The tight end position is sometimes one of the hardest to navigate in fantasy throughout the season. Usually, there are only three to four elite options, and the rest are all the same.
However, we saw that change significantly in 2023 as several young tight ends became reliable fantasy options throughout the year. That means heading into this upcoming season, the tight end position has never had more depth in fantasy.
So, let's dive in and take an early look at the top five tight ends in fantasy football this upcoming season.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
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- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
There should be no debate about who the top tight end will be in fantasy drafts next season. Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta should be the first selected after finishing as the TE1 in his rookie year. LaPorta put up a historic rookie campaign, totaling 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. He also averaged 14.1 PPR fantasy points per game. Now, entering Year 2, the sky is the limit for the 23-year-old playmaker.
Is Sam LaPorta a top-3 TE in the NFL? 👀 pic.twitter.com/FePMcmN38p
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) April 14, 2024
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce did not have his usual dominant fantasy season in 2023. He finished as the TE3 and averaged 14.6 fantasy points per game. That TE3 fantasy finish was Kelce's worst since 2015 when he was the TE9. However, the veteran will enter this upcoming season with a high fantasy floor. That's why he should be the second tight end off the board in fantasy drafts.
3. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride came out of nowhere last season and finished as the TE7 in PPR formats in 2023. McBride started the year behind veteran Zach Ertz on the depth chart. But, once Ertz was released, the young tight end broke out. He averaged 15 PPR fantasy points per game over the final 11 weeks of the regular season and had the third most points (149.5) by a tight end during that span. Look for the 24-year-old to be the third tight end selected in fantasy drafts this upcoming year after a breakout campaign.
4. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
With young tight ends like LaPorta and McBride climbing up draft boards next season, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews finds himself dropping a little bit. However, he could be a great fantasy value pick. The 28-year-old averaged 13.5 PPR fantasy points per game while scoring in double figures in PPR formats in seven of nine full games played in 2023. Andrews could be an underrated pick in fantasy drafts, especially if he is the fourth tight end selected.
Mark Andrews: 91.5 career PFF Grade
3rd among all players in the 2018 draft class 💎 pic.twitter.com/FEv4sHohbt
— PFF BAL Ravens (@PFF_Ravens) April 22, 2024
5. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid is arguably the biggest riser in fantasy drafts after the team traded away Stefon Diggs this offseason. With Diggs now gone, more opportunities should open up for Kincaid in Year 2. Last season, the 24-year-old was inconsistent and only averaged 9.4 PPR fantasy points per game. Nonetheless, in five starts with Dawson Knox out from Week 8 to Week 12, the rookie averaged 13.8 PPR fantasy points. Even with Knox still in Buffalo, the young tight end should be more involved after a solid rookie campaign.
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