Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Tight End Fades
Sam Laporta
As a rookie, Sam Laporta finished as the number one tight end in fantasy football and third among tight ends in points per game. Laporta deserves to be one of the first tight ends off the board. He’s just being drafted too high. This year, tight end is the deepest it’s been in forever. An influx of talented young tight ends has changed the position. The top 8 tight ends are currently projected to average within 3 points per game of each other.
Because of the depth of the position, and Kelce no longer putting up 18 points a game, it’s hard to draft Laporta at his current spot. Still, Laporta is set to have another great season and I’m taking him if he falls past ADP. But, because there are so many fantasy-relevant tight ends this year, I prefer to take one later in the draft and take players like Nico Collins, Etienne, or DJ Moore in the range Laporta is currently being drafted.
Evan Engram
Engram is the current TE6 after averaging 13.5 points per game last year. Engram is a great athlete in an above-average situation and should have another solid year. However, Engram did most of his damage after the injury to the Jaguar’s WR1, Christian Kirk. Below are Engram’s splits before and after Kirk’s injury:
With Kirk: 10.31 points per game, 5.8 receptions per game, 47.7 receiving yards per game
Without Kirk: 19.32 points per game, 8.3 receptions per game, 73.2 receiving yards per game
There was a huge difference in production from Engram after Kirk was injured. The Jaguars will start next season with Kirk fully healthy and have added Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis this offseason. With Kirk back and more target competition in town, I’d expect Engram to revert to his averages of 10-12 points per game as he has in the past. Engram took advantage of a wide-open receiver room and his rank has increased because of it. I’d rather wait and draft tight ends with more of a ceiling that are going later like Kittle, Pitts, and Njoku.
Dalton Schultz
Schultz is currently ranked as TE14. Not a high rank among tight ends. Still, it’s too high for Schultz given his environment. The Texans added both Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon this offseason and both should heavily impact Schultz. Last year, Schultz’s target share was 15.7%, which was 15th among tight ends. Schultz now has to deal with the Texans adding Diggs to a receiver room that already has Nico Collins and Tank Dell to go along with a legit pass-catching RB in Joe Mixon. I don’t see Schultz being fantasy-relevant unless someone else gets injured. Take players being drafted around Schultz like Freiermuth, Charbonnet, or even Curtis Samuel.
Cade Grogan