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It is never too early for fantasy football managers to start searching for sleepers for the upcoming season.
The tight end position is top-heavy in fantasy football, with young studs like Detroit’s Sam LaPorta and Arizona’s Trey McBride and veterans like Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Baltimore’s Mark Andrews dominating the top tier. That is why if you cannot get your hands on any of those four fellows, then finding a middle-to-late round sleeper might be the best way to fill your vacant tight end spot on your roster.
Here is a look at fantasy football’s biggest sleepers and undervalued players at tight end for 2024!
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2024 Fantasy Football Sleepers and Undervalued Draft Targets – TE
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Freiermuth fell off the fantasy map and probably did not finish the 2023 season on many rosters. The 32-308-2 line he put up over a dozen games made him an afterthought in most leagues. After scoring seven touchdowns in his rookie campaign and catching 63 passes for 732 yards in his sophomore season in the NFL, Pittsburgh’s top tight end had his fantasy value ruined by a below-average offense built around the run and quarterbacks who could not hit the broad side of a planet with their passes.
Freiermuth could have a new lease on fantasy life in 2024, though. New Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith might be known for being ultra-conservative, but his tight ends were targeted 174 times last year when he was head honcho of the Atlanta Falcons. That, coupled with a quarterback upgrade and Russell Wilson now running the offense, bodes well for Freiermuth’s 2024 targets and numbers.
Freiermuth could also be the No. 2 option in the Pittsburgh passing attack now that former top target Diontae Johnson is no longer on the team. George Pickens will be the No. 1 WR, but the other receivers on the roster are no sure things. So, with all this positive juju going in his favor, I would not be surprised to see Freiermuth rebound with 70 receptions for 770 yards and seven touchdowns this year.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
The longtime veteran re-signed with the Patriots for three more years after being their top tight end the prior three. While his season ended a little early due to a knee injury, the veteran was able to still score six touchdowns and was New England’s second-best pass-catcher throughout the 2023 campaign. Henry scored 17 touchdowns over the past three years, making him the Pats’ best red-zone threat -- although that is kind of like being the calmest guy at an anger management seminar.
New England’s offense has nowhere to go but up after 2023’s hapless performance. That’s why Henry’s fantasy value has nowhere to go up, too! After a couple seasons with Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe as his quarterbacks, he will now have franchise future Drake Maye and solid veteran Jacoby Brissett as his signal-callers. Hopefully, that is an upgrade.
I was curious about Drake Maye throwing to TEs, and it looks like 24% of his completed passes were to the position last year at UNC.
We could see a big year from Hunter Henry, especially if he's used over the middle of the field. pic.twitter.com/eWgtqMdfxE— Azor al'Thor (@the_unchosen1) April 29, 2024
Henry’s fantasy worth has been more dependent on his touchdowns than his yardage over his career, but he might be in line for his first 700-yard year with better quarterback play. New England did not add any impact tight ends (Austin Hooper?) or receivers (K.J. Osborn?) this offseason, so Henry should be one of the top targets on the team again. If so, then Henry could post career-high numbers in a couple major categories even though he will be drafted as a TE2 by fantasy managers in September.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Fant had been stuck in one of the worst tight end timeshares in fantasy football since coming to Seattle in the infamous Russell Wilson blockbuster two years back. Everyone thought he would easily be the Seahawks' No. 1 TE, but he instead has to split time and targets with Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. Fant had the best numbers of the bunch, but Dissly and Parkinson combined for 42 catches for 419 yards and three touchdowns that could have been his.
The good news for Fant is that Dissly went to the L.A. Chargers and Parkinson went to the L.A. Rams this offseason, leaving Fant by his lonesome. Then, when many like myself thought Seattle was going to fill the holes with a high-round draft pick or a costly free agent, the Seahawks opted to use a fourth-round pick on Michigan’s AJ Barner and brought in former Houston backup Pharaoh Brown. Seattle also spent $21 million to keep Fant in the fold. In other words, he is the clear-cut No. 1 TE.
For whatever reason, Fant was never an integral part of Seattle’s passing attack when Pete Carroll was head honcho. That could likely change now that a new coaching staff can utilize Fant’s skill set to its highest potential. Do not draft Fant under the guise that he will become another Travis Kelce now that he has some things going in his favor. Still, 750 yards and five touchdowns is a distinct possibility if new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb uses him properly and more often than the past regime did. Fant's above-average speed can lead to bigger plays than most tight ends have the ability to produce.
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