When it comes to drafting tight ends, it pays to have a tier list handy. Unless you expend first-round draft capital on Travis Kelce, it’s tough to know exactly when to draft your tight end and who to target when you do pull the trigger. Having a good idea of when similarly ranked TEs will come off the board is critical for having a successful 2023 fantasy football draft.
To no one’s surprise, one tight end stands out in a tier of his own, but that doesn’t mean other tight ends won’t put forth solid fantasy seasons. After the undisputed TE1 comes off the board, Mark Andrews likely goes as TE2, but considering how dominant George Kittle was down the stretch last season, the fellow second-tier TE has a strong case, too.
The same can be said for T.J. Hockenson, who’ll likely go within the first four or five rounds after finishing as the overall TE4 last season. Dallas Goedert’s not far behind either after a strong season as Jalen Hurts’ go-to underneath receiving option.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2023 Fantasy Cheat Sheet
In the following rounds, Taysom Hill, Pat Freiermuth, Kyle Pitts, Evan Engram, and Darren Waller round out the top 10 TEs in standard scoring formats. If you decide to wait on your tight end, drafting an underrated TE like Dalton Schultz, David Njoku, and Gerald Everett is also viable if you’re pairing them up with a strong group of WRs and RBs. The deviation between the mid-to-low-tiered TEs isn’t too significant, so we won’t fault you for waiting until the mid-to-late rounds to snag a TE.
2023 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP
Below, we’ll break down the different strategies for drafting a TE in 2023, detailing when these players will likely be available and the best ways to maximize value during your fantasy drafts.
2023 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Top 200 | S-Flex | IDP
We'll be updating these rankings throughout the preseason, so check back for updates.
2023 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY:
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/ST
Fantasy TE Tiers 2023: Who are the best fantasy football tight ends?
Rankings and tiers based on standard, non-PPR leagues. PPR leagues could have different tiers, which are highlighted throughout the text below.
TE TIER 1
1 Travis Kelce, Chiefs
As we alluded to in the intro, Kelce is in a tier of his own. Last season, Kelce shared a spot in the top tier with the 2021 TE1 Mark Andrews, but after outscoring last season's '22 TE2, George Kittle, by 65.8 standard points, it’s only right to award Kelce the top tier. Kelce’s currently coming off the board in the upper half of the first round in standard drafts, as he’s valued as a de-facto No. 1 WR.
If you’re itching to draft the Chiefs' No. 1 receiving threat who led all players in red-zone targets (30) while sitting as the most efficient tight end (+86.6 EPA), by all means, go for it. Kansas City sits near the top of the league in vacated targets for a second straight season after losing JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman, so there’s a chance we see Kelce’s 24.9-percent target share creep closer to the 30-percent mark this season.
Sure, it may feel weird in theory to utilize your first-round pick on a TE, but it won’t feel as weird when you view him as your WR1. You’ll own a major positional advantage over the rest of your leaguemates, and given how deep the WR pool is this season, if you hit big with your WR1 or WR2 exceeding expectations, then a playoff berth is probably on lock.
2023 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Each Team
TE TIER 2
2 Mark Andrews, Ravens
3 George Kittle, 49ers
4 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings
If you’re not inclined to expend your first-round draft pick on Kelce, no worries. The crop of Tier 2 tight ends all have 150-point upside this season, but if we had to give an edge to one tight end over the other, we’d lean Andrews’ way.
There’s a sizeable gap between Kelce’s and Andrews’ ADPs, as Andrews currently comes off the board early in the third round of 12-team leagues at pick No. 28. Given the 22-pick difference, selecting an upper-echelon tight end in Andrews presents some value, especially when considering he led all TEs in target share last season (29 percent) and is now in a more pass-friendly offensive scheme.
If Kittle can replicate his dominant end-of-season stretch that saw him sit as the overall TE1 from Weeks 15 to 18 with Brock Purdy under center, he has an outside chance to compete with Kelce as the overall TE1 this season. Kittle was a red-zone beast last season, scoring a career-best 11 touchdowns, and although the 49ers have plenty of talented offensive threats, Purdy clearly has a strong rapport with Kittle. Kittle’s ADP is actually eight picks behind the next TE in Tier 2, T.J. Hockenson.
It didn’t matter what NFC North uniform Hockenson donned last season, as the fantasy TE4 produced in both the Lions and Vikings’ offenses, scoring 129.4 points in standard formats. Hockenson’s ADP pegs him as the 44th overall pick while Kittle’s ADP comes in at pick No. 52. Drafting either of these elite tight ends in rounds four or five makes for a strong pick, as both players have a chance to end the season averaging 10-plus points per game and giving you a leg up on almost all of your competition at the TE spot.
2023 AUCTION VALUES (Standard & PPR):
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Ks | Overall
Fantasy TE Draft Strategy 2023: When should you draft a tight end?
TE TIER 3
5 Dallas Goedert, Eagles
6 Taysom Hill, Saints
7 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers
8 Kyle Pitts, Falcons
9 Evan Engram, Jaguars
10 Darren Waller, Giants
Goedert is kind of in a tier by himself, as he's much "safer" than the rest of the Tier 3 TEs, but he doesn't have as high of a ceiling as the Tier 2 TEs. Because of his stable floor, he provides some value at his current ADP (68). Fantasy Pros actually lists two other Tier 3 TEs going off the board before Goedert, but his reliable week-to-week production gives him the edge over two other TEs with higher ceilings.
The most controversial third-tier TE is Hill, whose ADP of pick No. 174 comes in significantly lower than our valuation. Please keep in mind that these tiers are based on standard rankings. In PPR leagues, Hill would be much lower in the next tier. The versatile Saints' weapon ended 2022 as the TE3 in standard formats, scoring 136.8 points (8.6 ppg). New Orleans' backfield is more crowded, but he'll likely see 70-plus carries and at least nine total TDs for the fourth-straight season. Since his ADP pits him more as a Tier 5 tight end, you’ll likely get away with selecting him in the later rounds.
Freiermuth’s posted two solid seasons to begin his career and likely takes another step forward in Kenny Pickett’s first full season at QB, giving him some mid-round appeal with an ADP of pick No. 93. You shouldn't reach for him, but he can provide decent value if you don't get one of the elite TEs.
Pitts, Engram, and Waller all have much higher ADPs than Hill and Freiermuth, but name value and past production play a large role in their superior ADPs. Pitts did sport the second-highest target share among TEs (27.3 percent), but it didn’t translate, as over 40 percent of his targets were deemed uncatchable. Sure, he’s in line for a better season-long output with Desmond Ridder under center, but we’re not sure he sniffs his rookie-season production that saw him eclipse 1,000 yards.
Engram resurrected his career last season in Jacksonville under Doug Pederson, but he’s a tight end with significantly more appeal in PPR formats after ending ‘22 with an aDOT of just 6.2 yards. Jacksonville’s also adding Calvin Ridley to their receiving corps, and with Engram vaulting up the TE rankings relative to last season, there’s not much value in drafting him at his ADP (pick No. 91) this season.
Waller rounds out the Tier 3 tight ends, and while he sat as a Tier 1 TE just a couple of seasons ago, an injury-riddled ‘22 coupled with a move to the Big Apple sees a decrease in his ‘23 preseason ranking. That said, Waller is arguably the most talented receiving option in the Giants' offense, so there’s a chance he outperforms his ADP and turns into one of the steals of the draft.
A portion of your league will likely wait until Tier 3 to grab their TE, but just know if you go this route, your tight end won’t have a super-high ceiling. Consistency is fine, especially at TE, but you shouldn't reach for any of these players. If they fall to you, great, but you can find some potential breakout TEs several rounds later.
FANTASY DRAFT STRATEGY:
Snake | Auction | Best ball | Dynasty | IDP
Fantasy TE Rankings Tiers: Sleepers, breakouts, and bounce-backs
TE TIER 4
11 Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans
12 Jake Ferguson, Cowboys
13 Greg Dulcich, Broncos
14 Zach Ertz, Cardinals
15 Tyler Conklin, Jets
16 Dalton Schultz, Texans
17 Dawson Knox, Bills
18 David Njoku, Browns
19 Tyler Higbee, Rams
Tier 4 doesn’t house the most prominent names, but there’s plenty of upside within this group of nine TEs. Sleeper candidates Chig Okonkwo and Jake Ferguson headline the tier, but several veterans, such as Zach Ertz, Dalton Schultz, and David Njoku, also make for solid late-round draft picks.
Speaking of those sleepers, Okonkwo and Ferguson are both in line for an increased role in year two as they move into starting roles. With both TEs likely to see significantly higher snap shares, a TE1 finish is well within the realm of possibility, and they make for great value picks if you wait at the position.
There’s a good chance Ertz isn’t on the field during Week 1, as he’s still recovering from a season-ending knee injury, but there isn’t much competition for targets once he’s back on the field. The same goes for Schultz, who could emerge as C.J. Stroud’s preferred underneath option in his first season with the Texans. We still like Ertz as a top value pick, but you'll need another TE to tide you over for the first few weeks.
Despite signing a hefty contract extension last season, Knox’s role could diminish with Buffalo taking fellow TE Dalton Kincaid in the first round. Njoku remains significantly undervalued in fantasy after seeing the second most red-zone targets among TEs last season (20), though we're a little worried about Elijah Moore stealing looks.
These TEs make for stable enough TE1s if the rest of your position groups are strong. If you’re set on playing the waiting game at TE, selecting a Tier 4 guy is the way to go. Unless one of these TEs is on the board well past their ADP, it’s probably best to avoid drafting a Tier 4 guy as your backup (unless you draft two Tier 4 guys within three rounds of each other). Your Tier 1-3 TE will almost always have a higher ceiling, at least early in the year, so you're better off targeting a Tier 5 or 6 as your backup (if you want a backup at all).
Fantasy Tiers 2023: TE deep sleepers and streamers
TE TIER 5
20 Gerald Everett, Chargers
21 Dalton Kincaid, Bills
22 Irv Smith Jr., Bengals
23 Cole Kmet, Bears
24 Noah Fant, Seahawks
25 Mike Gesicki, Patriots
26 Juwan Johnson, Saints
27 Hunter Henry, Patriots
There are still plenty of TEs with starting upside in Tier 5, but it’s likely these tight ends will serve as Week 1 backups. Everett and Smith Jr. could very well have the most upside among this group, as they reside within high-octane offenses featuring two of the game’s elite QBs.
Kincaid might be the biggest sleeper candidate from this group, as the rookie TE looks to emerge as the Bills’ TE1 and trusted red-zone threat. Kmet’s viewed as an integral part of the Bears' offense, and while it’s likely his receiving TD output takes a step back, his high snap share numbers (94.1 percent) make for a low-risk, high-reward selection.
Fant, Gesicki, Johnson, and Henry profile as your typical bye-week streamers and matchup-dependent starts. Neither guy is especially flashy, but each tight end has touchdown capabilities that give them standard league appeal.
TE TIER 6
28 Sam LaPorta, Lions
29 Michael Mayer, Raiders
30 Cade Otton, Buccaneers
31 Logan Thomas, Commanders
32 Durham Smythe, Dolphins
33 Jelani Woods, Colts
Unless you’re in a deep league, chances are each Tier 6 tight end goes undrafted, but it’s worthwhile to bookmark these TEs on the off chance your TE1 fails to live up to expectations. A third of this tier consists of rookies (Sam LaPorta, Michael Mayer), while the others (Cade Otton, Logan Thomas, Jelani Woods, and Durham Smythe) sit as their squad’s TE1 when healthy. Despite the fact the non-rookies sit high on their team’s depth charts, their week-to-week production will likely be too volatile to make them every-week starters.
As is the case with the lowered-tiered rookies, they garner significantly more appeal given we don’t truly know what their ceiling/floor is. It’s traditionally hard for rookie tight ends to carve out a significant role in their team’s offense in year one, but this year’s group of rookies was highly touted. Their early-round draft selections verify that. At the very least, drafting them as depth pieces isn’t a bad move.
