With the NFL offseason in full swing and free agency just a few weeks away, let’s look at the current 10 tight ends in fantasy football Dynasty formats.
1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
A second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Sam LaPorta was able to have an extremely productive rookie season, catching 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. It is rare for a rookie tight end to have an immediate impact like he did, but the Lions have nailed it with his selection.
Heading into the 2024 season, there is no reason to believe that LaPorta will not be a 1,000-yard receiver next season. While he may fall short of back-to-back double-digit TD seasons, he will still be a top target in a high-scoring Lions’ offense. His age and exceptional production as a rookie make him my top-ranked tight end in Dynasty formats.
2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride had a strong second season in the NFL, catching 81 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns. He was one of the lone bright spots on a Cardinals’ team that was lacking talent on both sides of the ball. He was able to create great chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray and his production really took off with Murray under center.
McBride will remain a large part of the Cardinals’ offense moving forward, and with the team expected to add more playmakers on offense this offseason, McBride should have easier matchups next season. Being tied to an elite quarterback never hurts your fantasy value, but McBride’s age and production also factor into him being the second-ranked tight end in Dynasty formats.
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3. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
While Pitts has not lived up to the hype just yet, I still believe that he will be an elite tight end in the NFL. As fantasy managers are aware by now, the Falcons’ offense last season was extremely frustrating, as they would often refuse to involve their best playmakers in games. Pitts finished the season with only 53 catches for 667 yards and just three touchdowns. He was a 1,000-yard receiver as a rookie but has not been able to produce at that level in the past two seasons.
With a new coaching staff in place (and likely a new quarterback as well), I expect Pitts to be a key part of the Falcons’ offense moving forward. It would not surprise me if Pitts broke out next season and had a stat line of around 70 catches for 1,000 yards and around seven touchdowns. He is still just 23 years old and has all the talent to be a top tight end in the NFL.
4. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Andrews had a frustrating season since he missed six games due to injury, but he was productive when he was healthy. In 10 games he caught 45 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns. He was one of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets.
Ahead of the 2024 season, there is no reason to believe that Andrews will not be one of the league’s best tight ends next year. He is still just 28 years old and will be catching passes from one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Andrews should be expected to produce around a 70-catch, 900-yard season with six to eight touchdowns.
5. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Kincaid was selected 25th overall by the Bills in the 2023 NFL Draft and made an immediate impact as a rookie. He caught 73 passes for 673 yards and two touchdowns in a solid rookie season. While his touchdown total was low, he was able to establish himself as a trusted target in an elite offense.
In 2024, it would not be surprising at all to see Kincaid earn an even larger role in the Bills offense and become the number-two receiving option behind wide receiver Stefon Diggs. It should be expected for Kincaid to come close to 1,000 yards receiving next season.
6. Brock Bowers, TBD
While Bowers has yet to play an NFL snap, he is widely regarded as one of the best tight end prospects ever. He dominated at Georgia and will very likely be a top-10 pick in this spring’s NFL Draft. He will make an immediate impact for whoever drafts him, and it would not be surprising to see him produce a similar season to what Lions’ tight end Sam LaPorta just did as a rookie.
7. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
In his first full season with the Vikings, Hockenson produced well, catching 95 passes for 960 yards and five touchdowns. He set new career highs in both catches and receiving yards last season. He was able to establish himself as a strong option and produced while star receiver Justin Jefferson was out with an injury.
Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15, which means he will very likely miss the start of next season. At the moment, Hockenson is projected to return around early to mid-October. His status will be important to monitor as the season approaches. When he returns to the field, he will maintain a prominent role in the Vikings’ offense.
8. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Njoku produced the best season of his career last season, catching 81 passes for 882 yards and six touchdowns, all of which were career highs. He played extremely well in the final four games of the regular season and in the Browns’ playoff loss to the Texans.
As we look ahead to next season, Njoku seems to have earned a larger role in the Browns’ offense. We should see him become the number two option behind Amari Cooper in the Browns’ passing attack. However, it is worth noting that the majority of Njoku’s production came while backup quarterback Joe Flacco was the team’s starting quarterback. However, he did have other solid games with other Browns quarterbacks as well. He will look to carry his strong finish into next season.
9. George Kittle, San Fransisco 49ers
Kittle played very well last season, catching 65 passes for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns. He also played in every game last season, which was encouraging since Kittle has had some durability concerns in the past. He produced his third 1,000-yard season and his first since the 2019 season. While next year will be Kittle’s age-31 season, he has shown no signs of slowing down.
It is tough to project Kittle’s stat line for next season because of how many elite playmakers are a part of the 49ers offense. That being said, Kittle will definitely get his fair share of targets and be a valuable target for quarterback Brock Purdy. Kittle will remain a great option at tight end next season, but his age keeps him from being higher on this list.
10. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Cheifs
Kelce produced well last season, but it has to be considered a down season by his standards. He caught 93 passes for 983 yards and five touchdowns. It was the first time he failed to have at least 1,000 receiving yards since the 2015 season. His touchdown total also significantly decreased last season. He did have a very strong playoffs, which was encouraging to see since he had a tough regular season.
The 2024 NFL season will be Kelce’s age-35 season, and he has already shown signs of slowing down, so it would not be surprising to see him take another step back next season. He will still remain heavily involved in an elite Chiefs’ offense, but his days of producing 1,200-yard, 10+ touchdown seasons are likely over. Still, the fact that he is one of the few tight ends with truly elite potential earns him the final spot in this top 10.
