X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Early 2024 Fantasy Football Sleepers - Tight End

Which tight ends should fantasy football managers be focusing on this offseason as possible sleepers? Craig Rondinone looks at which players are sleepers and draft targets at the tight end position early on in 2024.

The Super Bowl may have just happened, but that does not mean fantasy footballers should waste any time looking forward to the 2024 NFL season.

It is NEVER too early to prepare for the next season of fantasy football! Some fantasy players were probably taking notes about Deebo Samuel’s lack of durability and Justin Watson’s target total instead of feeding their faces with pizza and popcorn while Super Bowl LVIII was happening. These are the people who have an edge in fantasy football leagues and a better chance of winning them.

The tight end position is top-heavy with Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, Detroit’s Sam LaPorta, and Baltimore’s Mark Andrews heading the list. This article is about the lesser-known tight ends who could be fantastic fantasy finds next year. So, who are the early 2024 sleepers and draft targets at TE? Here is my take!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Early 2024 Sleepers and Draft Targets – Tight End

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh’s top tight end was a wunderkind during his rookie year when he scored seven touchdowns and was a red-zone force thanks to his combo of soft hands and a big body. Then his receptions, targets, and receiving yards went up during his second season. But the fantasy wheels came off in his junior year (32-308-2) thanks to a hamstring injury that cost him five games and a quarterback carousel that hamstrung his stats.

While longtime staple Mike Tomlin is returning as head coach in 2024, Pittsburgh’s offense will be overhauled. Former Atlanta Falcons head man Arthur Smith will be the offensive coordinator, and while he has always been known as a run-first/run-often kind of play-caller, a new voice for the offense is long overdue. Plus, Smith likes to call pass plays for his tight ends.

Freiermuth is only 25 years old and is in the prime of his career. We have seen what he can do when a capable veteran quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger is slinging passes to him. Now, he needs Smith to draw up the perfect plays for him (especially inside the red zone) and a quarterback who can get the ball into his hands.

It might be an improved Kenny Pickett, the resurgent Mason Rudolph, or someone else the Steelers acquire in the offseason. Whatever the case, Freiermuth should be jumped on during the middle rounds of fantasy drafts.

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

Kmet caught a career-high 73 passes for 719 yards and six scores this past season to solidify himself as a top-10 fantasy tight end. So, why is he a sleeper when he has scored 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons and proven he can provide solid stats for fantasy players? Because there is a great chance Justin Fields will not be his QB in 2024.

Despite how superb WR DJ Moore and Kmet were in 2023 with him throwing the bulk of the passes, Fields is not the kind of quarterback that increases the fantasy values of his receivers and tight ends. He runs too often and throws inaccurately too often. Fields was 42nd in completion percentage and missed open receivers as often as Shaquille O'Neal used to miss free throws.

Chicago is expected to use the first pick overall in this year’s NFL draft and select USC standout signal-caller Caleb Williams, which means Fields would be traded away to make room. Williams is an infinitely better passer than Fields, so Kmet’s fantasy worth would skyrocket with a QB pinpoint passer throwing to him rather than someone with scattershot semi-spirals.

I would pencil Kmet in for 800 yards and eight touchdowns with Williams running the offense. Just look what he did with a below-average passer as his quarterback these past two seasons!

Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans

Many fantasy pundits thought 2023 was going to be Okonkwo’s breakout year after he finished his 2022 campaign on a high note. The breakout never came, though. His pedestrian 54-528-1 stats line was highlighted by fantasy failures such as going 10 straight games at the start of the season without having 40 receiving yards and not having any 65-yard games the entire year. Okonkwo did not play well, but he was also a victim of a run-first offense that lacked playmakers and consistent quarterbacking.

2024 might be the time for Okonkwo to break out, though. With a new coaching staff and offensive system under first-year head honcho Brian Callahan, Okonkwo should get a new lease on fantasy life. Top target DeAndre Hopkins is the only proven pass-catcher on the roster heading into the offseason, so Okonkwo could find himself as Tennessee’s No. 2 target in the passing attack if he takes his game to the next level.

Okonkwo has above-average speed for a tight end and will have more time to find chemistry with franchise quarterback Will Levis. 600-800 yards and a half-dozen touchdowns could be in store for Tennessee’s top tight end, and he probably will be available in the late rounds of most drafts as many fantasy managers will think of him as a TE2 and not someone with TE1 ability.

Tyler Conklin, New York Jets

I believed Conklin was going to have the best year of his career this past season because Aaron Rodgers was slated to be his quarterback. That plan evaporated in the span of one series, though. While Conklin still mustered a career-high 621 receiving yards and tied his personal bests with 61 receptions on 87 targets, his numbers were disappointing because Rodgers infamously tore his Achilles and was done for the season one game into it.

With Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Siemian throwing to him, Conklin was unable to score one lousy touchdown despite catching plenty of passes. While his reception production made his fantasy value better in PPR leagues, Conklin did not do enough to register on fantasy radars.

So, why is Conklin a tight end to target in 2024? Because if we all keep our fingers crossed, maybe Rodgers will not suffer season-ending injuries in back-to-back years. A healthy Rodgers could bolster Conklin’s numbers to the 700-yard range, and he would hopefully score a handful of touchdowns with a Hall of Famer throwing to him instead of a trio of UFL-caliber quarterbacks throwing dying quails at his feet. Conklin could be an upper-tier TE2 who can be used as a TE1 on certain weeks -- as long as Rodgers is on the field more often than he is on Joe Rogan’s podcast.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Quinshon Judkins

to Have "Snaps Closely Monitored" Versus Baltimore
Jauan Jennings

a "Game-Time" Decision for Week 2, Optimism That he'll Play
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Russell Wilson

Giants Have No Urgency to Bench Russell Wilson
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Brock Bowers

Officially Questionable for Monday Night
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Christian Kirk

Ruled Out for Week 2
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Brock Bowers

Expected to Play on Monday Night
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Ryan Preece

Seems Slower on Concrete Than on Asphalt
NASCAR

Legacy Motor Club's Short-Track Speed Will Likely Hold John H. Nemechek Back
Erik Jones

Definitely Faster This Year, but Short Tracks Still a Liability
Daniel Suarez

Despite Poor Qualifying Run, Daniel Suarez Might Not Be a Great Choice
Noah Gragson

Unlikely to Be Fast at Bristol but Still Might Be Worth Considering for DFS
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
Chris Godwin

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Xavier Worthy

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Austin Ekeler

Suffers Torn Achilles
Quinshon Judkins

Expected to Play Against Ravens
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Kyle Larson

Can Kyle Larson Dominate at Bristol Again?
Denny Hamlin

One of the Best at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

All Eyes on Ryan Blaney at Bristol
Chase Briscoe

Whiffs in Qualifying, Will Start 31st in Bristol Night Race
Ty Gibbs

Could Contend at Bristol
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
Zach Neto

Dealing With Wrist Soreness
Masyn Winn

Shut Down for Rest of Season
Tarik Skubal

to Undergo Imaging on Saturday
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RapSheet: Jacory Croskey-Merritt Expected to Be Lead Back Moving Forward
Tyler Soderstrom

Scratched on Friday With Groin Tightness
Tarik Skubal

Exits with Side Tightness
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
Ketel Marte

Scratched From Friday's Lineup
Brock Purdy

Officially Ruled Out Against Saints
Jauan Jennings

Given Questionable Tag for Week 2
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Dallas Goedert

Officially Ruled Out for Week 2
Xavier Worthy

Listed as Doubtful to Play in Week 2
Jayden Reed

Hopes to Return in November Following Surgery
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Kyle Tucker

"Unlikely" to Return When Eligible on Tuesday
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Ketel Marte

Expected to Return on Friday
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Quinshon Judkins

Questionable to Make NFL Debut in Week 2
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Alexander Hernandez

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Quang Le

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Card Opener
Santiago Luna

Set For His Debut At Noche UFC 3
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Sees Little Usage in Week 2, Outlook Still Trending Upwards?
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Leads Commanders in Catches, Scores Touchdown Again
Tucker Kraft

Posts Huge Performance on Thursday
Joe Mixon

Lack of Joe Mixon Injury Updates Sparking Concern for Fantasy Managers?
Jesús Luzardo

Jesus Luzardo Strikes Out 10 in Win
Aaron Judge

Matches Yankees Legend with Two-Homer Game
Anthony Volpe

Playing Through Partially Torn Labrum in his Shoulder
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
Charles Oliveira

Not Eyeing Retirement
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Will Smith

Scratched With Hand Soreness on Wednesday
Ketel Marte

has Foot Contusion, Expected to Play Friday
Shohei Ohtani

Won't Pitch This Weekend
MacKenzie Gore

to Start on Thursday
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For 15 at Wyndham Championship
Bud Cauley

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for Seventh at Tour Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 25th at Tour Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 19th at Tour Championship
Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied for 10th at Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for Second at Tour Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Josh Giddey

Re-Signs With Bulls for Four Years
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent
Tyler Seguin

Cleared for Action
Mathew Barzal

Good to Go for Season Opener
Dustin Wolf

Signs Seven-Year Extension
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
Malcolm Brogdon

on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer
Caio Borralho

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Nassourdine Imavov

Extends Win Streak
Mauricio Ruffy

Gets Submitted
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Taps Out Mauricio Ruffy
Paul Craig

Retires After UFC Paris Loss
Modestas Bukauskas

Scores First-Round Knockout
Bolaji Oki

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Mason Jones

Scores Comeback Win

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP