For the first time in many years, tight end no longer feels like a one- or two-man position, with a minefield of unreliable and/or uninteresting names beyond the top tier. Just take a quick look at our consensus position rankings; you can tell yourself a good to great story about any of the first twelve names.
If you only play in fantasy football leagues of typical size and shape, you may not find it necessary to draft any tight ends who actually qualify as a Sleeper (however you choose to define that terrible and complicated term).
However, we recognize that many of you have fantasy needs that go well beyond the top of the rankings at each roster position. For you, we are pleased to offer a group of four TE sleepers who have the talent needed to deliver a top-10 season – if things work out.
If not for the presence of Mark Andrews on Baltimore’s roster, Likely would be an easy top-10 tight end, possibly challenging for top-six status. It has excelled whenever pressed into serious use. Last year, when Andrews was sidelined for the final six games of the regular season, Likely had 21 catches for 322 yards and five touchdowns. Extend that level of production over a full 17-game season and you have a contender for overall TE1 status.
He probably ranked fifth among all receivers and tight ends last year in yards after catch per catch (7.4) – a stat that syncs with his many highlights:
Baltimore’s receiving room isn’t so rich in talent that Likely and Andrews couldn’t coexist as quality starting fantasy options. Coach Harbaugh is at least making some noise about how he will likely be involved in a meaningful way. As an end-of-draft pamphlet, it’s probably the best there is at this point.
In fact, Kraft finished slightly ahead of Likely on the YAC/REC leaderboard last season (7.5), because virtually every time he was targeted, he did something like this:
Once he started playing meaningful snaps for the Packers, he became an impact receiver. Kraft has thrown 28 balls for 344 yards and two hits on 35 targets over the past eight weeks as a rookie, consistently playing more than 90 percent of snaps. He handed over a green score in the postseason against the Niners, also. Kraft is a serious talent.
Unfortunately, Kraft is competing for targets in what may be the league’s deepest receiving corps — and it’s not like he’s Green Bay’s best tight end either. Luke Musgrave was excellent last year as a rookie before an injury disrupt your season. Also, Kraft suffered a chest injury in May, so he’s not coming off an ideal offseason. Still, he was a player who jumped off the screen in his first year, which makes him worthy of a late-draft flyer in deep formats.
When a hyperathletic player Tight End University slides as far up the draft board as Fant, it’s a gift we shouldn’t pass up. Keep in mind that Seattle’s offense should be very different in 2024 with new OC Ryan Grubb drafting it; passing volume should not be a concern.
Fant is still just 26 years old and entering his sixth NFL season and just signed a two-year, $21 million contract to remain in Seattle. We should also note that Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson have moved, which has organized the depth chart at tight end. Assuming good health, Fant is well-positioned to produce a career year.
In fact, Otton ran the second-most routes among all tight ends last season (568), finishing behind only Evan Engram. His catch rate improved to 70.1% and he made solid gains in almost every receiving category. When the playoffs arrived, Otton had two of the best statistical efforts of his career, catching 13 passes for 154 yards and a score against the Eagles and Lions. This man can be a problem for opposing defenses close to the goal line:
Otton tied for sixth at his position in red zone targets last season (14), so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he scored six or more in his third NFL season. He’s clearly behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the Bucs’ receiving pecking order, but he’s obviously not behind anyone else. Otton has been a sneaky player since he entered the league, rarely leaving the field. Assuming his red zone usage holds up, he has a path to weekly fantasy relevance.
