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.