RADIO
Tight ends are tricky to analyze for fantasy football, especially since the top 3-4 players at the position are the only ones that seem to make a difference. If you don't land a top-tier stud like Travis Kelce or Sam LaPorta, waiting until the later rounds to pick up a tight end is usually the right strategy.
In shallow setups, you're unlikely to need multiple tight ends. However, deep-league fantasy managers should aim to draft a tight end with a solid floor and then potentially take another shot at the position with a high-upside play. These types of players are the focus of this article.
Let's dive into three deep-league tight-end sleepers for 2024 fantasy football drafts!
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
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
2023 PPR Finish: TE7 (6.9 FPPG)
2023 Standard Finish: TE12 (9.0 FPPG)
2024 NFC ADP: TE18
Despite Taysom Hill finishing as a TE1 in all formats in 2022 and 2023, he's often ignored in 2024 fantasy drafts. Sure, his role could be reduced at any point, but his cost in drafts makes him easily worth selecting. The 33-year-old Swiss Army knife may not have a high weekly floor, but his ceiling is as high as any tight end in fantasy, thanks to his rushing and receiving upside.
Over Hill's last 32 games, he has rushed 177 times for 976 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 42 passes for 368 yards and four more scores. For what it's worth, he's also thrown for over 400 yards and four touchdowns. Given the lack of production by middling tight ends, it's worth eating a few down weeks for two or three massive spike performances.
TAYSOM TUDDY
📺: #NOvsTB on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqknZtA5 pic.twitter.com/AmAf1CqGIE— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023
In 2022 and 2023 combined, Hill posted at least 11.5 PPR fantasy points 13 times. He also has three performances of at least 20 PPR fantasy points during that stretch. He's best utilized in best ball leagues due to his violence, but he's worth rostering in leagues of all shapes and sizes as long as he's eligible in the tight-end spot.
Alvin Kamara is piling up wear and tear on his body, and Kendre Miller is an unproven asset to this point. Meanwhile, tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) could miss time to begin the regular season, and the Saints failed to add legitimate pass-catching weapons behind Chris Olave this offseason. Hill has continued taking direct snaps in the New Orleans backfield this offseason and could see even more receiving opportunities, so it would not be a surprise if he's a top-12 fantasy TE once again in 2024.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
2023 PPR Finish: TE18 (7.2 FPPG)
2023 Standard Finish: TE21 (3.7 FPPG)
2024 FFPC ADP: TE20
Garrett Wilson is the clear alpha in the New York offense, but everyone is wondering whether Mike Williams or rookie Malachi Corley will be Aaron Rodgers' No. 2 target. What if it's neither? Williams has battled injuries throughout his NFL career and is coming off a torn ACL, while Corley was a Round 3 pick and could take time to develop while making the jump from Conference USA to the NFL.
Meanwhile, Tyler Conklin developed strong chemistry with Rodgers last offseason, and they have reportedly picked up where they left off heading into the 2024 campaign. Despite playing with Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, and Tim Boyle last season, Conklin posted the 13th-most receiving yards (621) and 11th-most receptions (61) among tight ends and finished as a fantasy TE2 with zero touchdowns.
Aaron Rodgers ➡ Tyler Conklin 🎯#Jets pic.twitter.com/nA976ou8yq
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) May 31, 2024
If Rodgers is even close to what he once was this year, the veteran pass-catcher has a path to low-end TE1 upside. The future Hall of Fame signal-caller values dependability, and Conklin registered a 93.8% true catch rate last season, good for sixth at the position.
Conklin's profile doesn't suggest he'll have a massive year with 1,000 receiving yards, but he could develop into a strong PPR asset with plenty of red-zone and end-zone opportunities. At most, he's a better option than players going ahead of him, like Cade Otton and Hunter Henry.
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
2023 PPR Finish: TE17 (7.3 FPPG)
2023 Standard Finish: TE17 (4.4 FPPG)
2024 FFPC ADP: TE25
Despite sharing a field with Kyle Pitts in Atlanta last season, Jonnu Smith posted career highs in receptions (50) and receiving yards (582). The explosive pass-catcher joined one of the NFL's best offenses this offseason, keeping him firmly on the fantasy radar.
Jonnu Smith goes 60 yards!
📺: #MINvsATL on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/d4RDZpcMkc pic.twitter.com/Jnm39mX0GI— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2023
Obviously, it's going to be tough to earn targets in an offense that features Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but Smith can do a lot of damage with minimal touches. His eight-touchdown season in 2020 proves he can get it done in the red zone. Among tight ends in 2023, Smith ranked seventh in yards per target (8.4) and yards per reception (11.6), eighth in yards after catch (357), and ninth in contested catch rate (60%). These are promising categories to excel in given his immense target competition.
Durham Smythe isn't a legitimate receiving threat, which is likely why Miami signed Smith in the first place, so he should easily command the receiving role at the end of the line of scrimmage. As a bonus, Smith could have weekly TE1 upside if Waddle or Hill is forced to miss any time due to injury.
Ultimately, Smith is a high-level athlete, has a history of decent production, and is in an offense fantasy managers should target this season, All that said, he's well worth picking outside the top-24 TEs.
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