Tight end is probably the one position in fantasy that is the hardest to predict year over year. Players like Noah Fant, Mike Gesicki and Evan Engram have all risen quickly, only to fall even quicker. It’s tough to know exactly who is for real and who is hiding behind inflated stats. That being said, here are some tight ends I’m trying to add to my bench before the season starts and the logic behind them.
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Dynasty TE Trade Targets
Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT)
There’s no other way to put it: Pittsburgh had a rough 2023. By proxy, so did Pat Freiermuth, who finished as the TE29 on the year. He was injured and missed five games, but even his points per game average was a disappointing 6.4 PPR points (TE28 overall). Things will be different this year, though, or at least they should be, because the offense will be very different.
Matt Canada is out and Arthur Smith is in. Yes, that same Arthur Smith who wrecked the Falcons the last few years. On top of that, there’s a true QB battle boiling under the surface between aging vet Russell Wilson and post-hype sleeper Justin Fields, both new to Steel City. All of this makes most people afraid of the entire offense. I get why, but it also provides a terrific buy-low window.
Freiermuth had one good game last year, catching nine of his 11 targets against Cincinnati in Week 12. Oddly enough, this was the first game after the team fired Canada, so it looked like a sign of things to come. Instead, it was a mirage, and Freiermuth went back to his mediocre ways in Week 13. However, it showed he can do it, and this offense will need to lean on whatever talent they have to succeed.
I’m fine taking a cheap shot flier on a guy like Freiermuth on the outside chance he somehow rises like a phoenix from the ashes and is the best Steeler for fantasy in 2024. He only scored two touchdowns all year but we know touchdowns aren’t a sticky stat. I also expect Wilson or Fields to look for big-target Freiermuth early and often. It may be a bumpy ride, but given his current price, sign me up
Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)
I’ve written about Kyle Pitts before but now that former Falcons head coach Smith is gone and QB Kirk Cousins is in, the sky is the limit for Pitts and the Falcons offense. Pitts’ value has gone up significantly since the season ended but he’s one of those players I’m happy to pay up for. He’s shown he has the talent to be a stud and should become one again as soon as this next season.
Pitts finished as the TE12 in PPR scoring last year, just behind two Daltons: Kincaid and Schultz. He played in all 17 games and scored an average of only 8.1 points per game. Now that he’s out of a terrible situation, I fully expect him to go back to scoring at least 10 points per game like he did as a rookie. Get him now before his price goes up again after the draft when casual players start paying attention.
Jake Ferguson (TE – DAL)
Jake Ferguson was the ninth-best tight end in scoring last year and has gone quietly under the radar in most circles. He received 102 targets, catching 71 of them, on an offense that scored 509 points in 2023, more than every other team in the league. Add to that the fact Ferguson is only 25 and he becomes a screaming buy for me.
Whether or not QB Dak Prescott plays the entire year, I fully expect Ferguson to finish as a top-10 tight end again. Even with the current question marks at running back, the Cowboys aren’t going to rest on their laurels between now and August. They should stay in the top 10 of scoring, which only helps Ferguson and his value.
Cole Kmet (TE – CHI)
The Bears are almost certainly bringing in a rookie QB to help revive their franchise. I think that helps Kmet the most. Tight ends are often a rookie’s security blanket and Kmet performed that task well last year with Justin Fields. He caught 81.1% of his 90 targets and finished as the TE8 in PPR scoring. With the QB upgrade comes an upgrade for the entire offense, right?
Well, not so fast. The offense also added another hungry mouth in Keenan Allen. The wiry veteran has been a stalwart in fantasy lineups for years now, and with DJ Moore lined up across the field from him, or outside him when he’s in the slot, I expect Allen to get plenty of attention as well. This is also what most people are thinking, so I’d rather acquire the 25-year-old tight end at a discount and ride him up the TE ranks over the next few years.
Dynasty Trade Value Chart & Advice
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Andrew Hall is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his profile and follow him @AndrewHallFF.
