Fantasy Football Sleepers for Superflex Drafts - Tight End Targets

Finding a gem at tight end is always a great feat, especially when a guy can fill what is often a nagging lineup hole for many fantasy football players. Tight end is the thinnest position in this fantasy game, and those who don’t draft a prime TE often scramble to find a reliable starter.

In superflex formats, drafters have to obviously focus more heavily on the quarterback position, further pushing back TE as a priority. With a lot of attention paid to landing two top QBs in earlier rounds along with the best wide receivers and running backs, some superflex league participants will elect to be more patient on TEs and will attempt to pick off value plays and sleepers later on.

In this feature, I provide my favorite sleepers to target as No. 2 fantasy TEs. These players will all have a legitimate shot of exceeding expectations and deserve even stronger consideration in deeper superflex leagues and superflex TE premium formats, such as on the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) platform. The analysis here can apply to all leagues for those looking for TE sleepers this season and lean to PPR formats.

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Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Freiermuth showed considerable promise during his first two pro seasons, as he caught seven TD passes as a rookie and then finished as fantasy TE7 in his second year. But last season, the Steelers’ QB issues halted the momentum, and he also spent time on IR with a hamstring issue. In 12 games played, Freiermuth caught 32 passes for 308 yards, becoming a fantasy non-factor.

Arthur Smith was a TE coach in TEN for 6 years before getting promoted to OC.

ATL was 3rd in the NFL in TE fantasy points last year (291.6).

& Pat Freiermuth is the ONLY TE in PIT (where Smith now calls plays) with 200+ receiving yards in a season.

If PIT doesn’t have a second… pic.twitter.com/WbZxtqNHVJ

— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) June 4, 2024

During the offseason, Pittsburgh made two significant moves to address the QB problem, adding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Diontae Johnson is also gone, leaving a void at the No. 2 wide receiver slot. Freiermuth now has an opportunity to emerge as a top receiving option for a more respectable starting QB.

Wilson will get the chance to maintain the starting role before Fields gets any shot to be the QB1. But it’s probably better for Freiermuth’s outlook if the ex-Bear can take over at some point. Wilson has never regularly targeted his TEs in the passing game. Outside of two seasons from Jimmy Graham, no TE who has played with the longtime Seahawks star has caught 50 passes or six TDs in a season. Keep in mind that Graham caught 85-plus balls in the four seasons before he arrived in Seattle.

Working with Fields last year, Cole Kmet finished as fantasy TE8. Freiermuth might still get enough receptions from Wilson if the new Pittsburgh QB just doesn’t find any other reliable targets. The Steelers TE is well-known among fantasy players, so he is more of a value play than a classic sleeper. Freiermuth is not going to be drafted as a top 15 player at his position, yet he will be very worthy of a TE2 pick because of the expected path to healthy targets and receptions.

Tyler Conklin, New York Jets

The Jets don’t have a proven, dependable No. 2 WR option, opening up more possible receiving opportunities for the TE. Mike Williams would nail down the WR2 spot if he was able to stay on the field regularly, but he is already working his way back from a knee injury before even playing a game with his new team. Rookie Malachi Corley does have the potential to emerge in a debut NFL season. Even if he does, Conklin can function as a third quality option for Aaron Rodgers.

Reports out of Jets camp have indicated that Rodgers and Conklin are developing a good on-field rapport with each other. Last season, despite the Jets’ abysmal QB play, the seventh-year TE ranked 11^th at his position with 61 receptions. He has also been durable, never playing less than 15 games in a season. Conklin may be a frequent target for Rodgers on key passing downs and in the goal line area. After the top 15 TEs are off the board, then he should be queued up as a good TE2 pick.

Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins

In 2023, Smith flashed some bigger-play abilities, apparently enough to entice the Dolphins, who needed an adequate TE to complement their explosive WRs. He logged three games with long receptions of 33-plus yards, and in two of them, the Falcons’ No. 2 TE had long receptions of 55-plus yards. The former Patriot and Titan also totaled a career-best 50 catches. Let’s also not forget that Smith finished with eight TD receptions for Tennessee in 2020.

Jonnu Smith
•Joins Dolphins high volume offseason
•Finished as a top 10 TE 5 times last szn
•Huge QB upgrade
•7.3 YACpic.twitter.com/931GwVopMb

— Nick Guglielmo (@NextLvl_Fantasy) July 27, 2024

According to PlayerProfiler.com, the new Miami TE ranked seventh in Yards Per Target (8.4) and Yards Per Reception (11.6) at his position last year. He is ticketed for a No. 1 TE role with the Dolphins and can benefit from the heavy defensive attention devoted to the top WRs, while also operating as a TD threat in the goal line area.

If Odell Beckham Jr. does not work out as a projected third WR in South Florida, Smith may become the solidified third target for Tua Tagovailoa. I really like the value you should get on him for TD and some yardage promise outside the top 20 fantasy draft picks at TE.

Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks

Fant has sometimes tantalized fantasy leaguers who have watched him as he blends strength and athletic ability with occasional glimpses of yardage-after-the-catch abilities. He has yet to catch more than four TD passes in any of five NFL seasons, though, and last year did not find the end zone once. Fant also posted career lows in receptions (32) and receiving yards (414). Part of the package in the Wilson trade that shook both Seattle and Denver, he appears to be well-regarded internally as an NFL player with the Seahawks.

We haven’t seen the desired fantasy results from Fant yet. The 2024 season, though, could be the campaign when he becomes more valuable in the fantasy football arena.  Last year, Fant had to share targets and reps with Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. Now they are both no longer with the team and the road has been cleared for the returning veteran to be the unrivaled No. 1 TE for the Seahawks.

Even though Seattle will employ a very productive trio of WRs, new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will likely look to incorporate Fant into the offensive flow more often.  The Seahawks' passing game is expected to feature a higher tempo look in 2024, and Fant can benefit from defenses focusing heavily on the WRs while also getting more receiving opportunities in key situations. Target him in the second half of the teens or early 20s at the position.

Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

This ex-Seahawk is one of my favorite deeper sleeper targets at TE. While Parkinson has caught only 25 passes in each of the last two seasons, he is likely going to have to step forward and seize a bigger opportunity with the Rams. There is no timetable for the return of Tyler Higbee (knee). The 6-foot-7, 265-pounder displays good receiving techniques and will effectively gain yardage after the catch. He also can be a good goal-line area target for Matthew Stafford.

It only took 3 plays for the Seahawks to get in the end zone 🔥

Colby Parkinson first TD (+3000) ✅pic.twitter.com/OBmmcUq4rd

— Action Network NFL (@ActionNetNFL) January 1, 2023

Parkinson will go undrafted in many leagues, but he should certainly not be left available in TE premium formats and in larger leagues. Even in a regular 12-teamer, Parkinson should be considered as a final-round draft pick, as he might be a popular early-season waiver add.

Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos

IR stints in each of his first two seasons have stalled the beginning of Dulcich’s career, and the QB situation is still considered bleak in the eyes of many observers. Recent reports out of camp on the performances and progress have been encouraging, though, and Dulcich might play an important role in the Denver passing game. If rookie Bo Nix wins the starting job, he might lean on his TE often as young passer sometimes does, and even if Jarrett Stidham starts, the journeyman-style QB knows that the 2022 third-round pick has some promise as a pass-catcher.

If Dulcich actually stays healthy, he can at least be serviceable for fantasy purposes. This is another TE who will go undrafted in many leagues but should not be off the radar, especially in TE premium and deeper leagues. He was considered a TE to watch as a rookie, and re-emerging to gain fantasy attention is possible.

Jelani Woods, Indianapolis Colts

A hamstring problem wiped out Woods’ 2023 season after he showed enough to deserve a shot at more playing time the previous year. The massive target is reportedly on a positive path health-wise. At 6-foot-7, 253 pounds, he will be a unique option for Anthony Richardson, especially in TD situations. Woods is another forgotten TE who should be kept in mind when digging deeper at the position.

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