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Best Tight Ends (TE) For Fantasy Football 2023

As with most topics in fantasy, the answer to this question isn’t straightforward:

Who Are The Best Fantasy Tight Ends?

Pull up our fantasy football PPR rankings, and you’ll see Darren Waller at TE6.

In non-PPR, he’s TE7.

George Kittle shows up at TE6 in non-PPR; TE7 in PPR.

It shows the importance of robust fantasy football projections.

With those as our foundation, let’s examine the best fantasy tight ends for your teams:

• Travis Kelce
• Mark Andrews
• Pat Freiermuth
• David Njoku
• Sam LaPorta
• Hayden Hurst

Best Fantasy Football TEs: Early-Round Targets

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

ADP: TE1

Is age an argument against Kelce remaining an all-world TE?

Sure. It just doesn’t hold much weight.

Father Time Can Wait

Tony Gonzalez, at 36, finished just behind Jimmy Graham as the TE2 in 2012. At 37, Gonzalez finished 1.1 fantasy points behind TE2 Julius Thomas.

Antonio Gates, at 34, finished TE3 behind Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham in 2014.

Kelce showed no signs of decline last year, his seventh straight season of 1,000+ yards. He added 27 catches, 257 yards, and 4 TDs in the postseason.

Barring an injury, Kelce's path to another overall TE1 season remains clear.

Mark Andrews, Ravens

ADP: TE2

You might think new target competition hurts Andrews’ fantasy value.

After all, Rashod Bateman, Odell Beckham, and Zay Flowers are each Round 1 WRs. 

But can Bateman and Beckham stay healthy? And can Flowers, as an undersized rookie, immediately command a sizable target share?

Andrews the Constant

No such questions exist with Andrews, who ranks second among TEs in targets since becoming a starter in 2019. He has missed one game due to injury over the past two seasons.

Sure, Andrews didn't reach his 2021-level of production last fall. Still, he performed as one of the best fantasy tight ends with a TE3 finish in points per game.

Now, with a healthy Lamar Jackson – and the arrival of pass-focused OC Todd Monken – Andrews looks poised to rebound.

Best Fantasy Football TEs: Mid-Round Targets

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers

ADP: TE9

Diontae Johnson isn’t the only candidate for positive TD regression.

More End-Zone Trips on Tap

In 2022, the 6’5, 258-pound Freiermuth turned 98 targets (and 63 catches) into only 2 scores. That’s despite improving his yards per catch, yards after catch per reception, yards per route run, and Pro Football Focus receiving grade from Year 1 to Year 2.

One issue? Steelers QBs combined for only 12 passing TDs, down from 23 in 2021.

Are we expecting Kenny Pickett to make a Trevor Lawrence-like jump? Nope. But check our fantasy football QB rankings, and you’ll see Pickett making a significant jump in raw TDs and TD rate. 

David Njoku, Browns

ADP: TE10

Last year, Njoku overcame a high-ankle sprain to finish eighth in PPR points per game.

The main question for 2023: Can Deshaun Watson regain anything close to his 2020 form?

Give Watson a Pass

We didn’t see it last year in six late-season starts. But we’re not putting much stock in that small sample.

Consider ...

• Watson’s long layoff (He sat out 2021.)
• a lack of practice time with Browns starters
• a schedule that included three of the six toughest units in fantasy points allowed.

So wipe the slate clean. Anticipate positive regression from Watson. And buy a prime-year TE who’s one of the top athletes at his position.

Best Fantasy Football TEs: Late-Round Targets

Hayden Hurst, Panthers

ADP: TE25

One of our core tenets is to pursue value above all else.

Hurst embodies that approach at TE25.

A Wanted Man

The former first-rounder enters Year 6 with a new deal that includes $13 million guaranteed. That figure led all free-agent TEs. 

What’s more: Carolina signed Hurst on the first day of free agency. Clearly, GM Scott Fitterer and new HC Frank Reich prioritized him.

Now, Hurst isn’t some splashy, big-play threat. But he projects as a spot-start option because of volume and the arrival of Bryce Young. 

Hurst sits 15th in our fantasy football TE rankings in projected targets. There are questions at WR, with unproven talents such as Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall, plus injury/decline candidates in Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark.

Sam LaPorta, Lions

ADP: TE19

Why would I draft a rookie TE? Those guys stink in redraft…

Generally, yes. Over the past 10 seasons, only three rookie TEs have finished top-10 in fantasy scoring:

• Kyle Pitts
• Pat Freiermuth
• Evan Engram

So, Why Draft LaPorta?

Here’s the thing: You’re not drafting LaPorta to capture his season-long production.

We expect only about eight or nine TEs to be every-week starters.

LaPorta might join that group in future years. But his WR-like talent (and versatility), 2023 opportunity, and Round 2 draft capital say he’ll be a fantasy streamer.

What helps: Jameson Williams’ six-game suspension. Our current projections have Williams getting 5.7 targets per game. LaPorta should earn at least some of those while Williams is out.

Coaching Changes Alter Player Values

Mark Andrews will play under a new play-caller for the first time since 2018.

Catch the impact of Baltimore’s OC change – plus the coaching impact for other teams – in a new video:

Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15 years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). His work has been featured on The Mercury News, Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.