Tight End Fantasy Football Sleepers and Targets - Best Ball Drafts (2024)

The Scott Fish Bowl is wrapping up. While the rest of redraft leagues will start drafting in a few weeks, now is the perfect time for fantasy football players to jump into a best ball draft. However, don’t join a best ball league until you know the differences between redraft and best ball fantasy football.

While there are several differences between a redraft and best ball league, the top difference is your management workload. Fantasy players don’t need to make weekly waiver-wire moves or set their lineup in best ball leagues. Instead, you draft your team and the highest-scoring lineup is selected automatically each week.

However, finding value at every position is critical, regardless of which style of fantasy football league you are playing in. Let’s look at my favorite targets and top sleeper picks at the tight-end position. ADP for this article is via Underdog Fantasy.

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Fantasy Football Best Ball Tight End Targets

Sam LaPorta (DET): ADP 36.1 | TE1

Anyone who drafted LaPorta in the late rounds of their best ball draft last year likely came away with a championship. The rookie tight end was the TE1, averaging 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Yet, he ranked fourth among tight ends in receptions, totaling 96. LaPorta was outstanding at finding the end zone, totaling 10 receiving touchdowns, four more than any other tight end.

That's a hat trick for @Samlaporta! #DENvsDET |📺 NFL Network | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/rCMVxBAnCK

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 17, 2023

Furthermore, he ranked fourth in the NFL in receiving scores. By comparison, only three wide receivers had more receiving touchdowns than LaPorta -- Mike Evans (13), Tyreek Hill (13), and CeeDee Lamb (12). While many expect Jameson Williams to have a breakout year in 2024, it’s more likely that the second-year tight end will set career highs in several categories after an impressive rookie season.

Travis Kelce (KC): ADP 39.2 | TE2

There would be no way that Kelce would last into the fourth round of best ball drafts a year ago. However, that creates a massive value for fantasy players. The superstar tight end is coming off his worst fantasy season since 2016. Yet, the Chiefs recently signed the veteran to an extension. More importantly, he played like a superstar during the NFL playoffs.

The future Hall of Famer averaged 88.8 receiving yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 17.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game during the team’s Super Bowl run. Furthermore, Kelce looked healthy and dominated every week of the postseason. While Kansas City added Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy this offseason, Kelce should remain Patrick Mahomes’ go-to weapon.

Dalton Kincaid (BUF): ADP 52.4 | TE5

While Kincaid didn’t have a massive rookie season like Sam LaPorta, fantasy players should have high expectations for him this year. The Bills traded away Stefon Diggs and lost Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason. While they signed Curtis Samuel and drafted Keon Coleman, Kincaid should become Josh Allen’s go-to target in the passing game.

More importantly, the former Utah star put up high-end TE1 numbers when Dawson Knox or Davis missed time last year. While some believe the team’s additions at wide receiver will limit Kincaid’s upside, that isn’t likely to happen. Samuel has been an afterthought the past few seasons, while Coleman didn’t stand out during minicamp. Kincaid should lead the team in targets and touchdowns in 2024.

Jake Ferguson (DAL): ADP 85.6 | TE9

Fantasy players who miss out on Sam LaPorta, Travis Kelce, and Dalton Kincaid during their best ball drafts should wait a few rounds and target Ferguson. He was the TE9 in his first season as the starter, averaging 10.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The former Wisconsin tight end was Dak Prescott’s clear-cut No. 2 receiving option behind CeeDee Lamb last year.

Ferguson finished second on the team in receptions (71), targets (102), and receiving yards (761) in 2023. The young tight end was third in receiving touchdowns (five) behind Lamb (12) and Brandin Cooks (eight). However, he should finish ahead of Cooks in receiving touchdowns this season. Furthermore, Ferguson will have a larger role this year after the Cowboys lost Michael Gallup and Tony Pollard in the offseason.

Fantasy Football Best Ball Tight End Sleepers

Pat Freiermuth (PIT): ADP 133.9 | TE14

Anyone who spent a mid-round best ball draft pick on Freiermuth last year quickly came to regret the decision. The veteran had the worst season of his career, averaging only 5.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He saw his targets (36.1%) and receiving yards per game (43.9%) significantly drop from 2022 to 2023. However, fantasy players shouldn’t let that stop them from drafting him this year.

The former Penn State star should have a bounce-back season after the Steelers hired Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator. Last year, the Atlanta Falcons tight ends averaged a 31.7% overall target share and a 29.3% red-zone target share. With Diontae Johnson in Carolina, Freiermuth should see the volume needed for a breakout season in the final season of his rookie contract.

Hunter Henry (NE): ADP 159.4 | TE18

Fantasy players should look for two things when looking for a sleeper tight end. They either need to finish first or second on their team in targets or be a touchdown-producer. Henry has never been a high-volume tight end, totaling more than 50 receptions in a season only once. However, he had been one of the better touchdown-producers at the tight-end position during his time in the NFL.

Henry ranked 23rd among tight ends in receptions last year, totaling fewer than Jonnu Smith. However, the veteran had the second-most touchdowns (six), ranking only behind Sam LaPorta despite playing on one of the worst passing attacks in the league. Furthermore, he accounted for nearly 40% of the Patriots’ receiving touchdowns in 2023 despite missing three games. The veteran should quickly turn into a red-zone target for Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye.

Jelani Woods (IND): ADP 205.1 | TE26

Unfortunately, Woods missed the 2023 season because of a nagging hamstring injury. The young tight end suffered the injury in training camp, leading to him spending the first part of the year on injured reserve. He was supposed to make his season debut in mid-November but suffered a setback, ending his year before it could start. However, Woods is an excellent last-round pick at tight end.

The former Virginia star had a productive rookie season, totaling three receiving touchdowns on only 25 receptions and 40 targets as a part-time player for the Colts. Yet, Woods was productive when he saw enough volume. The tight end averaged 9.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the two contests with at least five targets as a rookie. Anthony Richardson loved to target his tight ends last season. Don’t be surprised if Woods quickly becomes a go-to target for the second-year star.

Ja'Tavion Sanders (CAR): ADP 213.1 | TE30

Many thought Sanders would be the second tight end picked during the 2024 NFL Draft. Furthermore, some mock drafts had the former Texas star coming off the board in the first 40 picks. Unfortunately, his draft stock plummeted after a poor performance at the NFL Combine, resulting in Sanders sliding to the start of the fourth round.

However, he landed in an excellent spot for his fantasy value. Carolina has lacked a difference-maker at the tight-end position for years. Furthermore, Diontae Johnson is the only Panther guaranteed to see more targets than Sanders, as the team added several new pass-catchers this offseason. The rookie had the seventh-most contested catches among tight ends in 2023. Sanders has high expectations for himself this year and could quickly become one of Bryce Young’s favorite targets.

“I told everybody I’m trying to be the next
Greg Olsen here.” - Ja’Tavion Sanders 🫡 pic.twitter.com/9yY6ZgSVQg

— Michael Rimmer (@avl_mike) May 11, 2024

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