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Which tight ends should fantasy managers avoid in 2024 fantasy football drafts? Joey Pollizze looks at three tight ends to avoid in fantasy football drafts this year.
The tight end position is deeper than ever in fantasy this year. In recent seasons, there were only a few solid options, and the rest were the same. However, that won't be the case in 2024. With young playmakers like Trey McBride, Dalton Kincaid, and Jake Ferguson establishing themselves as consistent fantasy options, there are a lot more tight ends to choose from.
McBride, Kincaid, and Ferguson are just a few of the tight ends going within the top 90 picks in drafts. Those three young stars should be in store for great fantasy seasons. But there are also tight ends going around them that fantasy managers should avoid at all costs.
So, let's take a look at three tight ends to avoid in 2024 fantasy football drafts. These tight ends should be avoided at their ADP.
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Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
There's no doubt that Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is the best fantasy option at his position for the 2024 season. He is coming off an incredible rookie campaign, where he caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. That helped him finish as the overall TE1 in his first year. However, LaPorta is going too high in drafts at his current 19.9 ADP on Sleeper. Even in Yahoo! leagues, he finds himself going around pick 25.
Yes, LaPorta is the best fantasy tight end this year. He's on an elite offense that should feature him as the second option in the passing game. Nonetheless, it's not worth taking him in the second or third round when there are just as solid options going three to four rounds later. McBride, Kincaid, Kyle Pitts, George Kittle, and Evan Engram are all going between picks 45 and 68 on most platforms.
Dan Campbell says no practice for Sam LaPorta today. No team stuff for Brian Branch. Both are fine long-term, Campbell says.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) August 5, 2024
Passing on an elite wide receiver or an elite running back in the second round to take the Lions' tight end might not be the best fantasy strategy this year. Would you rather build your team around LaPorta and Keenan Allen or George Kittle and Chris Olave/De'Von Achane? The latter seems like the better all-around squad.
So, while the 23-year-old is an elite fantasy option this season, his ADP makes him someone to pass on. Building around a tight end in the first few rounds hasn't worked well for most managers in the past -- just look at Travis Kelce in 2023.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023. Njoku caught a career-high 81 passes for 882 yards and six touchdowns. That helped the 28-year-old finish as the TE6 while averaging 12.6 PPR fantasy points per game. The problem is that most of his success came without Deshaun Watson as his quarterback.
In the five full games that Watson played last year, Njoku only averaged 8.3 PPR fantasy points. In those games, he totaled just 20 catches for 176 yards and one touchdown. In the games that Joe Flacco, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, P.J. Walker, or Jeff Driskel started, the Browns tight end averaged a whopping 14.5 PPR fantasy points.
David Njoku. Season 8️⃣. Coming 🔜. pic.twitter.com/dZOKJ3vflw
— NFL (@NFL) July 29, 2024
Unfortunately for Njoku, though, Watson is back at his quarterback in 2024. That makes him someone to avoid in fantasy drafts this season. He didn't do much with him last year, and now the team added another pass-catcher in Jerry Jeudy this offseason. So, it might be hard to trust the seven-year veteran in fantasy every week. Even at his 85.9 ADP, he is not looking like a strong tight end option this year.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet has been one of the most underrated options at the position over the past few years. In 2022, he finished as the TE7, and last season, he finished as the TE8. It would be hard to imagine him finishing that high in fantasy in 2024. For starters, he has a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams under center. While Williams is an upgrade over Justin Fields, Kmet might not have that strong connection with the rookie in their first year together.
On top of that, there are just too many weapons in Chicago's offense heading into the year. DJ Moore, Allen, and Rome Odunze should all be heavily involved. As a result, Kmet could be in for a subpar year. He has seen at least 90 targets in two of the past three seasons, but that might not be attainable in 2024, given the Bears' wide receiver room and a rookie quarterback under center.
I love Cole Kmet. I was a fan of his in college. I like what I've seen throughout his NFL career. He's versatile and can play multiple roles. I'm stoked that the Bears got him a long-term deal.
All that said, I have absolutely no interest in him for fantasy football this year.
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) August 4, 2024
Kmet is priced appropriately in drafts as the TE15. However, taking him at that spot might not be the best selection. He likely won't have a high ceiling and could be the odd man out in the receiving game in this Bears offense. So, pass on him in the later rounds and take a tight end like Pat Friermuth instead.
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