Besides kickers and defences, tight ends are often the least loved fantasy position. Most of them are inconsistent and don’t put up many fantasy points. They don’t get many yards and are often very touchdown dependent. Some get drafted super early, while others get drafted very late. It can be hard to know what to do with them so I hope this guide helps. This is how I’d go approach TE strategy in 2023.

Travis Kelce: Go Big or Go Home

Kelce averaged 18.6 PPR points last year. George Kittle was second with 13.4. That means that Travis Kelce averaged over 38% higher than the competition. With such a positional advantage, I think he is deserving of being taken in the first round.

Mark Andrews: Proven Upside

The Baltimore TE is the only player I think has a realistic shot of overtaking Kelce. Last year, he averaged 17.7 fantasy points and the Ravens are saying they want to pass more. He was hindered last year by injuries to both himself and his quarterback, but he should have a nice bounce-back season if they can stay healthy. Mark Andrews and Kelce are special because they each should be the top targets on their respective offences. His ADP has him in the third round and I believe that is justified.

Every-Week Starters

There are a few players who should have a solid enough role to be set-and-forget pieces at the TE position. T.J. Hockenson, George Kittle, Dallas Goedert. The first two are being drafted in the 4th and 5th rounds so I won’t have them in many leagues. I don’t see them as so far ahead of the other options to warrant passing on RBs and WRs there. Goedert is being drafted at the 6th/7th round so he is someone I’d consider at that price.

Probable Starters

These are names I think could be in the above tier. However, there are also reasons for concern. Kyle Pitts has immense talent but could be on one of the worst passing offences in the league. Darren Waller could be the top target on his team. However, he is on a new team so his production is still questionable. Pat Freiermuth has been a reliable player but he also has had a limited ceiling. Evan Engram had some boom games, but he was not reliable and Calvin Ridley will add target competition there. I would probably just take the cheapest of these players. Since ADP shows they can fall to the 9th round, that means they could be the last of my starters, but I probably still wouldn’t take them that early.

Late Targets

Some like to just wait until the last few rounds to take TEs since many think the position is too unstable outside the top 2. David Njoku, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Dalton Schultz, Tyler Higbee, and Gerald Everett are TEs I wouldn’t hate having if I ignored the position until the end of the drafts.

Wrap-Up

If Kelce was available in the late 1st, I’d take him. Also, if Andrews was available in the 4th, I’d take him. If Hockenson, Kittle, or Goedert were available in the 7th, I’d take them. And if Pitts, Waller, Freiermuth, or Engram were available in the 10th, I’d probably take them. After that, I’d just try to snag one of Njoku, Okonkwo, Schultz, Higbee, or Everett before they disappear.

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