Best Fantasy Football Draft Strategy – Late-Round Tight End
When drafting fantasy football teams, many managers find the tight end position to be a headache. Players like Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews, Trey McBride, and Dalton Kincaid are highly sought after. However, acquiring one of these players requires using a top-50 pick this year which makes the late-round tight end draft strategy the best fantasy football draft strategy in 2024.
As mentioned above, a late-round tight end is one that you draft after pick 100. However, even if you’ve passed the first 100 picks, that doesn’t mean it’s time to pounce. Patience is key when executing the best fantasy football draft strategy. Don’t just grab any tight end—there are specific tactics to consider. I don’t just pick anyone; I draft with a clear purpose and strategy in mind. These tight ends are all outside the top 100 according to the latest Fantrax ADP.
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Late-Round Tight End
As mentioned above, a late-round tight end is one that you draft after pick 100. However, do not just think that because you have gone through the first 100 picks, now is the time to pounce. It is crucial to be patient and not just grab any tight end. There are a few tactics that I like to consider when selecting a tight end. I do not play the game of simply choosing anyone; I draft them for a specific reason.
Target Competition
I like to analyze where tight ends stand in terms of target competition. Last season, Amon-Ra St. Brown led in targets, with Sam LaPorta coming in second. No one expected LaPorta to perform so well as a rookie, especially with the Lions offense improving due to the addition of David Montgomery in free agency and the selection of rookie Jamyr Gibbs in the first round.
Additionally, Jameson Williams, who was a second-year wideout, brought hope. However, that hope faded as LaPorta emerged as a fantasy darling who aided many managers throughout the season.
Similarly, Trey McBride was considered a sleeper last summer due to limited target competition and having only Zach Ertz ahead of him. With Ertz being the primary receiving option, our belief was that McBride had the potential to emerge as a valuable player. Despite this, we overlooked him in most drafts and acquired him off the waiver wire in the majority of leagues. If you were lucky, you may have even grabbed him for a cheap amount of your FAAB.
Athleticism and Opportunity
When opportunity presents itself, athleticism plays a major role. Tight ends who are relatively unknown have been signing lucrative contracts. This is because they excel as blockers and are viewed as additional offensive linemen. While their opportunities are significant, they may not be as appealing from a fantasy football perspective.
Those who are pass catchers have a real opportunity. When we look at the top tight ends based on ECR (expert consensus rankings), these guys were at worst the No.3 targets on their respective teams.
Now as we look at the trends from last season, we see that all these players in the top 10 tight ends have been the top 3 target-getters on their teams. While considering this, is there an opportunity for them to move up and surpass someone in the top 10, even if they are projected to be No.4 in targets? The simple answer is yes, but the question remains – who can achieve this, and how?
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Best Late-Round Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth (ADP: TE16; 133)
Last season, Pat Freiermuth struggled to produce, averaging less than seven PPR fantasy points per game due to horrible quarterback play. Notably, he missed five games due to a hamstring injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers were tough to watch with Kenny Pickett at quarterback. However, things are looking up in Pittsburgh this offseason.
Pickett was traded, and the Steelers acquired Russell Wilson and traded for Justin Fields. They also traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. There are rumors of the Steelers trading for Brandon Aiyuk as well. With the current setup, Freiermuth is expected to be the No.2 target behind George Pickens.
Before his struggles last season, Freiermuth saw 79 targets in 2021 and 98 targets in 2022. With the lack of depth in the wide receiver core, Freiermuth should see more targets this year and has a chance to bounce back as a low-end TE1 in fantasy football.
Luke Musgrave (ADP: TE17; 167)
In five of his 10 games, Luke Musgrave scored 8 PPR points before a lacerated kidney forced him to miss the second half of the season. Despite a crowded wide receiver group, Musgrave is aiming to become the No.1 tight end for the Green Bay Packers. When Musgrave was sidelined, fellow rookie tight end Tucker Kraft seamlessly stepped in and performed just as effectively.
Although competing for targets with Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs presents challenges, Musgrave appears to be a strong TE2 option. If he can continue his performance from last season, he has the potential to emerge as a starting tight end toward the end of the depth chart.
Tyler Conklin (ADP: TE19; 184)
The disrespect of Tyler Conklin is uncalled for. Conklin has seen 87 targets each year since 2021, putting him as TE10, TE9, and TE13 in targets over that span. While the quarterback play hasn’t done much for Conklin, I am hoping Aaron Rodgers will give him more opportunities on the field.
As long as Rodgers plays at his best, Conklin could potentially see a fourth straight year with 87 targets or more. I prefer drafting Conklin late over players like Dallas Goedert or T.J. Hockenson. Overall, Conklin is looking like a solid late-round tight end this year for fantasy football purposes.
Hunter Henry (ADP: TE20; 198)
Many people believe that the New England Patriots are avoiding all players outside of Rhamondre Stevenson. However, as you reach the late rounds of your draft, consider Hunter Henry as a great option to pair with another tight end. Henry had a strong start and finish to his season but was inconsistent in between.
With the addition of new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who previously coached for the Cleveland Browns, a team known for their tight end-heavy offense, Henry could see a boost in production. More importantly, in fantasy football production.
Ben Sinnott (ADP: TE23; 212)
When it comes to drafting rookies, transitioning from college to the pros is toughest at the tight end position, if you are high on Brock Bowers, consider looking at Ben Sinnott as well. Sinnott, often undrafted in fantasy football drafts, is a player I like to pick up late and stash on my team. Although Zach Ertz holds the starting position, you may have to wait longer for Sinnott to shine.
This situation is reminiscent of the McBride story from last year, and we all saw how that turned out. Patience is key when stashing a player like Sinnott. However, if a better waiver wire option emerges and there is no news on Sinnott, it may be time to move on but keep an eye on him.
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