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In most seasons, taking a tight end early was necessary. There were only 2-4 elite options at the position, and the rest were about the same. That's why so many fantasy football managers took Travis Kelce with a first-round pick last year.
However, heading into 2024 drafts, it might be best to wait on a tight end. There are plenty of young, up-and-coming tight ends going later in drafts who could be great value picks in the middle-to-late rounds. Those playmakers will almost certainly outperform their predraft ADP.
So, here are three tight ends set to outperform their ADP in 2024. All three of these tight ends should be targets for your fantasy team after the fifth round.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024 fantasy football drafts:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Fantasy football rookie rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
Fantasy Football ADP: 69.1
Not only will Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram outperform his ADP this upcoming season, but he is the best value pick at the position in 2024. After a career fantasy year in 2023 -- in which he finished as the TE2 in PPR formats -- Engram's TE8 ADP doesn't make much sense currently.
The 29-year-old averaged 13.6 PPR fantasy points last year behind a 143-target, 114-catch, 963-yard, and four-touchdown season. His targets and catches led all tight ends in 2023, while his receiving yards ranked third at the position -- only behind George Kittle (1,020) and Kelce (984). Engram's 114 catches were also the second most all-time by a tight end in a season, trailing only Zach Ertz's 116 catches back in 2018.
If you don't prioritize the tight end position early in your fantasy football draft, be sure to target Evan Engram in the middle rounds:pic.twitter.com/YicFtLOMyw
— Moody (@EricNMoody) June 21, 2024
On every level, Engram's 2023 campaign was a success, especially in fantasy. He scored in double figures in PPR formats in 10 contests while averaging 19.3 PPR fantasy points in the final six weeks of the season. The seven-year veteran also saw at least seven targets in 13 of 17 games. With Calvin Ridley now gone, don't expect his high involvement in the passing game to stop.
As a result, Engram is a fantastic pick at his 69.1 ADP on Sleeper. He should remain one of Trevor Lawrence's top targets in the passing game, and his connection with Lawrence should only grow in Year 3 together. In his first two seasons in Jacksonville, the 29-year-old has finished as the TE5 (2022) and TE2 (2023). So, fantasy managers can anticipate him finishing somewhere around there in 2024. That makes him a steal at his TE8 ADP.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Fantasy Football ADP: 87.7
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is coming off a career year in 2023. Ferguson caught 71 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns last season. He also finished as the TE9 in PPR formats while averaging 10.4 fantasy points per game. Now, entering his third year in the NFL, look for the 25-year-old to fully break out in 2024.
Following the departure of Dalton Schultz last offseason, Ferguson jumped into that TE1 role in Dallas and immediately established himself in the middle of the field for Dak Prescott. He saw at least six targets in 11 of 17 regular-season games last year, including in each of the final six contests of the season. The former Wisconsin product also reeled in 10 catches for 93 yards and three touchdowns in the Cowboys' playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Jake Ferguson post-Bye last season:
🔘 7.1 targets per game
🔘 81% snap share
🔘 85% route participation (ELITE for TE)In one playoff game he went 10-93-3 on 12 targets and produced 48.3 #SFB14 fantasy points
He scored 23+ Fish Bowl fantasy points five times in 2023, not bad!
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) July 10, 2024
That high target share on an elite offense makes Ferguson an easy pick at his TE11 ADP. The Cowboys offense ranked first in points per game (30.1) and fourth in yards per game (379.3) in 2023, and that shouldn't change this upcoming year. With the team also releasing Michael Gallup this offseason, the 25-year-old tight end could see a few extra targets every game.
If Ferguson can see another 100 targets in 2024, look for the tight end to outperform his 87.7 ADP on Sleeper. He has an elite quarterback in Prescott throwing him passes, and the 25-year-old really started to get going after the Cowboys' Week 7 bye. From Week 8 to Week 18, he scored the sixth-most PPR fantasy points (131.1) at the position. Now, entering Year 3, the young tight end can take his game to new heights in 2024.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Fantasy Football ADP: 125.3
It makes sense why Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is going so late in drafts this year. He had a rough 2024 season, catching just 32 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns. Freiermuth also missed five games from Week 5 to Week 10 due to a hamstring injury. So, his TE16 ADP is likely a solid spot for him in drafts. However, the 25-year-old can definitely outperform that TE16 ADP.
Freiermuth actually finished higher than that in his first two NFL seasons. In 2021, he finished as the TE13 in PPR formats while averaging 9.4 fantasy points per game. Then, in 2022, he finished as the TE8 while averaging 9.3 fantasy points. Last year was a rough fantasy year for the young tight end, as he finished as the TE30. But there are certainly things working in his favor heading into Year 4.
For starters, having Arthur Smith as his offensive coordinator could be a good thing for Freiermuth. After being fired from the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, Smith comes over to run things in Pittsburgh's offense. Last year, Atlanta's tight ends (Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith) had the third-most combined targets at the position among all 32 NFL teams. The Steelers also upgraded their quarterback room after signing Russell Wilson in free agency.
Russell Wilson ➡️ Pat Freiermuth at #Steelers OTAs! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1Fmrji56Ke
— Steelers Update (@SteelersUpdate1) May 28, 2024
Despite struggling a bit in 2023, Wilson is an upgrade at the position over Kenny Pickett. That should definitely help Freiermuth in fantasy this season. On top of that, the 25-year-old could establish himself as the second option in the passing game. With Diontae Johnson leaving this offseason, look for the former Penn State product to see more targets in 2024. So, take a chance on him at his 125.3 ADP because the potential is there for him to outperform his TE16 ADP.
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