In 2023, a mere 11 tight ends averaged double-digit fantasy points per game in PPR leagues, and of those 11, none averaged more than 15 points per game.
Meanwhile, there were 19 wide receivers and 14 running backs who averaged more than 15 points per game. There were 49 wide receivers and 38 running backs who averaged double-digit points per game.
So what’s the point?!
TIGHT ENDS ARE NOT THAT VALUABLE.
Now, is it really nice to have a reliable fantasy tight end? Yes, absolutely.
Is it necessary to have a top-five or even top-10 tight end to win your league? Absolutely not.
Tight end is a luxury position and, aside from Travis Kelce in 2022, it is never worth it to draft a tight end before the fourth round in standard fantasy football leagues.
With that being said, there are two premium tight ends in this year’s class, and if you can land one of them, you’ll have a distinct advantage most weeks in your matchups.
Here are the 10 best dynasty fantasy football tight ends in the 2024 draft class:
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
Age: 21 (22 in December)
Dynasty Draft Projection: Top-5 pick
Analysis: Brock Bowers is far and away the best tight end prospect in this year’s draft class. In fact, to call him “just a tight end” is a gross devaluation of his talent. To quote Friday Night Lights, “He can spin left, he can spin right, don’t make no difference. He can block, tackle, score the touchdown, snap the ball, hold the snap and kick the extra point. Hell, the boy will fill up the Gatorade cooler, walk the dog and paint your back porch. I tell ya, that boy can flat-out play football.”
The Bottom Line: Brock Bowers has the capability to become the ultimate fantasy football X-factor because, while he’ll technically be listed as a tight end, he could boast the production of a wide receiver. With him being the rare exception to the aforementioned rule on fantasy tight ends, Bowers should be a top-five pick in dynasty drafts. A case could even be made for him to be the first overall pick. He’s just that valuable.
2. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
Age: 21 (22 in March)
Dynasty Draft Projection: Mid-2nd round pick
Analysis: Thanks to all the hype surrounding Bowers, Ja’Tavion Sanders isn’t quite getting the recognition he deserves. Sanders is a sure-handed (zero drops in 2023) vertical threat and a matchup nightmare for linebackers. If it wasn’t for having to share the field with Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy and Jonathon Brooks, Sanders would have compiled a much more prolific college career. Sanders’ big downfall is that he’s a below-average blocker, and while that’s far from a career killer in today’s NFL, it could keep him off the field full time for a lot of NFL teams, especially early on.
The Bottom Line: There are three tight end tiers this year when it comes to dynasty drafts. Brock Bowers is in Tier 1 by himself, Ja’Tavion Sanders is in Tier 2 by himself, and literally every other tight end in this class is in Tier 3. There’s a sizable drop-off from Bowers to Sanders and then a massive drop-off from Sanders to the next guy. If you’re in desperate need of a tight end and you miss out on Bowers, do whatever you can to draft Sanders because the position really starts to thin out after the top two guys.
3. Theo Johnson, Penn State
Age: 23 (24 in February)
Dynasty Draft Projection: 4th round
Analysis: Theo Johnson has the potential to be a mismatch tight end, with a 6-foot-6, 259 pound frame, an 81-inch wingspan, and the speed and acceleration to run a 4.57 forty with a 1.55 ten-yard split. The most perplexing thing about Johnson’s game is his near non-existent RAC ability despite that impressive athletic profile. In fact, Johnson’s Relative Athletic Score was a staggering 9.99, which is second-best among 1,105 tight ends from 1987 to 2024. Despite the eye-popping numbers, Johnson only averaged five yards after the catch (t-101st) and forced merely two missed tackles (t-108th) all season, according to PFF.
The Bottom Line: If you want to take a late-round flyer on a tight end, Theo Johnson is your man, but you’d be banking almost entirely on his absurd physical traits being developed at the pro level. Best case scenario, Johnson can eventually secure a role as a team’s go-to red zone threat.
4. Cade Stover, Ohio State
Age: 23 (24 in June)
Dynasty Draft Projection: 4th round
Analysis: Previously a defensive lineman/linebacker, Cade Stover converted to tight end in 2020, and didn’t carve out a prominent role with the Buckeyes until 2022. While Stover is a solid tight end that you would want on your NFL team, his fantasy value leaves a lot to be desired. He has an above-average ability to chew up yards after the catch, and he didn’t drop a pass in all of 2023, but his ceiling as a fantasy contributor is low, as it’s hard to imagine him ever becoming a team’s unquestioned No. 1 option at the position.
The Bottom Line: For a guy who has only played tight end for four years, Stover has shown a lot of growth and promise in a short amount of time. If he continues to improve he could potentially be a top-15 tight end someday, but the fact that he’s already 24 years old makes realizing those lofty dreams unlikely.
5. Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
Age: 21 (22 in June)
Dynasty Draft Projection: Late 4th-Early 5th
Analysis: It would not be surprising at all if Ben Sinnott is the third tight end taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s big, athletic, and incredibly versatile. During his time at Kansas State, he lined up in the backfield, inline, and in the slot. Sinnott is quicker than he is fast, and if he gets drafted by the right team he could carve out a ‘Kyle Juszczyk’ type of role, though that might not be best for his fantasy output.
The Bottom Line: Ben Sinnott is a really fun tight end prospect who can create with the ball in his hands. He’ll likely become a fan favorite wherever he goes, but his touches could be limited by his role.
- 6. Jaheim Bell, Florida State
- 7. Dallin Holker, Colorado State
- 8. Erick All, Iowa
- 9. AJ Barner, Michigan
- 10. Tip Reiman, Illinois
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