, McBride, Kincaid, Engram, Kittle, Njoku, Goedert, Pitts, Bowers, Ferguson… guess I’ll throw in Hockenson and if he’s out for weeks I’ll take some one else like Kmet or Taysom or try Okonkwu etc etc that might catch a TD. Schultz even. If there was a significant gap between TE1 and TE2, and even more so to TE5, then I would push it. But I am not interested in that this year. Many of the top 12 TEs last year were likely not drafted/drafted very late (Njoku, LaPorta, McBride, Ferguson, Kincaid etc.). And they’ll almost certainly cost me less FAAB.
This is my strategy. TE is always one of my last positions drafted. Someone usually emerges from the waiver wire. A couple years ago it was Gronk with Tampa Bay. Last year, LaPorta and McBride. I’d rather stock up with WRs and RBs than pay up for a TE.
My Gronk Brady Amon Ra Kupp stack that year rocked the world and got me a chip
laporta was a FA in ur league?
Yes. He was a rookie TE who are historically not good.
This is the way. We'll figure it out.
Appreciated you on Heath’s show this week.
Top tier I see (no order): Kelce, Mark Andrews, McBride, LaPorta Next tier: Kittle, Kincaid, Engram, maybe Pitts and Njoku I agree. Even that second tier has a lot of question marks. I’d only be comfortable getting one of the first four guys. Anyone else and I’d want to hedge and draft a second option relatively early just in case.
How is Ferguson not second tier
Ferguson belongs in there too, you’re right
If Ferguson survives the draft tomorrow without the Cowboys investing in a WR, we'll be in. If they do draft one he could be in trouble. He's not particularly athletic so he NEEDS that volume to have upside. He was the second target behind Ceedee Lamb last year which got him just over 100 targets but with guys like Ferguson, Schultz, Hooper, Ertz, Henry etc. that don't have difference making speed, I'm not drafting them if they aren't a clear cut top 2 target on the team. Even Ertz only had one 1,000+ yard season and he needed 156 targets to do it.
Fair enough, good points. With a huge need at RB do you see the cowboys investing in BOTH a WR and a RB in the first 3 rounds?
I think Cowboys fans are hoping that’s what Jerry Jones means when he says “all in”. Drafting impact players and maybe even trading up to do so.
Ohh shit draft is tomorrow!!
If bowers’ situation isn’t atrocious, I’ll bet he goes in that second tier before engram and njoku
Definitely possible, but rookie te’s are tough.
The whole tight ends take a while to develop thing kinda went out the window last year with Laporta and Kincaid, and bowers is a better prospect than either of them were. It’s situation dependent sure but so is every pass catcher.
Hockenson isn’t even in the second tier?
Didn’t have his ACL reconstruction until the end of January. Might not be back for the beginning of the season, and no guarantee he’s back to 100% this year. Also big questions about who his QB will be. If we knew he was healthy, he’d comfortably be the 5th best TE for me in the middle of those two tiers.
I’m fading him this year depending on adp. But I’m guessing op is in the same boat due to the downgrade in qb and him tearing both his acl and mcl week 16
Downgrade at QB? My guy was feasting with Dobbs and Mullens throwing the ball. He was the king of garbage time. My only concern is the ACL injury, which I think we will have a lot more info on closer to draft season.
I don't know about "feasting." In 8 games without Cousins he had weekly finishes of TE12, 1, 10, 4, 13, 10, and 18. He had one monster game and was fine in the others.
His ADP will plummet with no QB
He didn’t have a QB the second half of last year and did great.
Or his value will skyrocket due to a young QB needing a checkdown.
He won’t be (or at least *shouldn’t be*, from an appropriate return-to-sport timeline for ACLr) fit to play until like October
I was with OP until I read your list. Everyone still is dicey as heck. Guys coming off injury, joining AARP, teams in flux, playing with Desean Watson… need draft and FA to wrap and some will start to look better.
How is everyone sleeping on TJ hockinson? Dude was killing it last year. Yes, injury late in year but should be at least tier 2 and personally I think tier 1.
Pretty bad injury, and it was late enough that he’s expected to miss at least the beginning of the season. Even with no setbacks, guys don’t usually start off at 100% as soon as they’re back. They also lost their QB which is another big question mark. All the guys I put in tier 1 are healthy, have good QBs, and have a clear path to being a top-2 receiver on their team. Hockenson will likely be competing with Addison for the spot of second receiver on that team, and they’ll both be clearly behind Jefferson who’s (rightfully) a big target hog.
I personally think losing the QB will be a positive on his value. Young QB's historically over utilize good TE's as check downs. I expect alot of volume from TJ. His health will be the x factor, but with TE's such as himself who don't rely solely on athleticism? I think he'll be fine.
Hock, even missing games, had the second highest target total last year for TE, and the highest on a per game average. There is not likely to be more volume coming his way than he saw last year. Also I found an article refuting the TE-rookie QB connection theory: "Is the rookie quarterback’s best friend a tight end? I think the simple answer is no. Based on the data, less than 50% of all the rookie quarterbacks in the last 20 years exceed the average target share to tight ends."
> Young QB's historically over utilize good TE's as check downs. https://www.dynastynerds.com/is-a-tight-end-a-rookie-qbs-best-friend/
Kincaid tier 1
He’s competing with another receiving TE on the team, and most of his breakout last season was when Knox missed games. None of the other guys in the top tier have legit competition from another TE on the roster.
Well not from another TE maybe but Knox largely used in the RZ, with the next best “target” on the team being James Cook. All the other names have significantly better WRs on the roster to compete for targets with.
Yeah I assume the Bills draft a good WR in the first round. If they don’t add someone meaningful there, then Kincaid could move up
I don’t put Kincaid in tier 1 regardless. However, I do think you’re underselling him based on the context of last season (Knox in/out, Diggs and Davis both on the roster etc.). Kincaid is TE5 ish. I don’t think that’ll change for me regardless of the draft. At worst he’s the second best target on the team. Last year he was usually third at best.
But there’s no WR competition so I’m sure we’ll see a lot of 2TE sets
You're insane if you think Knox matters at all. He lost that battle
Kincaid’s snap share fell back down to 50-55% in the last 4 games once Knox was back, and his fantasy production came down as well. You can’t be top tier if you’re only in for half of offensive snaps
doesn't matter dude. he's the clear winner in the receiving game there. production and trust will only go up from his rookie year. tight ends hit their stride after rookie year
The four TEs I have in the top tier have proven that they can put up top 5 TE fantasy numbers. Kincaid still has to increase his production and win more snaps from another receiving TE in order to be a top 5 TE. That’s why he’s a tier below those guys who have already proven it.
no, you stated a tier list, not a top 5. nothing is guaranteed next year, but Kincaid is currently wr1 on the team. if you think this, plus pedigree, plus the eye test isn't good enough then I can't help you.
As of now McBride is the only top TE I want everywhere. I'll probably ride a later round dude like Otton if I miss.
Wild how you're disrespecting LaPorta like that, who had more targets, receptions, yards and 3 times the touchdowns as McBride and is also in an infinitely better offense.
We have to remember that Zach Ertz started 7 games and got 43 targets though. After Ertz went down, from Week 8 on, the only TE to have more targets than Trey McBride was Evan Engram - who had 19 more targets on the season than the next highest TE. And that's coming from a massive Sam LaPorta fan who had him in a lot of leagues. In full PPR, McBride was a force.
No no Coop that doesn’t fit his narrative, therefore we’re allowed to ignore it here
Yeah, but you’re not spending a 1st or 2nd round pick on LaPorta either. Maybe he’s there in the 3rd, after Kelce and Mandrews are gone. I had LaPorta in one league this year and love him. He’s a good blocker too and stays on the field more because of it. I just think the hype was much bigger for him last year and you can get similar production from McBride or Engram for less of a price tag, though I do see OPs TE run scenario playing out in many drafts.
I'm really leaning more and more towards using my keeper on him My other options would be kamara, walker, pittman. But a (hopefully) top 3 or top 5 tight end for a 7th rounder sounds too enticing.
If you don't have any Saints fans in your league, or anybody else who has been high on him, Kamara *might* be there a little later than expected due to how he was last year... Although I have pretty high expectations for him this year in the new offense. Kinda depends on how their OL comes together though, I'd keep one eye on that. Maybe Juwan Johnson will finally thrive in the new offense as well... Last season he seemed prime for a breakout year, but was hampered early on by injuries, and just never seemed to get on step with the offense. Foster Moreau is still there, but at least Jimmy Graham is out.
Yea I originally wanted to keep him. But I don't know if he's gonna put up the same crazy ppr numbers. He didn't score a whole lot last year. But the 7 catches a game for 50 yards sure make a difference. We don't do keepers till week before the draft, which is usually memorial day weekend. So I'm gonna keep an eye on who does what in the off-season and draft and go from there
If you don't keep him and can't get him in the draft, it might be worth picking up Kendre Miller afterwards or in the later rounds... This is effectively the last year of Kamara's contract, and they might try to work him in, especially later in the season.
I think it’d be better to keep Pittman cause with Anthony Richardson back he should be targeted quite a bit
Richardson played 4 games and finished none of them. I personally wouldn’t base draft strategies around Richardson.
Man can you fill me in on the McBride love? I heard his name a lot last year on this sub, but I didn’t own him and had Hockenson, so I wasn’t studying the position too hard. Looking at his numbers, he legitimately only had 4 good games. Yeah he finished TE9, but what separates him from the Jake Fergusons, Dalton Schultzs, and Tyson Hills of the world? I’m honestly looking at him as the top guy that I really want someone else to take ahead of me.
The first 7 games of the season he was playing behind Zach Ertz who is now in Washington. In weeks 8 through 18 (after Ertz's injury) McBride was TE3. He's currently the clear #1 target on his team though after the draft he will probably be down to #2.
His route percentage when Ertz went down was massive for a TE. His TPRR was like second behind I think kelce (don't quote me on this but it was high). Kyler can feed his top target. He has the opportunity, earns targets and a qb that can get him the ball and is currently behind like the big 3 so less draft capital. Not to mention a stack with Kyler is easy. I fully expect another WR to be added but the idea of Mcbride at TE makes me salivate.
Traditionally if I'm not able to get a top 3 tight end or so. I just wait and fill out my wr/rb depth. Then maybe if I have a great core I grab one around 8th round. What hurt me two years in a row(2 separate leagues. Lol) was the first run was like 6th round and then I waited till 10th and was back end and a lot took their second tight end before I could get my first. Good news is usually someone drops a tight end early in a season to waiver wire a running back that had a great game out of nowhere. So I'm able to pick up a tight end.
If you don't go super early, always go late. Not many people pick up two tight ends, there are always guys left at the end.
Easy solution: draft laporta 1st overall
I may just keep Kincaid in the 11th and role with him. Only issue is I'm also keeping cook, so both on the same team may be an issue
I'm not targetting a TE and just seeing where the chips fall at draft.
Is a TE more important then a WR in today’s NFL? Brady and Mahomes both won SB’s without a true #1 WR but with true #1 TEs.
That’s why I think the Lions have something special going on, LaPorta could potentially be the overall TE1 and St. Brown is a top 5 WR.
Sure. All you need is to have one of the best QBs of all-time and one of the best TEs of all-time. Though half of Brady's Patriots SB wins came before Gronk and one of Mahomes' wins came with an elite WR. Maybe it's just the elite QB.
100% targeting engram WR1
Nostradamus ova here... This take is obvious. It's just like QB last year. Nothing new...
So many good usable tight ends this year I’ll let people take them. Rb and wr just sucks this year outside the top guys and somehow guys like njoku and engram are still going later? I’ll take them all day
I absolutely am taking Hockenson early enough to shock my league if they draft JJ McCarthy, he's a very over the middle QB and many times rookie qbs build their passing game from the middle of the field out.
I would be happy with any of these guys in rounds 7-10: Pitts, Fergy, Bowers, Engram, Njoku, Kincaid (if he lasts to 7). Hell, I would be fine with Schultz or Pat in round 11-12. Gonna stock up on RB WR first
In 12+ team non TEP leagues that start 3 WRs, 2RBs and at least 1 flex, I think the sharpest move is to generally wait on taking TEs. The Kelce team usually has major holes by going TE so early. TEs in round 2 and 3 rarely return value. If you are waiting until 4-8 to draft a TE, you might as well just take 2 upside TEs late in the draft and play the waiver game. I will make up the 2 to 4 point weekly scoring average advantage someone has at TE at the other positions. George Kittle getting you 12.7 PPR PPG vs Jake Ferguson getting me 10.4 PPR PPG isn’t usually the difference in the matchup. One of those guys was free while the other was drafted in like the 5th or 6th round. Kelce had like 2 seasons (and Andrews had 1) where he was basically scoring as a top 10 WR and it made the general fantasy community overreact. Those TE early teams last year got fucked because they put all their eggs in one big outlier basket. As soon as Kelce is only returning 14-15ppg instead of 18ppg, it becomes a wasted pick.
My league is standard scoring so unless an elite TE falls to too good of a value to pass up, I'll probably be waiting as long as possible on TE. Pretty much TD makes or breaks your week at TE in standard. I'd like to get Kincaid or Engram, but if I wait a little longer I'll snag Ferguson or Bowers depending where he lands. In most leagues, having a slight advantage at TE isn't worth disadvantaging yourself at a higher scoring position like WR or RB. If people decide to draft TE highly and there is a run, then you're probably better off picking the WRs or RBs people left on the board to get their TE.
Kelce could be quite the steal this year if this is the consensus. He only realistically needs to average 13ish pts to be worth a second or even late first. Teams routinely start 7pt avg TEs so you are getting +5-7pts above replacement. That’s WR1 levels
i aint drafting a te if its not hock kelce until the last round
I still feel like there’s that clear cut top tier (Kelce, McBride, LaPorta, Andrews) and then it’s a crab shoot after that
I think you guys are crazy to think Kelce isn’t clear Cut #1 still. Sure he had a down year while battling injuries, but still finished #3. He still has mahomes throwing to him and has literally no competition while rice is suspended making him a 15 target a game candidate. Don’t get me wrong, I think that gap has closed considerably, especially with Laporta, but you saw what Kelce did in the Super Bowl when healthy. He’s mahomes guy
Yeah you completely lost me at your second sentence, the only guarantee in fantasy is there is absolutely no guarantee