Everyone has a draft-day strategy for positional value in fantasy football. And if you're like me, that means waiting until the later rounds to pick a tight end. Go ahead and grab more depth for the WR3/flex spot in the lineup. Or add another running back with receiving traits and PPR upside. You can secure that quarterback with dual-threat ability, too. Continue to build up that roster, because there's still solid tight end value as we get into the later rounds of the draft.
Below are five tight ends you can target if you wait at the position, along with their 2022 projections from ESPN's Mike Clay. And we'll start with one of my favorites.
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Current ADP: TE8
Clay's projection: 82 targets, 58 receptions, 689 yards, 4 TDs
Goedert enters the 2022 season as the unquestioned No. 1 tight end in Philly. The receiving traits are there, too. He's a top-five route runner at the position. Plus, we know he will see the ball in this Eagles pass game. Last season, Goedert was targeted on 24.1% of routes run. That's a higher percentage than Kyle Pitts in Atlanta (22.7%). And that target rate for Goedert jumped to 37.5% on play-action throws, where he logged 28 receptions at an average of 16.8 yards per grab. He will run the seams, overs and crossers for quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Will the Eagles still use the run game as a foundational piece this season? Sure. And the addition of A.J. Brown -- to play opposite of DeVonta Smith -- has to be brought into the discussion as well. With no competition for targets at tight end, however, and a possible uptick in red zone opportunities, Goedert could win you your league at a very reasonable ADP. And that's why I have him as TE6 in my non-PPR rankings.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Current ADP: TE11
Clay's projection: 88 targets, 63 receptions, 560 yards, 4 TDs
The Steelers' quarterback situation doesn't really move the needle with Mitch Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett competing for the No. 1 job. But I really like how Freiermuth can be deployed in an offense that should be much more flexible and scripted in the pass game this season.
We know he can find the end zone. All seven of his touchdown receptions last season were posted in the red zone. And he logged seven games with multiple red zone targets, which led all tight ends. He's a big-body target, with the size to box out defenders or high point the ball on contested throws. Even with an anticipated regression in scoring output, Freiermuth can be deployed often on high-percentage throws in Matt Canada's offense. To me, he's a TE1 target who will be sitting on the draft board late in 10- and 12-team leagues.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Current ADP: TE13
Clay's projection: 78 targets, 52 receptions, 546 yards, 6 TDs
Henry won't see high-end target share in this Patriots offense with the run-game volume and Jonnu Smith also getting reps. In 2021, however, Henry posted the second-most PPR points per target (2.19) at the position, higher than Mark Andrews (1.98) and Travis Kelce (1.91). Plus, he emerged as Mac Jones' top red zone option, catching eight of his nine touchdowns inside the 20-yard line. A savvy route runner in scoring position, Henry can find soft windows or establish leverage to the ball.
Banking on the same touchdown production from Henry could be dicey. I know that. But given the amount of red zone targets (17) and end zone targets (12) he saw last season, plus Jones' ability to throw with both location and anticipation, the Patriots' tight end is on my radar as a late-round pick in 10- and 12-team leagues, with TE1 upside in non-PPR formats.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Current ADP: TE15
Clay's projection: 85 targets, 56 receptions, 602 yards, 4 TDs
Kmet is my sleeper pick at tight end this season. The door is open for him to see a boost in both target volume and scoring opportunities. In the six games last season in which the Bears cut Kmet loose, having him run more than 30 routes a game, the tight end averaged 7.2 targets. And with Jimmy Graham now out of the picture in Chicago, paired with a Bears wide receiver group that lacks red zone matchup ability, give me Kmet as a seam-stretcher and end zone post-up option for quarterback Justin Fields.
Remember, Kmet didn't log a single touchdown reception last season. Zero. He saw just six end zone targets in total. I see a bump here for Kmet, who can flex outside or be deployed as a second-level target for Fields on defined throws. And at TE15, there is basically no draft-day cost to grab Kmet, who could be in line for a breakout season with an increase in end zone opportunities.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos
Current ADP: TE22
Clay's projection: 67 targets, 50 receptions, 512 yards, 5 TDs
This is a true upside play with Okwuegbunam, who has the physical tools to make a serious leap in fantasy production with quarterback Russell Wilson upgrading the Broncos' offense.
Okwuegbunam posted an 82.5% catch rate in '21, which ranked second among the 43 tight ends who saw more than 30 targets. He also averaged 7.4 yards after the catch per reception last season -- with subpar and inconsistent quarterback play in Denver. Slippery in space, with open-field juice, Okwuegbunam can turn underneath throws into explosive plays. And the straight-line speed is there to press down the field, too.
In deeper leagues, I'm in on Okwuegbunam, who will replace Noah Fant as the Broncos' No. 1 tight end. And with an offense under new head coach Nathaniel Hackett that will use motion and misdirection, along with vertical concepts for the tight end position, Okwuegbunam is a high-ceiling target who has a path to produce top-12 tight end numbers.