During draft season, tight end looked as top-heavy as ever. As we gear up for Week 1...it still looks that way. Sure, everyone has some potential sleepers and breakouts they're keeping an eye on, but let's face it -- if you don't have Travis Kelce, T.J. Hockenson, or a small handful of other top-tier guys, you're sort of flying blind. Our Week 1 fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues can help ease your worries.
At least, we hope they can. Some weird stuff is going to happen in Week 1, as it always does. Remember O.J. Howard's two TDs in last year's opener? Or how about Kyle Pitts' two-catch, 19-yard dud? Few positions are as tough to figure out early in the season, and perhaps no position causes more overreaction.
We know that random TEs will catch short touchdowns every week, and we also know that even the best TEs will have down games. When those things happen in Week 1, they magnified 10-fold. Moreover, they can't really be predicted, especially when we have precious little data to help inform our start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
MORE: Watch NFL RedZone live with Sling (50% off first month)
With that said, it's usually just best to roll with your most proven TE and bank on a decent volume of targets. Favorable/unfavorable matchups are tough to predict right now (though that won't stop us from trying), so usage and talent are king.
WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy TEs Week 1?
Travis Kelce (vs. Lions), Mark Andrews (vs. Texans) T.J. Hockenson (vs. Buccaneers), George Kittle (@ Steelers), Dallas Goedert (@ Patriots), and Darren Waller (vs. Cowboys) make up our top six in Week 1. A few are dealing with nagging injuries (see below), while a few others have seemingly tough matchups.
Waller faces the toughest matchup based on last year's stats, but, again, we expect him to see seven-plus targets, so there's no way you can sit him when he's healthy. The same goes for Pat Freiermuth (vs. 49ers) despite a likely tough matchup. He might put up a dud, but given his frequent targets (6.1/game last year) and the uncertainty of most of the TEs behind him in our rankings, we'd still roll with him.
WEEK 1 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy TE waiver pickups Week 1?
It's unlikely you're going to be playing the streaming game at TE in Week 1, especially in shallow leagues, but there are a few underrated guys available in the majority of Yahoo leagues. Gerald Everett (vs. Dolphins) has a great matchup based on last year's stats, as Miami allowed the third-most fantasy points to TEs, and rookie Michael Mayer (@ Broncos) could start his career with a bang against a Broncos' defense that allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to TEs. Veteran Logan Thomas (vs. Cardinals) is in a similar spot against an Arizona defense that allowed the second-most fantasy points to TEs last year, and if Terry McLaurin (toe) is slowed, Thomas could see more looks than usual.
Our favorite streamer, at least in non-PPR leagues, is Taysom Hill (vs. Titans). Hill isn't a traditional tight end, but his overall TE3 finish in standard leagues last year shouldn't be ignored. Yes, he's the definition of "boom-or-bust," but with Alvin Kamara suspended, Hill could be used out of the backfield even more than usual. We're expecting at least five touches (he averaged 6.6 last year, not counting pass attempts), including one around the goal line, which is more than you can say for most TEs in the Nos. 8-12 range.
Who are the best fantasy TE sleepers Week 1?
Aside from Hill, Everett, Thomas, and Mayer, we also think Tyler Higbee (@ Seahawks) could really pop in Week 1. With Cooper Kupp (hamstring) iffy and L.A. lacking in the receiving corps, we wouldn't be surprised if Matthew Stafford fixated on Higbee. It doesn't hurt that Seattle allowed far and away the most fantasy points to TEs either.
Ultimately, it's tough to tab potential TE sleepers in Week 1. Snap share, red-zone usage, and matchup stats are the most important things to look at when searching for surprise TEs in a given week, and we simply don't have all that information yet.
What are the biggest TE injuries Week 1?
It's unclear just how serious any of these injuries really are, but Andrews (quad), Hockenson (back), and Kittle (groin) were all slowed in practice last week. It doesn't appear that any are in real danger of missing Week 1, but all bear watching given their prominence at this position.
Zach Ertz (knee) is also up in the air for Week 1, and given Arizona's QB situation and the likelihood he plays reduced snaps, he's best left on your bench.
UPDATE: Travis Kelce suffered a knee injury in practice on Tuesday, putting his status in doubt for Thursday's opener against Detroit.
We'll be updating these standard TE rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy TE Rankings Week 1: Who to start, sit at tight end
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Buccaneers
2 George Kittle, 49ers @ Steelers
3 Dallas Goedert, Eagles @ Patriots
4 Darren Waller, Giants vs. Cowboys
5 Taysom Hill, Saints vs. Titans
6 Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Panthers
7 Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Colts
8 Tyler Higbee, Rams @ Seahawks
9 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs. 49ers
10 Isaiah Likely, Ravens vs. Texans
11 Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans @ Saints
12 Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Bills
13 Greg Dulcich, Broncos vs. Raiders
14 Dalton Schultz, Texans @ Ravens
15 Gerald Everett, Chargers vs. Dolphins
16 Logan Thomas, Commanders vs. Cardinals
17 Jake Ferguson, Cowboys @ Giants
18 Michael Mayer, Raiders @ Broncos
19 Zach Ertz, Cardinals @ Commanders
20 Juwan Johnson, Saints vs. Titans
21 Dawson Knox, Bills @ Jets
22 David Njoku, Browns vs. Bengals
23 Dalton Kincaid, Bills @ Jets
24 Irv Smith Jr., Bengals @ Browns
25 Hunter Henry, Patriots vs. Eagles
26 Cole Kmet, Bears vs. Packers
27 Mike Gesicki, Patriots vs. Eagles
28 Sam LaPorta, Lions @ Chiefs
29 Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. Rams
30 Cade Otton, Buccaneers @ Vikings
