Welcome to my bi-weekly tight end rankings update. Each fortnight I’ll take you through the major movers and shakers in fantasy tight end-land as we head towards the NFL off-season. This week I’ll be talking about tight ends who have signed or been released so far in free agency, while my full rankings are at the bottom of the article and you can check out my other positional rankings at www.ffdfantasyfootball.com. If you have any questions, comment below plus I answer all questions on Instagram @thefantasyfirstdown and Twitter @FantasyFirstDwn.
- Player: Dalton Schultz
- Team: Houston Texans
- My Ranking: TE13
Two weeks ago I extolled the virtues of Dalton Schultz as a vital component in CJ Stroud’s stunning rookie season. The Texans clearly agreed as they signed Schultz to a 3 year, $36 million contract. This is on the high side but given the available free agents, I think it was the right move to re-sign a solid tight end entering his prime. Schultz has moved one step up in my rankings but not because of this signing. Rather, it’s in response to this next guy…
- Player: Darren Waller
- Team: New York Giants
- My Ranking: TE15
One of the more surprising stories of free agency so far has been the news that Darren Waller is contemplating retirement. At only 31-years-old, this is a surprise. Waller looked promising in the 2023 pre-season but he recently discussed not having the fire to keep competing plus his long list of recent injuries can’t have helped. He’s at best a late-round dart throw in redraft at this stage and somebody I’d be looking to sell in dynasty.
- Player: Hunter Henry
- Team: New England Patriots
- My Ranking: TE16
This Patriots franchise is just a shadow of what it was during the Brady years, as they continue to give mediocre pass-catchers large contracts. This reached a climax in 2022 when they were paying the 2nd most money to wide receivers and the most money to tight ends across the whole league, only to finish 21st in passing yards. Things have settled down since the crazy Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne contracts, but over the next two seasons the Pats will still pay free agency bust Juju Smith-Schuster $20 million and washed receiver Devante Parker $13 million. I hoped that after the departure of Bill Belichick, things might change. Unfortunately, they’ve reverted to their old ways, signing Hunter Henry to a 3 year, $27 million contract.
While we don’t yet know the specifics, spending up on a mediocre tight end entering his age-30 season is utter stupidity when this roster is clearly years from challenging. Large tight end contracts rarely pay off. Having said that, this is still good for Henry’s fantasy owners. With no receivers to challenge his volume and a rookie in Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye at the helm, Henry should have a busy 2024. If Maye is the man, I will move Henry even higher, if it’s Daniels I’ll be concerned about his tendency to use his legs over check-downs. Watch this space.
- Player: Jonnu Smith
- Team: Miami Dolphins
- My Ranking: TE27
Jonnu Smith being released by the Falcons wasn’t surprising, but the Dolphins quickly picking him up wasn’t what I expected. The Dolphins have been struggling away with the league’s weakest tight end corps for years and this doesn’t move that dial too far. While I think Smith is an upgrade over Durham Smythe, I doubt he’ll be a significant fantasy weapon. He’ll have the occasional positive week, as Smythe did, but I think this could, if anything, be a scary committee. I’m not touching either of this guys with a 10-foot pole, especially if a rookie joins the fray next month.
- Player: Zach Ertz
- Team: Washington Commanders
- My Ranking: TE38
I’m not buying this move for fantasy at all. Ertz will turn 34 later this year and hasn’t shown the capacity to be a consistently fantasy-relevant player in over 5 years. While he showed sparks early in his Cardinals stint, they were few and far between. He’s been oft injured and struggled when on the field so for me, I think this is a depth signing to offer some cheap experience in what is the league’s poorest tight end room even with Ertz there.
- Player: Logan Thomas
- Team: Formerly Washington Commanders
- My Ranking: TE33
Two weeks ago I warned that Logan Thomas was a possible cap casualty and that’s exactly what happened, with the Commanders doing what the Patriots should have done and letting go of their expensive, aging veteran for a cheaper model before they pick up a new quarterback. Thomas will be totally irrelevant to fantasy unless he manages to sign somewhere as a starter, and I think that’s unlikely. I also don’t think you should be picking up Zach Ertz, John Bates or Cole Turner in fantasy just yet.
| Download Table as CSV | |||
| Note: Filters and sorting in the table below apply to the output | |||
| # | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Sam LaPorta | DET | |
| Mark Andrews | BAL | |
| Travis Kelce | KC | |
| Trey McBride | ARI | |
| David Njoku | CLE | |
| George Kittle | SF | |
| Evan Engram | JAC | |
| Kyle Pitts | ATL | |
| Dalton Kincaid | BUF | |
| Dallas Goedert | PHI | |
| Jake Ferguson | DAL | |
| Dalton Schultz | HOU | |
| Cole Kmet | CHI | |
| T.J. Hockenson | MIN | |
| Darren Waller | NYG | |
| Hunter Henry | NE | |
| Brock Bowers | FA | |
| Michael Mayer | LV | |
| Pat Freiermuth | PIT | |
| Luke Musgrave | GB | |
| Cade Otton | TB | |
| Juwan Johnson | NO | |
| Noah Fant | SEA | |
| Chigoziem Okonkwo | TEN | |
| Tucker Kraft | GB | |
| Jonnu Smith | MIA | |
| Tyler Higbee | LAR | |
| Gerald Everett | CHI | |
| Isaiah Likely | BAL | |
| Ja’Tavion Sanders | FA | |
| Taysom Hill | NO | |
| Tyler Conklin | NYJ | |
| Logan Thomas | FA | |
| Greg Dulcich | DEN | |
| Dawson Knox | BUF | |
| Mike Gesicki | CIN | |
| Jelani Woods | IND | |
| Zach Ertz | WAS | |
| Hayden Hurst | LAC | |
| Tommy Tremble | CAR | |
| Jeremy Ruckert | NYJ | |
| Tanner Hudson | CIN | |
| Donald Parham Jr. | LAC | |
| Durham Smythe | MIA | |
| Colby Parkinson | LAR | |
| Davis Allen | LAR | |
| Brevin Jordan | HOU | |
| Noah Gray | KC | |
| Will Dissly | LAC | |
| Kylen Granson | IND | |
| Will Mallory | IND | |
| Austin Hooper | NE | |
| Robert Tonyan | CHI | |
| Daniel Bellinger | NYG | |
| Adam Trautman | DEN | |
| Elijah Higgins | ARI | |
| Johnny Mundt | MIN | |
| Connor Heyward | PIT | |
| Teagan Quitoriano | HOU | |
| Foster Moreau | NO | |
| Cole Turner | WAS | |
| Luke Schoonmaker | DAL | |
| Harrison Bryant | LV | |
| Lucas Krull | DEN | |
| Stone Smartt | LAC | |
| Pharaoh Brown | SEA | |
| Charlie Woerner | ATL | |
| Irv Smith Jr. | KC | |
| Drew Sample | CIN | |
| Darnell Washington | PIT | |
| Payne Durham | TB | |
| John Bates | WAS | |
| Josh Oliver | MIN | |
| Josh Whyle | TEN | |
| Jordan Akins | CLE | |
| Grant Calcaterra | PHI | |
| Brock Wright | DET | |
| Brenton Strange | JAC | |
| Geoff Swaim | ARI | |
| Peyton Hendershot | DAL | |
| Hunter Long | LAR | |
| Julian Hill | MIA | |
| James Mitchell | DET | |
| Mo Alie-Cox | IND | |
| Cameron Latu | SF |
What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Drop your names in the comments below!
Look for my articles right here each week, and be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @fantasyfirstdwn. Also, tune into our Tuesday/Thursday @RazzballNFL podcast on YouTube at 6 pm PST/9 PM EST as we discuss all things fantasy football!
