Tight end is one of the messiest positions in the NFL and fantasy football. The 2023 NFL Draft class is relatively deep at tight end, with one marquee prospect. But as draft analysts and fantasy players begin to assess this upcoming class, it’s important to use Kyle Pitts as a cautionary tale. Even the best tight end draft prospects often don’t make an immediate impact.
- Latest NFL Mock Drafts
- Freedman’s NFL Draft Prop Bet Card
- 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
2023 NFL Draft: Overvalued Tight Ends
Let’s look at a couple of incoming tight ends who could be overvalued this fantasy football season.
Michael Mayer (Notre Dame)
It’s natural that the top tight-end prospect in any class will be a bit inflated in fantasy-football circles. Mayer had a strong final year with the Fighting Irish, catching 67 balls for 809 yards and nine touchdowns despite a rough quarterback situation.
Our own Matthew Freedman has Mayer going 21st overall to the Los Angeles Chargers in his latest mock draft. If that were to happen, it would be about as good of a landing spot as you could imagine for the Notre Dame product. However, it’s critical to temper expectations in 2023. Just look at Pitts’ rookie year. Plus, Gerald Everett is still on Los Angeles’ roster.
Mayer is a good prospect who isn’t quite on Pitts’ level. At a position that’s desperate for an influx of talent, Mayer will likely be overdrafted in fantasy leagues.
Darnell Washington (Georgia)
I’m picking on the top prospects in this year’s class but for good reason. Washington is one of the more fascinating prospects in this draft. He is 6-foot-7, 270 pounds but caught just 28 passes for 454 yards and two touchdowns.
NFL GMs and scouts will salivate over what Washington could do in the red zone. Freedman has Washington going 28th overall in his mock draft to Cincinnati. However, Washington needs some development before he can become a trusted option between the 20’s.
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – which optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio