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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
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.

Editor's Note: Discover RotoBaller’s top Fantasy Football Sleepers to gain an edge in your drafts. Our free who to draft tool and expert picks spotlight undervalued players, breakout candidates, and late-round gems for all league formats.

 

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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF