Top 12 Tight End Fantasy Football Rankings for 2024
Welcome to the top 12 tight end fantasy football rankings for 2024. Tight ends are crucial for fantasy success, and our expert rankings will help you identify the best players to target in your draft. Discover the top performers, their projected stats, and key insights to gain a competitive edge this season. Get ready to dominate your league with the best tight end picks for 2024.
As we head into training camp and NFL preseason, it’s time for fantasy football players to turn their attention to redraft leagues. While things will change throughout training camp and the preseason, let’s look at my top 12 tight ends heading into the 2024 fantasy football season.
No. 1 – Sam LaPorta (DET)
Anyone who drafted Sam LaPorta in the final few rounds last year spent the season taking victory laps. The former Iowa star was the TE1 as a rookie, averaging 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He ranked fourth in the NFL and first among tight ends in receiving touchdowns (10). As expected, he’s shooting up our latest dynasty rankings and has cemented himself as a top option for years to come.
The Lions had little turnover on offense in the offseason. They lost Josh Reynolds but held onto offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Don’t be surprised if LaPorta builds on an impressive rookie season and repeats as the TE1.
No. 2 – Travis Kelce (KC)
Travis Kelce’s run as the clear-cut TE1 is over. However, the veteran should be the second tight end drafted behind LaPorta. His 2023 season was full of ups and downs. Yet, he averaged 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, the same average as LaPorta. More importantly, Kelce looked like a superstar during the playoffs.
The future Hall of Famer averaged eight receptions on 9.3 targets for 88.8 receiving yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 17.5 fantasy points per game in the postseason. While the Chiefs added Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown this offseason, Kelce should remain Patrick Mahomes’ go-to receiver.
No. 3 – Dalton Kincaid (BUF)
While Kincaid didn’t have an elite rookie season like LaPorta, fantasy football players should expect him to have a sophomore-year breakout. The Bills lost their top two wide receivers from last year’s team. Gabe Davis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Stefon Diggs got traded to the Houston Texans.
Buffalo signed Curtis Samuel and drafted Keon Coleman to replace them. However, either receiver can be Josh Allen’s No. 1 pass catcher. Kincaid was a fantasy star when Davis or Dawson Knox missed time last season. The former Utah star could lead the team in targets and touchdowns in 2024.
No. 4 – Trey McBride (ARI)
The 2023 season was one of two halves for McBride. He struggled to get on the field when Zach Ertz was healthy. However, the former Colorado State star was outstanding with Ertz out of the way and Kyler Murray under center. McBride was the TE4 in eight games with the star quarterback, averaging 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
He had a 29.9% receiving yards market share with Murray under center, posting a 14.4% higher rate than anyone else on the team (per Fantasy Points Data). Marvin Harrison Jr. will be opposing defense’s top concern, allowing McBride to dominate in the middle of the field.
No. 5 – Mark Andrews (BAL)
There is a change happening at the tight end position. While Andrews is still an excellent fantasy football tight end, he is no longer the clear-cut No. 2 guy behind Kelce, like the past few years. The veteran was the TE4 in 2023 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 11.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest.
However, he posted the second-lowest yards per route run rate (1.93) and the lowest aDOT (8.2) of his career in 2023 (per PFF). Despite all the hype around Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, Andrews will remain Lamar Jackson’s No. 1 pass catcher.
No. 6 – Kyle Pitts (ATL)
Fantasy players have waited years for Pitts to have a breakout season. Thankfully, it could finally happen this year. The former Florida star ranked first among tight ends in air-yards share (24.9%) in 2023 (per Fantasy Points Data). Furthermore, he was the only player with a double-digit aDOT (11.9) among tight ends with at least 25 targets last season.
More importantly, Pitts should see his target-per-route run rate take off with the addition of Kirk Cousins, as the veteran quarterback loves his tight ends. After struggling with a knee injury in 2022 and Jonnu Smith last year, don’t be surprised if Pitts is the overall TE1 in 2024.
No. 7 – George Kittle (SF)
The 49ers have arguably the top set of weapons in the NFL. Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk are outstanding pass catchers. Yet, they didn’t stop Kittle from leading all tight ends in receiving yards in 2023 with 1,020. Furthermore, the veteran was the only tight end to have over 1,000 receiving yards last year.
While he isn’t an elite fantasy tight end, Kittle has averaged at least 11.4 or more half-point PPR fantasy points per game in five of the past six seasons. Furthermore, the veteran has been a productive top-six tight end for fantasy players despite having only one year with more than six receiving touchdowns in his career. Kittle would rise in my draft rankings if Aiyuk or Samuel gets traded.
No. 8 – Jake Ferguson (DAL)
My draft plan for the tight end position this season is to draft a stud in the first few rounds or wait to pick Ferguson. He was the TE9 in his first year as the starter, averaging 10.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, the young tight end was Dak Prescott’s clear-cut No. 2 pass catcher.
Ferguson finished second on the team in receptions (71), targets (102), and receiving yards (761) in 2023 behind CeeDee Lamb. While he was third in receiving touchdowns (five), the former Wisconsin star ranked second in green zone targets (10). Ferguson should have a larger role this upcoming season after the Cowboys lost Michael Gallup and Tony Pollard in the offseason.
No. 9 – Evan Engram (JAC)
The veteran led all tight ends in several receiving categories last year, including receptions (114), targets (143), and routes run (581). Engram finished with at least 11.2% more receptions, targets, and routes run than any other tight end in 2023. However, he ranked 12th among tight ends and 54th in the NFL with four receiving touchdowns.
More importantly, Engram’s production took off without Christian Kirk on the field. The veteran tight end averaged 7.2 targets per game, a 23% target per route run rate, and 1.53 yards per route run in the 11 contests with Kirk healthy (per Fantasy Points Data). By comparison, Engram averaged 10.2 targets per game, a 26% target per route run rate, and 1.84 yards per route run in the six contests without the veteran wide receiver.
No. 10 – David Njoku (CLE)
Njoku averaged a career-high 10 half-point PPR fantasy points per game last season. However, the veteran tight end was incredibly quarterback-dependent. Notably, he was TE13 in the five contests that Deshaun Watson had at least six pass attempts, averaging 6.3 fantasy points per game.
By comparison, Njoku was the TE1 in the five games with Joe Flacco under center, averaging 15.2 fantasy points per contest. Furthermore, the veteran tight end had four of his six receiving touchdowns last year in the five games Flacco started. Unfortunately, Njoku won’t catch passes from the veteran quarterback in 2024 unless he gets traded to the Indianapolis Colts.
No. 11 – Pat Freiermuth (PIT)
While Freiermuth is coming off the worst season of his career, fantasy players should give him another shot in 2024. The Steelers’ passing attack should be significantly better after swapping out Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky for Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Furthermore, Arthur Smith taking over as the team’s offensive coordinator is excellent news for Freiermuth.
The Falcons tight ends averaged a 31.7% overall target share and a 29.3% red zone target share in 2023. With Diontae Johnson in Carolina, Freiermuth should be the No. 2 option in the passing game and see the volume needed for a breakout season in the final year of his rookie contract.
No. 12 – Brock Bowers (LV)
Fantasy players loved rookie Brock Bowers before the 2024 NFL Draft, with some ranking him as a top-six tight end in mid-April. However, his redraft value took a hit after getting drafted by the Raiders. Davante Adams (175) and Jakobi Meyers (106) accounted for nearly 53% of the team’s target share last season.
Furthermore, Bowers will have competition at tight end from Michael Mayer. More importantly, head coach Antonio Pierce wants to be a run-heavy offense, especially with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell under center. While he should have some spike weeks, Bowers might have to wait a year to have consistent fantasy value unless Adams gets traded.
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