Tight End is an interesting position in Fantasy Football. With the game’s predilection for the passing, one might think that all pass-catchers (Tight Ends included) would have a great deal of appeal for managers of fantasy football teams, but they haven’t. Many of these players will likely accrue aroudn500 yards receiving and five touchdowns and that production would rank a player in the 50 to 60 range at the wide receiver position. It doesn’t make sense to chase that type of middling production. If you roster 30-40 players in your dynasty fantasy football leagues, I recommend you roster no more than four tight ends. I typically draft a player from the top 10 on this list, and if I cant get one, I’ll wait and make do with the scraps. Players like Logan Thomas, Dawson Knox, and Dalton Schultz have recently leaped from relative obscurity to quality performers at the positions, so bargains can be found in the Tight End basement.
1. Kyle Pitts | 21 | Falcons
2. Travis Kelce | 32 | Chiefs
3. Mark Andrews | 26 | Ravens
I have already written up the first top the three players at the position. Those can be found in the Top 40 for 2022 Fantasy Football Dynasty Leagues.
4. Darren Waller | 29 | Raiders – A metahuman athlete measuring 6′, 6′ 255lbs. with a 4.46 40-yard dash and 37-inch vertical jump. How did this Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket fall to the 28th pick of the 6th round in the 2015 draft? The Great Grandson of jazz pianist Fats Waller, Darren is an improvisational route runner who broke out in 2019 with 90 receptions on 117 targets (76.9 catch%) for 1145 yards receiving. Waller followed it up with another great season in 2020 with 107 receptions on 145 targets (73.8 catch %) for 1196 yards receiving and 9 touchdowns. Injuries slowed Waller in 2021 and limited him to 11 games. The most concerning number from 2021 was the catch percentage dropped to 59.1%. That precipitous percentage drop comes after consecutive seasons where he posted 73%. I would expect that number to normalize in 2022. Waller has a quality Quarterback and will be a top target in Josh Mcdaniels’ passing offense. A healthy Waller should bring 900 or more receiving yards and 70 or more receptions, but he could easily eclipse those numbers. He ranks above Kittle because of his immense upside.
5. George Kittle | 28 | 49ers – One of the toughest players to tackle in the NFL, the 6′, 4″ 250lbs Kittle has always been a competitive person. Born in Madison, Wisconsin young George chose to attend the University of Iowa and play for the hated rival Hawkeyes. The high school quarterback played Tight End at Iowa and entered the NFL in 2017 with a chip on his shoulder as 5th round draft pick. 900+ yards receiving in 3 of his 5 NFL seasons the two seasons he missed the mark were his rookie year and 2020 when he missed 8 games. Reliable pass-catcher with a career 72.4 catch %. Could even help a little in the run game 3 rushing touchdowns over the past four seasons. 75 catches and 900 are reasonable expectations for Kittle in 2022.
6. Dallas Goedert | 27 | Eagles – The kid from Britton, South Dakota (population 1,241) fits the description of diamond in the rough. The eagles liked the South Dakota State product enough to draft the 6′, 5″ 256lbs. Jackrabbit in the 2nd round (49th overall) of the 2018 draft. While the Eagles have missed on a few receiver draft picks (Jaelon Reagor and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside) they have been good on Tight End evaluations and couldn’t pass on the gifted Goedert. A strong blocker; Dallas works well with the Eagles’ run-first play-action heavy passing attack. He is arguably the top target in the Philadelphia passing game and a good bet to eclipse 800 yards receiving in 2022.
7. Dawson Knox | 25 | Bills – The 6′, 4″ 254 Tight End from Ole Miss was selected in the 3rd round (96th overall) for the 2019 NFL draft. Many prognosticators had Knox graded as a 2nd round pick, so the Bills scored a steal when they selected Dawson. Knox was the fourth player drafted in a loaded class after DT Ed Oliver, OG Cody Ford, and RB Devin Singletary. All four have been starters on very competitive Buffalo Bills teams. Knox is an athletic freak and a monster in the weight room. He’s the biggest wildcard on this list. He has a great QB in Josh Allen and it did not take many receptions (49) for Knox to be a relevant player for fantasy owners in 2021 totaling nine touchdowns and nearly 600 yards. His catch % increased from 54.5% in 2020 to 69% in 2021. If Knox can maintain that level of production, his athleticism and Quarterback will carry him into the top five of the position.
8. T.J. Hockenson | 24 | Lions – The 6′, 5″ 248lbs former 1st round pick from Iowa saw his production take a step back from 2020 (67 catches, 723 yards, and 6TDs) to 2021 (61 catches for 583 yards and 4TDs). Similar to Dallas Goedert, Hockenson is a quality blocker and can fit into run-heavy play-action passing games like the lions would love to run. At 6′, 5″ 248lbs the athletic Hockenson is a difficult player to cover. Yet to have the true breakout season, Detroit will need to upgrade its Quarterback before we witness that breakout.
9. Dalton Schultz | 25 | Cowboys – Freshly franchise tagged and coming off a career year with 808 yards and 8 touchdowns on 78 receptions, Schultz is a player who will jump into the top 5 with another year of production as he had in 2021. The 6′, 5″ 244lbs. Stanford product caught 75% of the passes thrown his way in 2021. That’s a great return on investment and a partnership that works for Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. Has he reached his ceiling? 4th round pick in 2018.
10. Pat Freiermuth | 23 | Steelers – Won the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year award, given to the top tight end in the Big Ten Conference, and if your keeping score that’s five former Big Ten TEs in the top 12 on this list. An impressive rookie campaign including 60 catches for 7 touchdowns and nearly 500 yards, has Steelers fans dreaming of big things for the 6′, 5″ 258lbs. Freiermuth. The Penn State product has proven to be a good red-zone target. The 2nd round pick (55th overall) in 2021 will be locked in as the TE1 for the remainder of his rookie contract (3 years).
11. Mike Gesicki | 26 | Dolphins – The lanky 6′, 6″ 247lbs Penn State product is the second Nittany Lion on the list and is also the second player who has been franchise-tagged for 2022. He’s more wideout than Tight End, he stacks up catches and yardage totaling 126 catches and over 1,400 yards over the past two seasons. Mike was limited to two touchdowns in 2021, and that number will likely increase in 2022.
12. Noah Fant | 24 | Seahawks – Fant is a super athlete who could jump to the top 5 with a healthy season. He ran a 4.5 40-yard dash and leaped to 39.5 vertical jumps at the combine, an impressive display of athleticism from anyone, but especially from such a large man (6′, 4″ 250lbs. Noah was a great basketball player in the Omaha, Nebraska area, which is a talent-rich basketball region. The high school star in football, track, and basketball went to Iowa (Tight End University) and was a 1st round pick in 2019. Fant has never played with an elite Quarterback and after his trade to Seattle, he will continue to wait for that experience. The former Hawkeye put up a back-to-back 600+ yard receiving season and his 1905 yards in 3 NFL seasons qualify good fantasy football production for a TE, but there is more production waiting to be unleashed.
13. Hunter Henry | 27 | Patriots – When you look through Hunter Henry’s career stats, it’s probably ok to throw out the 2018 season. Hunter was injured and missed the entire season. If you remove that 2018 season the former Arkansas Razorback averages 50 catches and 585 yards receiving. I think that is a perfect representation of what a fantasy manager can expect from the Patriot. The 6′, 5″ 250lbs. target has an accurate young Quarterback in Mac Jones and is under contract in New England for the next two seasons. Henry is the part of a group of Tight Ends often referred to as “touchdown-dependent”. They catch about 50 passes for roughly 500 yards each season and their ultimate fantasy production rests on their TD total. Henry had 9TDs last season. I think he will have less than 9 in 2022, but 5-7 is certainly in order.
14. Logan Thomas | 30 | Commanders – A 6′, 6″ 250lbs Virginia Tech former quarterback, current mega-athlete probably made the switch to TE too late in his career. After a breakout age 29 season in 2020 (72 catches for 672 yards and 6 TDs). Like many of the tight ends 13 and below these guys are touchdown dependant and Thomas is a proven red-zone target who had 3 TD catches in a mere 6 games in 2021. Under contract for three more seasons in Washington, Logan Thomas will be a big target for new Quarterback Carson Wentz.
15. Zach Ertz | 31 | Cardinals – A new owner of a three-year contract with the Cardinals. In 11 games with Cardinals Ertz caught 56 passes (tied a franchise record for receptions by a Tight End) for 573 and 3TDs. Zach is a good bet for solid fantasy production in 2022. The former Eagle has 700+ yards receiving in 7 out of his 9 career years in the NFL. The two seasons that he failed to reach the 700-yard threshold were 2020 and his rookie year. A reliable veteran pass-catcher at Tight End is one more reason for Kyler Murray to stay in the desert.
16. Albert Okuegbunam | 23 | Broncos – At 6′, 5″ 258lbs. with a 4.49-40 yard dash at the NFL combine Albert is the ideal specimen for an NFL Tight End. A great blocker in college. Albert earned the nickname “Chuk” from his fellow Tigers at Missouri for how he tossed around SEC defenders. Denver selected him in the 4th round of the 2020 draft and began building the raw prospect into an NFL player. The Bills took a mold of clay in Dawson Knox and turned him into a top 10 TE, and I think the Broncos can do something similar with Albert Okuegbunam. Russell Wilson’s arrival only improves The Big O’s stock.
17. Tyler Higbee | 29 | Rams – The Super Bowl Champion is likely to restructure his contract to stay in LA for 2022. Measuring in at 6′, 6″ 255lbs. the former 4th round pick (2016) makes a big target in the passing game and is typically good for 500+ yards receiving and 5 TDs per season. The size and situation allow you to dream of a 700-yard season.
18. Cole Kmet | 23 | Bears – The top 100-recruit out of high school in Illinois seemed destined to play college football at Notre Dame. How did this guy have 60 receptions for 612 yards and 0 Touchdowns? The 6′, 6″, 260 pounder needs to improve as a run blocker to secure more red-zone targets. Another area of his game that must improve is the former 2nd rounders catch percentage. If can improve his career 64% catch rate his production will greatly improve.
19. Irv Smith Jr. | 23| Vikings – A smaller player (6′, 2″ 240lbs.) for the position, Smith Jr. offers versatility that other tight ends lack. The former 2nd round pick (50th overall) in 2019 is a great blocker who fits well in an H-back role. The Alabama product will have to compete for targets in an offense loaded with top-flight passing targets. Irv Smith Jr. will likely be the 4th or 5th target in the Vikings passing game. 500 yards and a handful of TDs are within reach for Irv. New Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips has been given credit for the development of Tyler Higbee during his time in L.A. The creative Phillips could get even more from the former 4-star high school recruit Irv Smith Jr.
20. Brevin Jordan | 21 | Texans – #1 rated TE recruit coming out of high school powerhouse Bishop Gordon in Nevada. Jordan comes with an elite pedigree, but the production doesn’t match. 6′, 3″ 245lbs former Miami Hurricane had 20 receptions for 178 yards and 3 TDs.in his rookie season. A 5th round pick in 2021 with a team-friendly contract, if Brevin can take the starting job in Houston, he could hold it for a few seasons. I think Brevin’s value has been artificially inflated throughout his career. I am actively shopping him in the leagues that I roster him.
21. Gerald Everett | 27 | Free Agent – 6′, 3″ 240lbs. The free agent will be highly sought after this offseason, but a reunion with Russell Wilson in Denver makes a lot of sense. If that were to happen Everett would move up the list and Albert O would drop a few spots. A 2nd round selection in 2017, Gerald is the first player from South Alabama to be selected in the NFL draft. Everett’s receiving yardage and receptions have been on an upward trajectory since his rookie season, reaching 48 receptions and 478 yards in 2021. A good candidate to reach that 500 yards and 5TDs threshold, and maybe more depending on who signs the free agent in 2022.
22. David Njoku | 25 | Browns – Franchise tagged for 2022. Browns’ management has treatment of Njoku reminds me of Gollum’s treatment of the ring of power. They drafted him in the first round (29th overall) and immediately sequestered David to a cave deep in the Misty Mountains near Goblin Town where they and only they can obsess over their “precious”. Cleveland management has denied trade requests from Njoku in the past, and they have now franchised tagged him. All that for a player they throw 50 passes? It doesn’t make sense. The former Miami Hurricane needs to improve his efficiency as he currently only converts about 60% of his targets into catches. This is an elite athlete who could take a huge step forward. He’s not Darren Waller or Kyle Pitts, but he has similar traits and is available at a much later pick.
23. Rob Gronkowski | 32 | Buccaneers – When I think NFL Tight End one of the first faces I see is that of Rob Gronkowski. The hulking 6′, 6″ 265lbs. beast is a first-ballot (probably unanimous) Hall of Fame Tight End will likely come back to Tampa for another run with Butch Cassidy, er I mean Tom Brady. In between commercials last year Rob put up 800 yards receiving and 6 TDs. Gronk is closing in on some impressive career numbers 10,000 yards receiving and 100 touchdowns are well within reach. A great value here, even if it is for only one season.
24. Evan Engram | 27 | Jaguars – A former 1st round pick (23rd overall) from Ole Miss. certainly seems reasonable to hope for 500 yards and 5TDs. A career catch percentage of 61 doesn’t leave me less hopeful. Evan has dealt with shoddy QB play throughout his entire career, so that may be a legitimate reason for his poor production. Engram signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars and perhaps the 2020 Pro Bowler’s career can blossom in Jacksonville with Trevor Lawrence.
25. Dan Arnold | 26 | Jaguars – Arnold was under-recruited coming out of high school in North Dakota and attended college at the University of Wisconsin Platteville where played football and ran track. Platteville is not too far from my hometown. Platteville was where I was introduced to the moderately fast food restaurant Culver’s home of the artery-clogging Butter Burger. You give up a bit of your life to enjoy the heart-pounding experience that you only get when mauling the bovine delicacy. The Jaguars gave up Defensive Back C.J. Henderson, their 2020 1st round pick, to acquire Arnold’s experience. TaekwonDON’T expert Urban Meyer put Dan to work right away ordering 40 targets to him in six games before he injured his knee and was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the 2021 season. Hard to say what the Jacksonville offense will look like in 2022, but I would guess better. Arnold could jump to that 500 yards 5 TD season which would place him in the playable fantasy tight end range.
