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2024 may finally change course and the way we look at tight ends for fantasy football. In 2023, we saw 11 players average double-digit fantasy points at the position, compared to eight the year prior. Yes, we may no longer have WR1-level production from Travis Kelce, but an influx of talent and production has leveled out the tight end position, allowing there to be value throughout draft boards.
Led by Detroit’s Sam LaPorta at pick 32, we currently have 12 tight ends being drafted in the top-12 rounds, allowing you to find plenty of production without reaching in drafts. Heck, Mark Andrews, a perennial top-three scorer at the position, is currently TE4, while last year’s breakout star and fantasy points per game leader T.J. Hockenson is drafted as the TE15. I understand the injury, but my point is that there can be high-end production found in any round.
This seemingly endless tight-end depth is exactly why I love pushing tight ends down draft boards and grabbing a few late with top-12 tight end scoring potential in fantasy football. In this article, we’ll cover late-round tight-end sleepers in 2024 fantasy football. Let’s take a look:
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Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
As with every player, we have to start by looking at their Average Draft Position (ADP). Currently, on Underdog, where the majority of Best Ball drafts for real money are taking place, Noah Fant sits at TE23, right in the middle of the 15th round.
Looking at his career production, it’s been quite lackluster. Fant’s best fantasy finish came in his sophomore season nearly five years ago, where he barely eclipsed 10 fantasy points per game with the Denver Broncos. However, the opportunity this season is tremendous. Seattle recently signed him to a two-year extension while letting backup tight end Colby Parkinson move on to L.A. There are zero other productive tight ends on this Seahawks roster, meaning Fant should eclipse a 75% snap share, a mark set by all top-12 tight end performers last season.
We’ve been blessed by the likes of LaPorta and Trey McBride, who broke out early at the position, but you have to remember how difficult it is to play tight end in the NFL. Blocking schemes are elevated, and the physical tools are so demanding it often takes players until their late 20s to earn an increased role. Fant is a former first-round draft pick and a size-speed specimen, testing in the 95th percentile in nearly all metrics. This is the perfect clash of opportunity, offensive familiarity, and physical tools for Noah Fant to smash his current ADP.
Noah Fant was drafted with pick 20 of round 1 in the 2019 draft class. He scored a 9.89 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 10 out of 855 TE from 1987 to 2019. https://t.co/yo0N3IRU7v #RAS pic.twitter.com/q0iFBW9YWa
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2022
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Another 15th-round tight end I have no issue clicking the button on is Tyler Conklin. Conklin’s ADP is slightly ahead of Noah Fant, currently at pick 179 on Underdog. While Conklin may not be the same type of athlete Fant is, the opportunity with the Jets could be even better.
In 2023, with horrendous quarterback play, Conklin was on the field for the ninth-most pass snaps among tight ends, according to PlayerProfiler. Despite this, he still finished with 87 targets, and as the TE21 in 2023, exactly where he’s being drafted.
Yes, New York added Mike Williams and drafted receiver Malachi Corley, but this tight end room remains a barren wasteland. Williams is returning from a torn ACL, and while excellent after the catch, Corley leaves a lot to be desired as a route runner. With Aaron Rodgers back under center in a higher-powered offense, there’s a clear path for Conklin to be the No. 2 or three target earner on this Jets offense.
Rodgers has supported 90+ target tight ends in the past; therefore, Conklin is being drafted closer to his floor than his ceiling.
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
Do you want late-round tight ends? You got it! The current TE29 on Underdog often goes undrafted, and it makes sense. He’s been injury-riddled after undergoing another lower body surgery this offseason and has been unable to step onto the field during minicamp.
Let the record show that it hasn't been the hamstring issue that kept Greg Dulcich out of OTAs. The hamstring was resolved by December but then he hurt his foot (which he had off-season surgery on).
Not sure if that is better or worse. But those are the facts.
— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) June 13, 2024
Don’t forget, however, Dulcich was the talk of the town in 2022, with several top-seven finishes at the tight end position while only playing 10 games. As previously mentioned, the NFL is a different beast mentally and physically for most players, and it can take their bodies years to adjust. For instance, Keenan Allen missed many games in his first few seasons, only to become one of the most consistent pass catchers in the league.
I’m not saying Dulcich is the tight end version of Allen—that would be insane—but there is proof that hard work and growth can harden a body to survive an entire NFL season. The third-year tight end has plenty of athleticism to shine in a pass-catching role on an offense void of talent. Just humor me and look at Denver’s depth chart for a minute.
The quarterback will either be check-down merchant Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, or Zach Wilson, with outside receivers Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims Jr., and Troy Franklin. Not exactly a who’s who of target earners. This offense will be searching for someone who can occupy the middle of the field and press the seams of a defense, which just so happens to be the strength of Dulcich.
Back in January, Broncos OC Joe Lombardi talked about Greg Dulcich & was optimistic about his 2024 outlook.
“If and — we expect he can — stay healthy — he’ll be a big part of what we do,” Lombardi said. “He can run, he can catch, & be a valuable piece for us when he’s playing.” pic.twitter.com/iWUlvvHfPk
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) May 22, 2024
Again, he’s mostly going undrafted, so you don’t have to spend any meaningful capital to acquire a player with a clear path to providing spike weeks for your Best Ball roster.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Last but not least, the player who never goes away. Look up grit or resilience in the dictionary, and you’ll find a picture of Taysom Hill. This is a site-specific sleeper, as Hill is listed with QB status on Underdog but has TE status on DraftKings Best Ball drafts.
Hill has averaged nearly 10 fantasy points per game over the last four seasons and can score fantasy points in many ways. Rushing, receiving, special teams, and passing are all on the board at any given moment.
Juwan Johnson will have surgery next week, per source. Injury will impact training camp. He’s going to miss some time
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) June 13, 2024
With the recent injury news to Juwan Johnson, an even larger role opens up for Hill in the receiving game. As the current TE15 on DraftKings, there is some value to be had in drafting Hill in three tight end builds, as he always provides a handful of spike weeks throughout the season.
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