Sean Koerner — FantasyPros’ most-accurate draft ranker from 2019-21 — is breaking down his positional rankings and draft strategy for 2022.
This series is part of our PRO subscription, which will not only grant you access to these Tiers, but also to his real-time rankings as part of our 2022 Fantasy Draft Kit.
The tight end position perfectly illustrates why it’s important to think of “tiers” when drafting.
You’ll typically see these tight ends go in the same order I have listed below in your draft (with a few exceptions). Once you get to a given tier, they’ll all go fairly quick once the first TE from that tier is selected. That’s why it’s critical to understand when it makes the most sense to lock in a tight end based on your overall draft strategy.
One added wrinkle to the tight end position is that the waiver wire usually has a couple “league winners” on it every season. This has to do with most leagues only having 12-14 tight ends rostered at any given time. Therefore, tight ends like Dalton Schultz, Dawson Knox, Hunter Henry, Zach Ertz and Pat Freiermuth were all widely available during the 2021 season.
If you cannot get a stud TE early, do not panic. It’s quite possible you will eventually end up with a reliable TE1 during the season and not have to spend any draft capital in order to do so. I go more in-depth on this in my tiers.
For season-long formats: In general, my approach is to grab either TE in Tier 1. If I miss out on them, I’m more than willing to punt the position and wait to draft one in the later rounds with the intention of playing the waiver wire until I land a reliable TE1. Of course, if a tight end falls too far in the draft, I will snatch him up. In a sense, I let the tight end position come to me instead of “reaching” for anyone.
For Best Ball formats, it’s a fairly similar approach. You probably want to land at least one TE in Tiers 1-4 (no more than one) and target 1-2 TEs from Tiers 5-8. The TE position tends to be fairly TD-depedent and trickier to project week-to-week. However, you don’t have to figure out when a tight end will have a spiked week considering that aspect is taken care of with Best Ball scoring. It makes it easier to target a stud plus a couple of cheaper options later on and be set at the position.
When thinking of my Tiers below, it helps to think of visually using my projected points chart above. Here are the high-level takeaways I have when referencing this chart:
- Tier 1 carries a ton of value. The drop-off from Tier 1 to Tier 2 is the biggest drop-off at any position. Kelce and Andrews are extremely valuable because of this.
- Tier 2 does give you an edge against waiting until later. However, the market is drafting this tier a bit too close to Tier 1.
- Dalton Schultz is the sixth dot, and you can see why I consider him sort of in “No Man’s Land.”
- Tier 4 is three tight ends who are all fairly even in terms of projections, but one of these guys usually falls way too far.
- Tier 5-6 represent the tight ends we might see on the waiver wire to begin the season. If you do spend draft capital to land any of these TEs, do not feel like you need to hold on to them. Early in the season, we will want to be on the lookout for the next Schultz or Knox. Quickly pivoting to a TE in the middle of a breakout season is key when managing the position in-season.
With that, let’s dive into my tiers!
Fantasy TE Rankings & Tiers
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| Tier | Players |
| 1 | Travis Kelce (KC) Mark Andrews (BAL) |
| 2 | Kyle Pitts (ATL) Darren Waller (LV) George Kittle (SF) |
| 3 | Dalton Schultz (DAL) |
| 4 | Dallas Goedert (PHI) T.J. Hockenson (DET) Zach Ertz (ARI) |
| 5 | Dawson Knox (BUF) Pat Freiermuth (PIT) |
| 6 | Cole Kmet (CHI) Irv Smith Jr. (MIN) Tyler Higbee (LAR) Hunter Henry (NE) |
| 7 | Mike Gesicki (MIA) Noah Fant (SEA) Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN) Hayden Hurst (CIN) Gerald Everett (LAC) David Njoku (CLE) Logan Thomas (WAS) |
| 8 | Evan Engram (JAX) Robert Tonyan (GB) |
| 9 | Austin Hooper (TEN) Brevin Jordan (HOU) Mo Alie-Cox (IND) |
| 10 | Daniel Bellinger (NYG) Adam Trautman (NO) Cameron Brate (TB) Jonnu Smith (NE) Tyler Conklin (NYJ) Donald Parham (LAC) C.J. Uzomah (NYJ) Greg Dulcich (DEN) Tommy Tremble (CAR) Isaiah Likely (BAL) |
Tier 1
Travis Kelce (KC)
Mark Andrews (BAL)
Takeaway: Target Kelce and Andrews at ADP. Ideally, you will want to pair with a WR in most formats. You can survive not drafting a RB through the first couple of rounds, but it’s critical to land at least one stud WR.
Tier 2
Kyle Pitts (ATL)
Darren Waller (LV)
George Kittle (SF)
Pitts is a generational talent whose range of outcomes includes possibly becoming the greatest TE to ever play the game. The only thing that could hold him back in his second year is poor QB play from Marcus Mariota or Desmond Ridder. I have no issue with taking him at ADP, but Waller and Kittle seem a bit pricey at ADP. Waller’s upside is capped by Davante Adams’ presence and George Kittle’s production could take a slight hit with Trey Lance under center.
Takeaway: Target Pitts at ADP.
Tier 3
Dalton Schultz (DAL)
Schultz is the most critical TE of my draft strategy because once he is off the board, I would consider punting the position altogether. He is arguably the least talented TE of the top 10-15 in ADP, but is in an ideal situation. With Amari Cooper no longer with the team and Michael Gallup easing his way back from an ACL injury, Schultz will likely be Dak Prescott’s No. 2 target.
His ADP has crept up all summer and it’s at a point where he doesn’t offer too much value. I would target him if you want to go the safe route and not worry about possibly managing the waiver wire in-season to find a permanent TE.
Takeaway: Schultz is the last mid-range TE1. If you do not have a one once he is off the board, you are potentially going to be streaming the position to begin the season.
Tier 4
Dallas Goedert (PHI)
T.J. Hockenson (DET)
Zach Ertz (ARI)
My favorite aspect of this tier is that one of these TEs typically falls too far in every draft. It allows you a final chance to lock in a potential TE1.
Goedert’s stock takes a bit of a hit with A.J. Brown joining the Eagles, but he still possesses top-five upside with Zach Ertz no longer on the team. Goedert also has very little positional competition and is entering the season as the starting TE for the first time in his career.
Speaking of Ertz, he will provide a ton of early season value with DeAndre Hopkins suspended for the first six games. If he gets off to a hot start, you may want to trade him away before Hopkins’ return.
I was targeting Hockenson heavily heading into 2021, but he had a disappointing season due to injuries and the emergence of Amon-Ra St. Brown. I’m more bearish on him this season, but if he happens to be the last TE remaining from this tier, I’m OK targeting him.
Takeaway: I would shy away from taking the first TE from this tier in your draft, but typically the last remaining option from this group tends to fall too far. Whenever you see one of these TEs left in your draft, that would be the ideal time to target.
Tier 5
Dawson Knox (BUF)
Pat Freiermuth (PIT)
This group is the last of the low-end TE1 tier before the drop-off to TE2/streamers. If you end up drafting one of Knox or Freiermuth, I would urge caution in hanging on to them if they struggle early and/or there is a rising TE on the waiver wire. Every season we will see two or three guys surprise as sure-fire TE1 options from the wire. Last season, that was Dalton Schultz, Zach Ertz, Knox and Freiermuth. Be sure to check out my Streaming articles in-season as I try to flag emerging TEs.
Takeaway: It’s totally fine to target Knox or Freiermuth if you want to begin your season with a low-end TE1. However, keep them on a short leash because it’s likely other players emerge as superior options the rest of the season.
Tier 6
Cole Kmet (CHI)
Irv Smith Jr. (MIN)
Tyler Higbee (LAR)
Hunter Henry (NE)
Smith and Higbee offer the most upside and could potentially emerge as every week low-end TE1s.
Takeaway: Target Smith and Higbee at ADP.
Tier 7
Mike Gesicki (MIA)
Noah Fant (SEA)
Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN)
Hayden Hurst (CIN)
Gerald Everett (LAC)
David Njoku (CLE)
Logan Thomas (WAS)
Gesicki has been used more as an in-line TE in the new Dolphins scheme. Not only was this development unideal for his fantasy value, it also led Miami to consider trading him away. New head coach Mike McDaniel is coming over from the 49ers and will be implementing a Kyle Shanahan-influenced offense that requires a TE to be an excellent blocker (think George Kittle). I’m avoiding Gesicki at ADP.
Hurst and Everett are cheap ways to invest in Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. I view Hurst as an upgrade over C.J. Uzomah and he should be able to offer spike weeks as Burrow’s fourth target.
Takeaway: Avoid Gesicki and target Hurst and Everett at ADP.
Tier 8
Evan Engram (JAX)
Robert Tonyan (GB)
New Jags head coach Doug Pederson is known for having his TE play a key role in the passing game. Engram offers sneaky upside if he’s able to command a routes run rate of at least 70%.
Tonyan is still on the mend from the ACL tear he sustained in 2021, but it looks likely he will be able to suit up for Week 1. With Green Bay’s WR depth chart in flux following the Davante Adams trade, there is a chance Tonyan could end up Aaron Rodgers’ second or third option — plus a go-to target in the red zone. He’s worth a flier in TE-premium formats.
Takeaway: Both Engram and Tonyan offer high-end TE2 upside.
Tier 9
Austin Hooper (TEN)
Brevin Jordan (HOU)
Mo Alie-Cox (IND)
Jordan could be a “Dollar Store” Kyle Pitts this season. He has a ton of talent and the Texans plan on moving him around the formation, even as a slot WR. He offers the most upside in this tier.
Takeaway: Target Jordan at ADP.
Tier 10
Daniel Bellinger (NYG)
Adam Trautman (NO)
Cameron Brate (TB)
Jonnu Smith (NE)
Tyler Conklin (NYJ)
Donald Parham (LAC)
C.J. Uzomah (NYJ)
Greg Dulcich (DEN)
Tommy Tremble (CAR)
Isaiah Likely (BAL)
Smith, Parham, Conklin, Dulcich and Likely each offer potential high-end TE2 injury upside. Likely is the most talented of this group and it’s possible the Ravens carve a Kyle Pitts/Mike Gesicki-type role for him. He’s worth a flier in deeper leagues.
Brate benefits from the departures of both Rob Gronkowski and O.J. Howard. The Kyle Rudolph signing shouldn’t scare you away from taking a chance on Brate in spots.
Takeaway: Smith, Brate, Parham, Conklin, Dulcich and Likely are the best fliers from this tier.