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

Best-Ball Pre-Draft Values - Tight End

Pierre Camus highlights tight ends worth drafting in best-ball leagues before the 2021 NFL Draft. These TEs are great value picks and draft targets at their current ADP in FFPC leagues.

With just a couple of weeks left before the NFL Draft, it might be tempting to take a wait-and-see approach to best-ball leagues, mocks, or fantasy football activity in general. After all, everything is about to change!

For serious best-ball players, this is the wrong approach. We understand that the current ADP is about to get shaken, not stirred, and many players will see their ADP rise or fall dramatically based on where skill players are selected.

Phil Clark has already covered the best value picks at wide receiver in depth, so now it's time to hone in on tight end. Knowing that FFPC uses TE-premium scoring of an extra half-point per reception, it is more critical to target the right one. These are the most desirable tight end targets based on current pre-NFL Draft ADP in FFPC  best-ball leagues.

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

 

Noah Fant, Denver Broncos - 67 ADP

There now appears to be a good chance the Broncos land a quarterback like Trey Lance at the ninth spot in the draft. The first three picks are bound to be QBs but after that, we can definitively rule out Cincinnati, Miami, or Carolina from taking one. The Lions made a point of acquiring Jared Goff rather than another draft pick in the Matthew Stafford deal because they apparently believe in him, so that scratches them out. Atlanta has too much invested in Matt Ryan still and has other pressing needs, so I would be shocked if they take a QB. That means an upgrade could be in store while the worst case is another year of Drew Lock or the addition of someone like Teddy Bridgewater.

All things considered, Fant was fortunate to even approach TE1 status in fantasy considering he missed a game and was catching balls from Lock, Brett Rypien, and Jeff Driskel. Let's not forget the Kendall Hinton game either where the team completed exactly one pass on nine attempts. Fant is a receiver in a tight end's body and simply needs some stability in the offense to reach his potential. If you miss out on the top three tight ends early on, Fant is the best Tier Two value.

 

Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings - 84 ADP

Smith's value jumped up once Kyle Rudolph signed with the Giants in free agency. This is not unlike his target share jumping up late last season after a slow start to the season.

There isn't much consistency here but Smith could experience a third-year breakout as the main tight end. The Vikings seem content to stick with the duo of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson at wide receiver, not having added anyone of consequence through free agency. We know they will continue to address the defense on draft day and have to address the hole at left tackle as well. Smith could be third in line for targets in Minnesota. He and Rudolph combined for 58 receptions and 699 yards on 80 targets last year. If he inherits those stats on his own, it makes him a top-eight fantasy tight end in 2021 yet is being drafted as the TE12.

 

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles - 123 ADP

It was a year to forget for Ertz, who was drafted as the TE4 on average, in front of Darren Waller. It's not just the fact he missed five games that hurt fantasy teams; he recorded a career-low 9.3 yards per reception and an abysmal 4.7 yards per target. By contrast, Waller averaged 11.2 yards per reception and 8.2 yards per target. Despite the massively disappointing season, in the time he played Ertz was eighth among tight ends in target share at 18.9% even with Dallas Goedert on the field with him. He's technically still an Eagle but the contract stalemate hasn't been resolved and Ertz could be shipped off elsewhere before or even during the NFL Draft.

The ideal landing spot would be Indianapolis where he could be reunited with Carson Wentz in a TE-friendly offense. Jacksonville and Buffalo also have openings at the position but haven't been linked to Ertz in trade talks. Either way, Ertz could wind up as a big riser just weeks from now. Even if he plays out his final days in Philly, a healthy Ertz should outperform last year's version, especially if Jalen Hurts is the real deal.

 

Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks - 139 ADP

It's easy to forget that Everett was drafted in the early portion of the second round by the Rams three years ago because of his athleticism and receiving ability. Everett had a 91st percentile College Dominator rating coming out of South Alabama and posted superior workout metrics.

This never translated to superior production on the field, unfortunately. Everett showed incremental improvements in total yardage each season but reached a career peak of just 417 yards in 2020 while again taking a backseat to Tyler Higbee. Higbee was on the field for 77% of the team's offensive snaps while Everett was at 61% and Higbee running 35 more routes.

Now that Everett has moved on to Seattle and is attached to Russell Wilson rather than Jared Goff, he becomes much more intriguing. Greg Olsen has retired, Jacob Hollister has gone to Buffalo, and Luke Willson remains unsigned. Seattle hasn't replaced David Moore at receiver yet either. While I expect them to draft a wideout in Round 4 of the NFL Draft or sign a discount veteran, neither option should impact Everett, whose value could steadily climb throughout the offseason as drafters realize his potential.

 

Chris Herndon, New York Jets - 216 ADP

No, this isn't another declaration that every Jet is going to boom in a post-Adam Gase environment. We don't know how Zach Wilson will handle his transition to the pros, assuming that's who they select with their second overall pick of course. We also can't assume the team won't bring in more competition at tight end beyond Tyler Kroft. Herndon will get first crack to keep the starting job, now he just has to prove he can do something with it.

Herndon is a post-hype sleeper that is easy to forget about between his injury-lost season in 2019 and the forgettable/regrettable season the whole Jets team put together in 2020. He's just 25 years old though and could be in line for the type of production many expected this past season.

 

Dan Arnold, Carolina Panthers - 251 ADP

By the point when it's time to throw darts, point one squarely at Arnold. The undrafted receiver turned tight end has gone from New Orleans to Arizona to Carolina, making three teams in four seasons. One might argue that his inability to be fantasy-relevant on two of the most prolific offenses in the league renders him useless now that he's going to the Panthers. I don't care how much you like Sam Darnold, there's clearly a downgrade here from the likes of Kyler Murray and Drew Brees. But we know targets are the lifeblood of fantasy value and he now has just two viable threats to compete with in D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson at receiver. Ian Thomas has done nothing to show he is secure in the TE1 job.

Make no mistake about it, Arnold will not be asked to block. He ran a route on 97.3% of his snaps, tied with Mark Andrews for the fourth-highest mark in the NFL. The only hesitation is the fact that Carolina is very much in the mix for Kyle Pitts if he is available at the eighth pick. Still, for a last-round pick as your TE3, there is nobody with greater upside.

 

A Word About Rookies

In my previous look at FFPC values and reaches, I mentioned that rookie fever was yet to sink in. Once prospects have landing spots, their draft value jumps exponentially. This isn't necessarily the case with tight ends since it's rare for a TE to produce offensively as a rookie.

Kyle Pitts may be one of the most dynamic athletes ever at the position with a SPARQ score of 120.9 and a sky-high ceiling.

But... he's a rookie and still just 20 years old. For every Vernon Davis, there's a Rob Housler. (Also, please take note of Noah Fant's name up there.) Now, I don't anticipate him to bust in the pros but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet, especially before we see where he winds up.

Pitts has been linked to nearly every team in the NFL in various mocks at one point or another. The bottom line is that if he doesn't go somewhere guaranteed to produce a high target share because of competition, he might be overvalued in every format other than dynasty. Think Atlanta or Dallas. I can't feel comfortable drafting him as the sixth tight end, even in best ball leagues, where he'll nearly cost a top-50 pick in FFPC with its TE premium scoring.

My favorite dice roll in pre-draft best-ball leagues is Brevin Jordan. The Miami Hurricanes have been a pro-tight-end factory since the turn of the century. While not all have panned out (see: Herndon, Chris above), Jordan looks to have the best hands and natural receiving ability of any TE in this class after Pitts. With an FFPC ADP of 305 overall, there's no risk with plenty of potential reward if he lands in the lap of the Jags, Titans, or Cardinals.



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 Best-Ball League Strategy




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

Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Jayden Daniels

Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Jonathan Taylor

Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
Joe Burrow

Could Miss Three Months if he Requires Toe Surgery
Davante Adams

Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
Wan'Dale Robinson

Explodes for 142 Yards, Touchdown in Overtime Thriller
Joe Flacco

Browns Not Considering Benching Joe Flacco After Week 2
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
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
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
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?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
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
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
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
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
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
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
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
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
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

RANKINGS

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