We have passed the midway point of the 2021 NFL season and are approaching the home stretch. As fantasy managers desperately search for a blockbuster trade or league-winning waiver wire addition, it’s important to forecast players’ stocks over the remainder of the season rather than solely judge them for what they’ve done thus far.
There’s no better way to do just that than by offering a team-by-team and position-by-position perspective in one piece. Here, Andersen Pickard looks at every team’s tight end room to identify exactly what each player brings to the table down the stretch.
Every player’s header is accompanied by where they rank in Pickard’s updated rest-of-season half-PPR rankings. Keep in mind that any player not listed here is either not relevant in fantasy football or would only have relevance in the event of a massive injury bug.
Andersen Pickard is running a midseason check-in for all core fantasy positions. You can find every position here.
Arizona Cardinals
Zach Ertz — TE13
Ertz has looked solid since being traded from the Eagles to the Cardinals, finishing as the TE5, TE16, TE28, TE15, and TE1 during that span. In fact, three of those games came without Kyler Murray throwing the ball to him. One would imagine that Ertz will have an even higher floor once his star quarterback returns.
Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts — TE5
It has been an up-and-down year for Atlanta’s rookie tight end who has three top-nine finishes but also five finishes outside the top-18. He has suffered from Matt Ryan‘s recent struggles as well as the absence of Calvin Ridley, which has forced opposing teams’ No. 1 cornerbacks to latch onto Pitts. With that said, the talent is evident. Pitts should be able to get back on track over the final chunk of the season.
Hayden Hurst — TE47
An ankle injury has resulted in Hurst’s placement on injured reserve. He can return as soon as Week 14, but it remains to be seen whether that’s even a realistic target date. He can be dropped in all redraft formats.
Baltimore Ravens
Mark Andrews — TE3
Andrews has been terrific this season, posting top-six finishes in five of his 10 games. He has a rare ability to be both physical and swift, racking up extra yardage while also moving the chains. He is one of Lamar Jackson‘s go-to pass-catchers and has cemented himself as a start-and-forget tight end.
Buffalo Bills
Dawson Knox — TE9
Knox has emerged as one of the top touchdown-catching tight ends this season. He has benefitted from opposing defenses’ conservative approaches, forcing more defensive backs into deep coverage and allowing for more underneath passes in Knox’s area. He has finished as a top-eight tight end in five of nine games and is not far from must-start territory.
Carolina Panthers
Tommy Tremble — TE41
Tremble, a rookie, has taken over as the Panthers’ top tight end after Dan Arnold was traded to the Jaguars. That’s not saying a lot, though, considering he has just 12 catches, 116 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns on the year.
Ian Thomas — TE56
Merely an afterthought in the passing game, Tremble hasn’t recorded a multi-catch game since Week 5. He’s not on the fantasy radar in any type of league at the moment.
Chicago Bears
Cole Kmet — TE22
Kmet feels like a player who is just one or two big games away from breaking out and cementing himself as a viable fantasy option. He has helped his case by totaling 164 receiving yards over his last three games, but it seems unlikely that he’ll be a reliable starting option before the end of the season.
Jimmy Graham — TE43
Graham has totaled just six catches, 98 yards, and one touchdown this season. Although he hasn’t done much in the way of production, he still cracks the top-50 among tight ends due to his veteran presence and threat in the end zone.
Cincinnati Bengals
C.J. Uzomah — TE24
Uzomah has been a hit-or-miss player all season long. Occasionally, he’ll link up with Joe Burrow for a huge day; he has two TE1 overall finishes this year. However, he has also finished outside the top-26 in six of his 10 games. This inconsistency and lack of reliability puts Uzomah on the waiver wire in most leagues.
Cleveland Browns
Austin Hooper — TE25
The Browns’ tight end usage has been tricky to predict, taking away much of Hooper’s fantasy relevance. He has been a top-12 tight end just once this season but has totaled 78 yards and a touchdown in the two games since Odell Beckham Jr.’s release. His stock would become more appealing if either David Njoku or Harrison Bryant suffered an injury.
David Njoku — TE27
After plenty of contract disagreements and an overall lack of playing time, Njoku has asserted himself as an athletic and impactful member of Cleveland’s passing game. He has four top-17 finishes, including a TE2 overall showing against the Chargers back in Week 5. Still, he’s second on the depth chart and has caught just four passes over the last three games.
Harrison Bryant — TE42
Bryant is only worth rostering in dynasty leagues at this point considering he’s nestled behind Hooper and Njoku on the depth chart. The second-year tight end isn’t a reliable member of the offense right now, but he could receive more opportunities in future seasons if Hooper or Njoku find their way to a new team.
Dallas Cowboys
Dalton Schultz — TE10
From Weeks 3 to 6, Schultz finished as the TE1, TE6, TE8, and TE10. Those were the last times he finished as a top-12 tight end until this past week, when he caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown on Thanksgiving Day. His usage hasn’t been super consistent, but he’s still a very talented weapon who should be started in most leagues.
Blake Jarwin — TE55
Jarwin’s role was decreasing even when he was healthy. Now that he’s on IR, the tight end’s outlook is growing even bleaker. Jarwin totaled 10 catches, 90 yards, and two touchdowns through his first seven games but hasn’t taken the field since Week 8. He’s not on the fantasy radar right now.
Denver Broncos
Noah Fant — TE15
Between injuries, inconsistency, and poor quarterback play, Fant has struggled to find steady production this season. He does have four top-12 finishes (including TE1 overall in Week 6), but he’s also finished outside the top-30 in three of his nine games. Fantasy managers can view the former first-round pick as a fine starting option considering the state of the waiver wire, but they should still temper expectations with the Bronco.
Albert Okwuegbunam — TE29
One of the speediest and most athletic tight ends in the NFL, “Albert O.” has caught 10 passes for 136 yards over his last three games. He is always a candidate to break off a big play, but these are unpredictable. As such, Okwuegbunam, who currently backs up Fant, isn’t worth rostering in redraft formats.
Detroit Lions
T.J. Hockenson — TE6
Hockenson is an elite player on a poor team. After all, he went untargeted in Week 10. However, he has five top-seven fantasy finishes and remains in the start-and-forget territory. Fantasy managers should deploy him on a weekly basis and cross their fingers in hopes that Jared Goff can, at the very least, throw to football in Hockenson’s area.
Green Bay Packers
Josiah Deguara — TE48
The Packers haven’t gotten much out of the tight end position since Robert Tonyan Jr. went down with a season-ending ACL injury. Through four games since then, Deguara has tallied just eight catches and 82 receiving yards. He is not on the fantasy radar.
Marcedes Lewis — TE49
Lewis has three catches for nine yards since the Packers lost Tonyan. While Aaron Rodgers does appreciate his tight ends, there has been no optimism that Lewis is heading for more involvement anytime soon.
Houston Texans
Brevin Jordan — TE39
Jordan was an intriguing prospect in this year’s draft and probably would have gone higher if he weren’t overshadowed by college teammate and No. 4 pick, Kyle Pitts. Jordan has showed signs of promise on his own in the NFL, catching six passes for 57 yards and one touchdown over his last three games. He’s the No. 1 tight end in the Houston offense right now and could be relied on heavily considering how often the Texans play from behind.
Jordan Akins — TE58
Akins has racked up 21 catches for 184 yards this season, and he’d likely be ranked higher if not for his healthy scratch in Week 11. It’s hard to tell what this means going forward, but one thing is clear: the No. 1 tight end job has been handed off to Jordan, the rookie. Akins is droppable in all leagues.
Indianapolis Colts
Jack Doyle — TE26
Doyle has taken over as the Colts’ best tight end as of late, catching nine passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns over the course of his last four games. His volume hasn’t been massive, but he has earned both playing time and looks in the red zone.
Mo Alie-Cox — TE37
After an impressive surge from Weeks 4 to 7 in which he caught 10 passes for 145 yards and four touchdowns, Alie-Cox has quieted back down and seemingly fallen into a depth role behind Doyle. This could change at a moment’s notice, but for now, Alie-Cox is off the fantasy radar.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Dan Arnold — TE18
Arnold posted 17 catches for 185 yards over three weeks but then was rewarded with zero targets in Week 11. This speaks to the state of the offense more than Arnold, but it’s a factor to consider when looking at the former Panther’s rest-of-season value. He should be rostered in all leagues with 12 teams or more and can be started if you’re not particularly strong at the tight end position.
James O’Shaughnessy — TE53
O’Shaughnessy is back from IR after injuring his ankle back in Week 2. He was the Jaguars’ top tight end in Week 1, catching six of eight targets for 40 yards, but it looks like he’ll fall into the role of Arnold’s backup upon his return. He’s worth keeping an eye on, but it’s too early to roster O’Shaughnessy.
Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce — TE1
Kelce is the clear TE1 overall and it’s not really a debate. He makes plays happen with his physicality and athleticism, though the fact that he plays in a Patrick Mahomes-led offense certainly doesn’t hurt. The future Hall of Famer has been a top-eight tight end in nine of 11 games this season.
Las Vegas Raiders
Darren Waller — TE4
Although currently dealing with a knee injury, Waller is one of the best tight ends in the NFL when healthy. His big stature and gritty playing style allows him to be pepper with targets, which often translates well to fantasy success. Through 10 games, he has 643 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Assuming he’s healthy, Waller falls into the start-and-forget tier.
Foster Moreau — TE51
It’s eye-opening how different Moreau’s role is when he’s the No. 1 tight end versus when he backs up Waller. Moreau totaled 60 yards and one touchdown during the one game Waller missed this season, and he garnered five targets after Waller exited and was subsequently ruled out of this past Thursday’s clash with the Cowboys. At best, he’s a streaming option when Waller is sidelined.
Los Angeles Chargers
Jared Cook — TE19
Cook has three top-12 finishes this season, but he’s also ended up outside the top-24 on six occasions. Fortunately, he plays in a high-powered offense, entitling him to a significant target share.
Donald Parham Jr. — TE30
At 6-foot-6, Parham is an intriguing red-zone threat thanks to his ability to leap for touchdown passes. He has four top-15 performances, but he has also finished 32nd or worse on six occasions. Fantasy managers should stash him in dynasty leagues but let him remain on waivers in redraft formats.
Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee — TE16
Higbee has benefitted from the acquisition of Matthew Stafford, who has thrown him 38 passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns. As long as he stays healthy, fantasy managers should view Higbee as a solid lineup option for the remainder of the season.
Miami Dolphins
Mike Gesicki — TE7
Gesicki is an athletic threat and one of the top weapons in Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa-led offense. Although he’s no stranger to bumps in the road (Gesicki caught zero passes in Weeks 1 and 10), Gesicki has managed to produce an impressive 579 yards over the course of 10 games.
Durham Smythe — TE46
Smythe has looked good as of late, finishing as a top-30 tight end in each of his last five games and combining for 183 yards over that span. He’s not quite on the fantasy radar due to his depth role, but it has been interesting to watch him produce at a steady rate behind Gesicki.
Adam Shaheen — TE59
Shaheen has 12 catches for 110 yards over his last six games. While far from fantasy relevant, much like Smythe, Shaheen has hauled in passes at a steady rate during recent weeks.
Minnesota Vikings
Tyler Conklin — TE20
After moving on from Kyle Rudolph and losing Irv Smith Jr. to injury, Conklin has turned in solid production in a high-powered offense. He has set career-highs in yards (388) and touchdowns (three) this season while serving as one of the most reliable streaming options in fantasy football.
New England Patriots
Hunter Henry — TE12
Henry has been an absolute beast in the red zone this season, catching seven touchdowns over seven games from Weeks 4 to 10. Beyond his ability to find paydirt, Henry has garnered solid volume while serving as the No. 1 tight end ahead of fellow offseason addition Jonnu Smith. Henry should be started in leagues with 12 teams or more.
Jonnu Smith — TE28
Smith has been the lesser of the two tight end additions from this past offseason. He has just 210 yards and one touchdown in addition to limited work out of the backfield. He’d be a great streamer if Henry were to go down, but for the time being, Smith isn’t worth rostering in redraft formats.
New Orleans Saints
Adam Trautman — TE33
Trautman was just emerging as a strong tight end option (14 catches for 137 yards and one touchdown over three games) before a knee injury landed him on IR. He’s out four to six weeks, and his generous ranking here operates under the best-case scenario of a Week 16 return. If he does come back in the regular season, managers could rely on him as a legitimate streaming option in the fantasy playoffs.
Juwan Johnson — TE40
Just as Johnson lost all relevance and became a healthy scratch, Trautman went down. Johnson was indeed active in Week 12, catching two passes for 36 yards. Managers will want to monitor him over the next couple of weeks, but it’s very possible that he has low-end TE2 relevance just in time for the fantasy playoffs.
New York Giants
Evan Engram — TE21
Everything is falling into place for Engram to succeed (Jason Garrett fired, Kyle Rudolph injured, several wide receivers not expected to play), but it seems almost too perfect. Putting full trust into Evan Engram has proven to be a dangerous game, so fantasy managers shall temper expectations. In shallow formats, the Giants’ tight end can be left on waivers. In deeper leagues, he can be stashed out of speculation, but it seems a bit premature to insert him into lineups with full confidence.
Kyle Rudolph — TE34
The veteran tight end moved on from Minnesota and joined the Giants this past offseason. His usage has been very minor this year as he has just 147 yards and one touchdown to his name. Now, an ankle injury will force him to miss time. Still, just as was the case with Graham, Rudolph is a big-bodied veteran who can play a role in the end zone and offers insurance in case the starter goes down. He’s not worth adding yet, but it’s not impossible to envision a scenario in which he has streaming relevance down the stretch.
New York Jets
Ryan Griffin — TE32
Griffin has some relevance in deeper leagues since Tyler Kroft is on IR. He has finished as TE10, TE30, and TE20 over the last three weeks, and it’s not unreasonable to assume he could string together some more top-24 performances with Zach Wilson back under center. Griffin is a borderline streaming option for the time being.
Tyler Kroft — TE52
Through six games, Kroft totaled 104 yards and a touchdown. He’s currently on IR with no return in sight.
Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert — TE11
The midseason Ertz trade has opened the door for more production from Goedert, who recently signed a contract extension. He’s the TE11 on the year and has posted five top-12 finishes, including four within the top-eight. Goedert and rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith are the clear leading pass-catchers in the Eagles’ offense, meaning the tight end remains startable in all leagues.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth — TE14
The rookie out of Penn State has come on strong in recent weeks, finishing as a top-12 tight end in each of his four games with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm. This span includes his respective TE2 and TE1 finishes in Weeks 8 and 9, too. Freiermuth has emerged as one of the top weapons in Pittsburgh’s passing game and has a very exciting trajectory for the rest of the season.
Eric Ebron — TE50
Ebron caught 12 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns before being placed on IR. Although he could return as early as Week 15, an official timetable remains to be seen. Plus, even if he is activated after the minimum of three weeks, he’ll likely have a minimal role while playing behind Freiermuth.
San Francisco 49ers
George Kittle — TE2
One of the most dominant and ferocious tight ends in the NFL, Kittle is in the elite tier when healthy. He has finished among the top-eight in five of his seven games, including a 100-yard and one-touchdown performance against the Cardinals in Week 9. Kittle is very much in the start-and-forget range.
Ross Dwelley — TE60
Even when Kittle was hurt, Dwelley was a weak streaming option. He only cracks the top-60 as a handcuff option considering injuries have plagued Kittle often.
Seattle Seahawks
George Everett — TE23
Everett isn’t a great tight end by any means, but he appears to have hit his stride as of late, catching nine passes for 100 yards over the course of his last two games. The Seahawks’ offense has been stalling, but its starting tight end is a legitimate streaming option right now.
Will Dissly — TE54
Over the two games that Everett missed due to COVID-19, Dissly combined for just four catches and 34 yards. He has yet to finish inside the top-18 and isn’t worth rostering in any format.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rob Gronkowski — TE8
Gronkowski has appeared in five games, though he exited early in two of those. During the three that he played in full, the veteran finished as the TE1, TE2, and TE9. He has four touchdowns this season and continues to be one of Tom Brady‘s favorite weapons in the passing game. Fantasy managers should feel more than comfortable starting “Gronk” on a weekly basis.
Cameron Brate — TE31
Brate has had an up-and-down season, though he’s been largely untrustable. He has just one finish better than the TE20 overall and was far from a reliable option even when Gronkowski was sidelined. Brate can be left on waivers, though he has some low-end streaming option if Gronkowski re-injures himself down the stretch.
O.J. Howard — TE38
Howard has finished better than TE33 just once this season: a TE5 performance from Week 6 in which he caught six passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Much like Brate, Howard was hard to trust even when Gronkowski was off the field.
Tennessee Titans
Anthony Firkser — TE35
Firkser hasn’t quite lived up to his preseason hype. Initially expected to fill the void left by Jonnu Smith, Firkser has instead caught just 19 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He has been held to just one catch in more than half of his games, which is something that is a big no-no for any potential fantasy streamer. His value gets a slight bump with A.J. Brown, Julio Jones, and Derrick Henry all on IR, but he’s still a risky option.
Geoff Swaim — TE44
Swaim has a far lower floor than Firkser, but he appears to have a higher ceiling, too. The seven-year veteran has two top-nine fantasy finishes, but he’s also ranked outside the top-38 in six of 10 games. Much like Firkser, Swaim has some appeal due to the injured state of the offense, but there are far safer options on the waiver wire.
MyCole Pruitt — TE45
Pruitt ranks one spot lower than Swaim. The former has four top-18 finishes this season, but he has finished as the TE29 or worse in the rest of his games. His volume also lacks appeal; Pruitt has just three multi-target games this season.
Washington Football Team
Logan Thomas — TE17
Thomas, who hasn’t played since Week 3, is nearing his return from IR. The quarterback-turned-tight end finished as the TE6 last season and was putting together a solid start to his 2021 campaign prior to suffering a hamstring injury. Upon his return, he’ll slot in as Washington’s clear-cut starting tight end and should pick up right where he left off in terms of volume and production. If he’s still on waivers, add him before it’s too late.
Ricky Seals-Jones — TE36
Seals-Jones filled in admirably for Thomas, posting three top-12 finishes including one as the TE6 overall. However, Thomas is returning and Seals-Jones is battling a hip injury. Even when healthy, he’ll be relegated to a backup role, drastically reducing the fantasy value he enjoyed over the last eight weeks.
John Bates — TE57
During two games without Seals-Jones, Bates served as Washington’s No. 1 tight end, catching six passes for 48 yards. With Thomas returning, Bates returns to a depth role. He may still get involved from time to time, but he’s far from fantasy relevance.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Andersen Pickard on Twitter @AndersenPickard
Main Image Credit:
