Rest of Season Tight End Rankings, 2020 Fantasy Football

Tight ends move less in the first week than maybe any other position (and I don’t change my ranks much at many positions after 1 week). Especially after the elite TE options, usage can be dictated by scheme or match-up, game script, and some unknown QB tendencies.

Elites

Rank	Name	Team	Week 2 Opponent/Time	Snaps	Team Snap %	Targets	Receptions	Yards	TD
1	Travis Kelce	KC	@LAC Sun 4:25PM	61	88	6	6	50	1
2	George Kittle	SF	@NYJ Sun 1:00PM	61	98	5	4	44	0
3	Mark Andrews	BAL	@HOU Sun 4:25PM	42	71	6	5	58	2

I’m leaving George Kittle at 2 for now. It sounds like the injury is minor enough that he’s going to try and play this week. Mark Andrews is deserving of bump to the top tier, and I’ve given him said bump this week.

Elite-ish

Rank	Name	Team	Week 2 Opponent/Time	Snaps	Team Snap %	Targets	Receptions	Yards	TD
4	Darren Waller	LV	NO Mon 8:15PM	56	89	8	6	45	0
5	Zach Ertz	PHI	LAR Sun 1:00PM	58	85	7	3	18	1

Waller had 8 targets, not worried about him. Ertz is splitting targets and yardage with Dallas Goedert, but both have over 75% of the team’s snaps. The Eagles are in 2 TE sets for the foreseeable future, so, they both have a starting role in fantasy. Ertz role in the red zone gives me enough confidence to keep him in this near elite tier.

Pretty, Pretty Good

Rank	Name	Team	Week 2 Opponent/Time	Snaps	Team Snap %	Targets	Receptions	Yards	TD
6	Evan Engram	NYG	@CHI Sun 1:00PM	64	94	7	2	9	0
7	Hunter Henry	LAC	KC Sun 4:25PM	59	88	8	5	73	0
8	Mike Gesicki	MIA	BUF Sun 1:00PM	45	73	5	3	30	0
9	Noah Fant	DEN	@PIT Sun 1:00PM	43	73	6	5	81	1
10	Dallas Goedert	PHI	LAR Sun 1:00PM	54	79	9	8	101	1
11	Hayden Hurst	ATL	@DAL Sun 1:00PM	62	79	5	3	38	0
12	Tyler Higbee	LA	@PHI Sun 1:00PM	65	89	4	3	40	0
13	T.J. Hockenson	DET	@GB Sun 1:00PM	50	64	5	5	56	1

Yes, it’s a big tier, but it’s how I view the TE position. Depending on match-up, I could have no issue starting one or the other any given week. Plenty are down on Hurst after a tough week 1, but be patient. I don’t expect Russell Gage to own the 3rd target spot in Atlanta.

I’m encouraged by Higbee’s snap share, but there are still a lot of weapons, including another TE for the Rams. Goedert is the biggest mover after his big day and continuing on from his 2019 where he ended the season with 2 games of 10 and 12 targets.

More Than Serviceable

Rank	Name	Team	Week 2 Opponent/Time	Snaps	Team Snap %	Targets	Receptions	Yards	TD
14	Rob Gronkowski	TB	CAR Sun 1:00PM	54	77	3	2	11	0
15	Austin Hooper	CLE	CIN Thu 8:20PM	56	77	2	2	15	0
16	Jared Cook	NO	@LV Mon 8:15PM	44	65	7	5	80	0
17	Jonnu Smith	TEN	JAX Sun 1:00PM	59	73	7	4	36	1
18	Chris Herndon	NYJ	SF Sun 1:00PM	40	71	7	6	37	0
19	Jack Doyle	IND	MIN Sun 1:00PM	54	73	4	3	49	0

Mixed bag of guys I believed in and a couple I don’t (Jonnu and Cook). Gronk’s snap count was fine, but seems to be sharing with Howard more than expected. Gronk seems more TD dependent than pre-retirement Gronk. The entire Browns offense was a mess, so, take 2. Higher hopes for Hooper and without Njoku for a few weeks, he has time to establish some rapport.

Cook and Jonnu are two guys I don’t think are very skilled, but could be in the right offenses to provide fantasy value. I like Cook more in the short term than ROS. Jonnu still has yet to have an 80 yard game and he’s a TD dependent, low upside TE.

Got My Eye On You

Rank	Name	Team	Week 2 Opponent/Time	Snaps	Team Snap %	Targets	Receptions	Yards	TD
20	Logan Thomas	WAS	@ARI Sun 4:05PM	52	74	8	4	37	1
21	Irv Smith Jr.	MIN	@IND Sun 1:00PM	31	60	1	1	11	0
22	Jimmy Graham	CHI	NYG Sun 1:00PM	52	80	7	3	25	1

Logan Thomas had some buzz coming out of camp and with 8 targets in the first game, there might be something to it. I don’t trust him and the Washington Football Team just yet, but the Cardinals were the best match-up vs the TE last year, by far.

Irv Smith is coming for that TE1 job in Minnesota, but until it’s his, it’s more of a watch list or dynasty play. Jimmy G got 7 targets (2nd on the team) and you know he’s going to just salvage random fantasy weeks here and there.

Streaming On The Jet Plane

Rank	Name	Team	Week 2 Opponent/Time	Snaps	Team Snap %	Targets	Receptions	Yards	TD
23	Greg Olsen	SEA	NE Sun 8:20PM	41	66	4	4	24	1
24	Dawson Knox	BUF	@MIA Sun 1:00PM	56	64	3	2	26	0
25	Jordan Akins	HOU	BALT Sun 4:25PM	48	81	2	2	39	1

Not guys that I care about rostering long term, but in the right match-up, I could see streaming on the edge. Speaking of, the Browns are a great match-up and Miami isn’t the worst.

A few other guys to throw out there for you, the reader, if you’ve made it this far, Drew Sample, Dalton Schultz, and Jordan Reed.