Host Bobby LaMarco is joined by Matt Stiles, and Keelin Billue to discuss their must-have NFL tight ends for 2022 fantasy football. Tune into the podcast or check out the article below on the five must-have tight ends for 2022 fantasy football. Don’t forget to check out where all these players are currently being drafted over on the Razzball ADP tool.Â
Razzball Writer(s): Mitch Staniger and Keelin Billue
Must Have Player: Dalton Schultz
Current ADP: 62nd OverallÂ
Mitch Staniger: Hindsight being 20/20, I could have written my Top 6 versus my Top 5 because I think Dalton Schultz makes the jump this season and finishes as a Top 5/6 TE. Missing out on the Top 5, while (hopefully) loading up at RB/WR, maybe a blessing in disguise if you pounce on Schultz. Dak and Schultz appear to have a great rapport and Schultz is playing on the franchise tag, basically playing for a large contract in 2023. The Dallas offense is well-rounded with CeeDee and the two headed RB monster, but I think Dak looks for Schultz more often this season. Playing in a winnable division with weak defenses, look for Schultz to thrive.
Keelin Billue: Dak Prescott’s return from his dislocated ankle helped Dalton Schultz have his breakout season in 2021. Schultz finished with 17 games with 78 receptions on 104 targets for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. In terms of fantasy, only three other tight ends have finished with more points than Schultz in 2021 since 2020: Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, and Darren Waller. The Cowboys have picked up players that show they intend to continue focusing on a passing offense. The recent departure of Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns and the host of ailing (Michael Gallup) and flailing (Ezekiel Elliott) Cowboys means that Schultz may become an even bigger target for Dak Prescott.
Razzball Writer: Mitch Staniger
Must Have Player: Isaiah Likely
Current ADP: UndraftedÂ
Isaiah Likely is a four-year starter from a small school (Coastal Carolina senior year: 59 catches for 912 yards and 12 TDs) that Lamar Jackson loves and that is certainly better than Devin Duvernay. I look for the Ravens to continue to be somewhat run first (Dobbins and Lamar) with Bateman seeing the most WR targets followed by Andrews and Likely as the second and third options. The best part about these two players is you can wait until the third to last round to pick either. Then your last two picks are spent on kicker and defense.
Razzball Writer: Keelin Billue
Must Have Player: T.J. Hockenson
Current ADP: 73rd OverallÂ
Since TJ Hockenson joined the Detroit Lions in 2019, he has been through a lot with injuries and staffing continuity. In 2021, Hockenson was on his way to a career year when he suffered a season-ending thumb injury that required surgery. Although he only played in 12 games, Hockenson finished the season 9th in receptions. As the Lions entered their second year with Dan Campbell after Matt Patricia’s departure, former tight ends coach Ben Johnson was promoted to Offensive Coordinator with Tanner Engstrand taking over as the Tight Ends coach. Although there were still some staffing changes, Hockenson has spoken to the media about feeling more comfortable with the coaching staff and the growth of the team. If Hockenson can stay healthy, we might finally see him get his career year.
Razzball Writer: Bobby LaMarco
Must Have Player: Zach Ertz
Current ADP: 98th OverallÂ
Zach Ertz saw a bit of a resurgence in 2021 after his trade to Arizona. In the 11 games, he played with the Cardinals last season Ertz averaged a solid 69% catch rate on 7.1 yards per target. Both these marks were the highest since 2018. Ertz didn’t disappoint for fantasy as his 11.9 PPR PPG in those 11 games would have made him the WR7 in 2021. A big boost for Ertz will be the loss of star WR DeAndre Hopkins for the first six weeks. In the games without Hopkins last season, Ertz’s PPG jumped to 13.8 PPR PPG. That would have put him right behind Rob Gronkowski and George Kittle and way ahead of Dalton Shultz as the TE5.
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Razzball Writer: Bobby LaMarco
Must Have Player: David Njoku
Current ADP: 159th Overall
David Njoku has everything you are looking for when trying to find a breakout tight end. He’s got an elite profile scoring in the 80th and 90th percentile in speed and athletic scores over on playerprofiler.com. As a former first-round pick, Njoku has a higher likelihood of breaking out due to his draft capital. People forget Njoku has flashed as a pro finishing as a top 10 tight end back in 2018. Now Njoku looks to be the clear #1 tight end once again in Cleveland after playing nearly every snap with the first-team offense this preseason. Last season when playing at least 64% of snaps, Njoku averaged 10.3 PPR PPG. That production would have made Njoku the TE13 in PPR PPG in 2021.
Sources: Razzball.com, Playerprofiler, PFF, Football Outsiders, FFToday, Pro Football Reference and Sharp
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