As we get to the weeks that are usually past the trade deadline in dynasty leagues (I am in one without a trade deadline, which is fun, but crazy during the playoffs when teams get into arms races), it’s time to look ahead to next year and target speculative players to fill end of the bench spots when we are eliminated from the playoffs. We’ll go position-by-position over the next four weeks and separate players out into Snorkel, Scuba, and Submarine levels to serve dynasty players of all levels. This week, the always intriguing longshots can and do hit position of tight end.
Snorkel
Irv Smith, MIN - Smith was poised to step up in the Vikings offense before a knee injury ended his 2021 before it started. Make sure he wasn’t dropped in your dynasty league.
Foster Moreau, LV - Moreau has been a solid fantasy play in three of his four starts in place of Darren Waller and his play should make him a bigger part of the Raiders plans in 2022. In 2023, he’ll be a free agent and projects as a starter.
Donald Parham, LAC - Parham has a chance to start in 2022 as the Chargers will be able to retain the 2019 undrafted free agent for cheap as an ERFA. The skyscraper-sized passcatcher has shown his speed will translate in the NFL after being an XFL star in 2020. Jared Cook is only signed to a one-year deal, so he probably won’t be in Parham’s way next year.
David Njoku, CLE - Njoku still pops as one of the best athletes in the NFL at tight end at times, but the Browns offense hasn’t given him the volume of snaps or targets to iron out inconsistency or otherwise hit his ceiling. He’s only 25 entering his sixth season and free agency in 2022.
Brevin Jordan, HOU - Jordan has had a good rookie season by most standards, and he will get to build on his chemistry with fellow rookie Davis Mills, who looks almost certain to be the 2022 Week 1 starter at quarterback for the Texans. He should move into a bigger role next year and potentially move into fantasy TE1 territory.
Kylen Granson, IND - Frank Reich loves Granson, who didn’t have quite the rookie impact that the offseason hype would have indicated, but Mo Alie-Cox is a free agent next year and T.Y Hilton also probably won’t be back with the team, so there should be some more targets shaking free for Reich to show why he was so enamored with the pass catching specialist.
Jacob Harris, LAR - Harris was a preseason favorite of the Rams coaching staff. He profiles more as a big downfield wide receiver than a tight end, and he should allow Sean McVay to have fun with personnel packages once he is ready for the rigors of the NFL.
O.J. Howard, TB - Howard hasn’t done much in his return from an achilles tear, but he is playing and he should be closer to his hyperathletic form this offseason as he enters free agency.
Scuba
Tommy Tremble, CAR - Tremble was good enough as a third round rookie to give the Panthers an opening to trade Dan Arnold. He has a similar profile to Will Dissly - he profiles better as a blocker, but has the physical traits to eventually be a core part of the pass offense as a receiver.
Harrison Bryant, CLE - Austin Hooper isn’t going anywhere and the Browns have a low volume pass offense that uses multiple tight ends, but it is easy to be impressed by what we have seen of Bryant in his first two years. The 23-year old looks smooth and athletic as a downfield receiver with bigber things coming to those who wait in fantasy leagues.
Albert Okwuegbunam, DEN - It has been a bumpy first two years for the 2020 fourth-round pick, and it certainly doesn’t look like his college quarterback, Drew Lock, is going to seize the starting job for Denver. Okwuegbunam is every bit the athlete than 2019 first-round pick Noah Fant is, and perhaps more skilled. If the Broncos bring in a Rodgers/Wilson level quarterback this offseason, Okwuegbunam will become more interesting, and it’s possible that he could overtake Fant in the team’s future plans.
Mo Alie-Cox, IND - Will another team give the basketball convert more opportunity in free agency? He’s proven that he can be a big play tight end and he has the size to be more of a force in the red zone. He’s entering his fifth year in the league but his game still has room to grow.
Adam Trautman, NO - Trautman hasn’t exactly flashed with a larger opportunity in his second season, but he also hasn’t had much of a functional pass offense around him to allow him to shine. He’s very athletic and still ramping up after coming to the NFL from the University of Dayton. If the Saints can get their quarterback issues worked out, Trautman could hit sooner than later.
Submarine
Tyree Jackson, PHI - Jackson made the team this year despite being a project at tight end, a sign that the team sees something in the former quarterback. His measureables (6’7” 249, 4.59 40, 34.5” vertical, 10’ broad, 7.09 three cone, 4.28 short shuttle) make him an elite athlete among NFL tight ends, and he has the advantage of having played quarterback to understand offensive football even better. He would be following in the footsteps of Logan Thomas if he makes a successful transition.
Sammis Reyes, WAS - Reyes is another elite athlete, who just needs seasoning at the position. He was a college basketball player who the Football Team signed to a free agent contract with a signing bonus around the 4th/5th round level to show their value of him. He made the team and has gotten on the field this year, a good sign of his ability to develop down the line.
Josh Oliver, BAL - Oliver has been able to stay healthy and keep his roster spot in a turnaround from the trend earlier in his career after the Jaguars made him a third round pick. Mark Andrews is holding down the tight end position in Baltimore, but Oliver will be a free agent in 2023 and could get a longer look elsewhere.
Noah Gray, KC - The Chiefs love Gray, who has mixed in on offense earlier than expected after the team took him in the fifth round. He could be groomed as the eventual replacement for Travis Kelce, which will be a valuable spot, even if it takes 3-4 years to realize the value.
Tre’ McKitty, LAC - McKitty is more of a raw project, but with good speed and pass catching skills to build on. The Chargers spent a third round pick on McKitty so they must believe in him and he could eventually become the #1 tight end for Justin Herbert.
Hunter Long, MIA - Long got banged up in training camp, so the third-round pick hasn’t had a big role as a rookie, but with Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe entering free agency, the dependable receiver should have a chance to do more for Miami.
Kenny Yeboah, NYJ - Yeboah made the team as an undrafted free agent (eventually), which is all you can ask from the pass catching talent who resembles a wide receiver in his play at times. The Jets have no entrenched tight end for him to have to overtake in 2022 to have a role in the offense.
