Welcome to the first installation of NFL best ball tiers for the tight end position. Tiers help contextualize the gaps in player profiles and provide useful insights when selecting players. For example, a running back tier may only have one player remaining, while receiver or tight end have multiple. In this situation, it may be prudent to select the final running back from this tier. This piece will break down the tight end position into tiers, providing explanation to each.
Make sure to check out our regularly updated NFL Best Ball rankings and projections page.
Ready to up your Best Ball game to the expert tier? Matt Gajewski has a guide on how to do just that; he breaks down everything, from stacking strategy to specific draft times to general roster construction.
Best Ball Tight End Tiers
Best Ball Tight End Tier 1
The elite tier of tight ends is not quite as strong as years prior, but these are still weekly difference makers that set the position apart.
Sam LaPorta
LaPorta ranked sixth in target share (21%) and yards per route. Now entering Year 2 without Josh Reynolds in the offense, LaPorta could see further growth to his role.
Travis Kelce
Even at age 34, Kelce ranked third in target share (22.7%) and second in yards per route last year (at least 50 targets). The Rashee Rice suspension could aid Kelce into a larger target share in 2024.
Trey McBride
McBride led the tight end position in yards per route but ranked 10th in target share (19.6%). With Marvin Harrison Jr. entering the offense, McBride is more likely to function as the de facto WR2 in the offense. There is still a lack of target competition with only Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson behind him.
Best Ball Tight End Tier 2
These tight ends are likely to finish as TE1’s, but they face some obstacle to the overall TE1 status.
Mark Andrews
Andrews ranked fourth in yards per route run in 11 games (including playoffs) last year. Isaiah Likely played outstanding football in his absence, leading to some role questions. Despite the talk of 12 personnel, few teams ever eclipse the 30% mark in today’s NFL.
Dalton Kincaid
With Stefon Diggs moving to Houston, Kincaid may operate as the top pass catcher in Buffalo. He already commanded 17.7% of the targets last year and ranked 12th in yards per route.
Kyle Pitts
Atlanta moves on from Arthur Smith to a presumed pass-first offense under Zac Robinson. The Falcons also moved from Desmond Ridder to Kirk Cousins under center. Pitts ranked 15th in yards per route last year but battled MCL and PCL injuries. His 17.6% target share may not rise, but Atlanta should pass far more often.
Best Ball Tight End Tier 3
This is a strong tier, but the offensive/player concerns are stronger than tier two. Each tight end has an outside chance to finish in the top 3.
Evan Engram
In a volume-heavy season, Engram finished ninth in yards per route but second in target share (23.6%). Jacksonville moved on from Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones but added Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis. His target share might fall slightly, but there is a decent chance it will remain constant.
George Kittle
Kittle ranked third in yards per route at the tight end position, but his route rate trails many other tight ends due to his prowess as a blocker. He also competes with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Christian McCaffrey and now first-round rookie Ricky Pearsall for targets.
Jake Ferguson
Ferguson ranked 14th in yards per route with a modest 16.9% target share. He presents one of the less volatile targets in this range.
David Njoku
Njoku ranked seventh in yards per route and fifth in target share (21.5%) last year. Much of his success came with Joe Flacco under center and not Deshaun Watson, which presents a slight concern. The team also added more competition in the form of Jerry Jeudy.
Brock Bowers
Despite coming in as the 13th overall pick and one of the best tight end profiles of all time, Bowers faces significant obstacles in Year 1. The Raiders have one of the worst quarterback situations in football: Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. They also play a run-first style and project for just 6.5 wins. Even worse, Michael Mayer is solid competition at Bowers’ position.
Dallas Goedert
The clear third option behind DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, Goedert accounted for a 19.1% target share and ranked 19th in yards per route. Jalen Hurts also caps his touchdown upside due to the quarterback sneak. Philadelphia employs a run-first attack as well.
Best Ball Tight End Tier 4
The smallest tier, both tight ends have a path to a higher ranking if everything breaks their way. In a worst-case scenario, they may see their targets come in well below expectation.
Dalton Schultz
Schultz notched the 12th best yards per route and finished with a 17.2% target share. The target share likely falls with a fully healthy Tank Dell and the newly acquired Stefon Diggs. However, the overall efficiency of the offense should lead to big games.
Pat Freiermuth
In a run-first offense with poor quarterback play, Freiermuth will rely on volume. He only saw 15% of the targets last year, but Diontae Johnson departed for Carolina. Freiermuth posted poor efficiency, ranking 21st in yards per route.
Best Ball Tight End Tier 5
Tight ends in this tier either play part-time roles in strong offenses or full-time roles in poor offenses. A few just stand as the clear third or fourth option for their team.
Taysom Hill
New Orleans hired Klint Kubiak to coordinate their offense. Does he use Hill as often as previous coaches? If so, Hill’s spike weeks are worth a bet in double-digit rounds.
Cole Kmet
Kmet quietly ranked eighth in yards per route and target share last year (20.4%). The efficiency may increase with Caleb Williams under center, but a receiving room of Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore could squeeze his target share.
T.J. Hockenson
Hockenson led all tight ends in target share last year but didn’t repair his torn ACL until Jan. 29. Early reports have him missing at least six games.
Luke Musgrave
Musgrave registered 1.41 yards per route to Tucker Kraft’s 1.13. The split between the two remains to be seen.
Noah Fant
Fant only participated in 50% of Seattle’s routes last year, but there is less competition. He is still no higher than fourth in the target pecking order.
Hunter Henry
Henry ranked 23rd in yards per route, but he played for a bottom-3 offense in football. Everything is different in England from Alex Van Pelt at offensive coordinator to Drake Maye at quarterback.
Best Ball Tight End Tier 6
Tight ends in tier six have unstable roles, but a path to significant playing time in a best-case scenario.
Cade Otton
Nothing has changed from last year’s team, where Otton played almost every snap and ranked dead last in years per route among 27 qualifiers with at least 50 targets. This is a bet on the occasional touchdown.
Tyler Conklin
Conklin participated in 68% of the routes last year and should be in line to do so again in 2024. The return of Aaron Rodgers could cause him to finish higher than this ranking.
Isaiah Likely
Likely rules, but teams almost never play 12 personnel more than 30% of the time. Likely had four catches through the first eight games last year.
Ben Sinnott
Washington drafted Sinnott at 53rd overall to compete with Zach Ertz and John Bates. He could play anywhere from a rotational to a full-time role.
Chig Okonkwo
Okonkwo took a step back in an increased role in 2023. He dropped to 18th in yards per route and now faces increased competition with Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd in the fold.
Jonnu Smith
There is a case for Smith to come in much higher. He shockingly ranked 10th in yards per route and should provide a significant upgrade on Durham Smythe in Miami.
Best Ball Tight End Tier 7
Tier seven contains touchdown dependent, part time players.
Juwan Johnson
Johnson only participated in 47% of the routes last year, and only Jimmy Graham departed. Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill still have roles.
Colby Parkinson
Reportedly running as the TE1 in Los Angeles (Rams).
Michael Mayer
Dawson Knox
Mike Gesicki
Cincinnati has seldom used the tight end under Burrow, but most of them have been atrocious. Gesicki’s inability to block likely prevents him from a full-time role.
Theo Johnson
Greg Dulcich
Tucker Kraft
Will Dissly
Hayden Hurst
