Tight End Tiers, Targets, and Players to Avoid

Photo: Ken Blaze, USA Today Sports

With most to all training camps practices in the books, it’s time to review our tiers and players to target, consider, and avoid at ADP. Let’s review what we’ve learned in the last few weeks and how it has changed our approach to tight ends in our fantasy drafts.

The TE1

Travis Kelce, KC

CONSIDER AT ADP: Kelce

Nothing has changed in Kelce’s outlook, but he has gone from target to consider at ADP because some of the secondary options at the position have brighter outlooks, and the crop of potential late-round tight ends is growing.

The TE2

Mark Andrews, BAL

TARGET AT ADP: Andrews

Since camp opened, the Ravens offense has delivered on the promise of a faster pace and more pass-happy split. We have also seen first-round pick Zay Flowers garner rave reviews, Odell Beckham has stayed healthy, and Rashod Bateman has finally gotten activated from the PUP list. So Andrews’ surrounding offensive environment will be improved, but so will his competition for targets. It’s still safe to assume that Andrews will be the top target in this offense, and Andrews outscored Kelce only two years ago. If you draw a mid-first, Andrews in the second is probably the better Plan A than Kelce in the first.

MID-ROUND OPTIONS - HIGH FLOOR

George Kittle, SF
T.J. Hockenson, MIN
Dallas Goedert, PHI

AVOID AT ADP: Hockenson
CONSIDER AT ADP: Kittle, Goedert

Kittle in a tier apart from the mid-round options was nice while it lasted. He suffered an adductor strain last week in camp, and while it is only expected to sideline him for a week, it means the injury seal is broken after he finally had a healthy offseason. With Brock Purdy the clear QB1 for the 49ers, Kittle is still the TE3 on our boards, but he doesn’t have the same level ceiling as TE4/TE5 (Darren Waller and Kyle Pitts), and the specter of injuries causing him to miss time or limiting his production looms large once again. Hockenson hasn’t been practicing for over a week. While some thought it was due to his contract situation (he’s a free agent next year), the team says it is an illness. Either way, it doesn’t materially change his ranking, but he’s overrated as a top-five pick at tight end. Goedert has had a terrific camp, and there’s an argument for him at TE3. He’s an ascendent player, and while targeting him in fantasy drafts isn’t in fashion right now, the folks who do take him could be very happy if he hits his peak as a 28-year-old.

MID-ROUND OPTIONS - HIGH CEILING

Darren Waller, NYG
Kyle Pitts, ATL

TARGET AT ADP: Waller, Pitts

If you were in on either of these tight ends when camp opened, nothing that has happened since then has made you shy away. If anything, you should be even more certain of this tier as the most likely place for a top 3 tight end drafted at TE5 or later to come from. Waller has been the clear #1 target for Daniel Jones and one of the stories of Giants training camp. Pitts has rounded into form after recovering from knee surgery, and more than one person has come away from Falcons camp believing he is on the verge of a breakout season. Either one at ADP is a good Plan A at tight end.

TE1 PURGATORY

David Njoku, CLE
Evan Engram, JAX
Pat Freiermuth, PIT

CONSIDER AT ADP: Njoku
AVOID AT ADP: Engram, Freiermuth

A few things have changed in this tier since camp opened. David Njoku has looked "unstoppable," according to at least one beat writer, although that could be at least partially due to the Browns' troubles covering tight ends. Njoku is clearly the most likely member of this tier to ascend either way. Freiermuth has been as reliable as ever, but it appears third-round pick Darnell Washington will be the clear TE2 and a presence in the red zone, capping Freiermuth’s upside.