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

2021 TE Rookie Class - NFL Draft Early Look

Justin Carter breaks down the tight end rookie class for the 2021 NFL Draft to project their long-term fantasy football values in redraft and dynasty leagues.

Let's talk about Kyle Pitts.

Sorry, sorry, sorry. I mean, let's talk about the 2021 tight end class, which is headlined by Kyle Pitts, but also features some players who aren't Kyle Pitts.

Below, you'll find some analysis of some of the tight ends that should be drafted this year. They're in no particular order other than the fact that Kyle Pitts is first because he's an elite tight end prospect who could easily be drafted in the top-10 this year.

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

 

Kyle Pitts, Florida

You know how usually there will be a lot of debate about who is the top prospect at each position as the draft approaches?

Yeah, not this year when it comes to tight end. Kyle Pitts is the guy in 2021.

The only tight end consistently being mocked in the first round, Pitts has a chance to sneak inside the top-10 by the time draft night arrives. And with the tight end position being fairly down league-wide, he could pretty swiftly establish himself as one of the top players in the NFL at the position.

Pitts is coming off a huge season at Florida, as he caught 43 balls for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was third in college football in touchdown receptions behind Heisman winner DeVonta Smith and North Texas wideout Jaelon Darden.

Where Pitts excels is in his ability to play all over the field. Sure, he can be an in-line tight end, but more than anyone else at his position in this class, he can be moved all over the field to create mismatches. His size makes him a huge mismatch when he's on the outside, and I definitely want to see how Pitts fares against elite corners and if his size advantage is negated by their speed advantage. He probably won't create elite separation when he moves outside, but will his size make him an elite jump-ball threat? Will linebackers be any match for Pitts? Is he going to revolutionize the tight end position???

Okay, too far on that last one. But no player in this class has a higher upside versus the rest of their position than Pitts has. He could be the rare rookie tight end who has value in fantasy re-draft leagues.

 

Brevin Jordan, Miami

Look, nothing against Jordan or any other tight end in this class, but the drop off from Pitts to the rest of these guys is fairly stark. That doesn't mean that the other guys don't have the ability to be long-term NFL starters, though.

Jordan is coming off his best collegiate season, catching 38 passes for 576 yards and seven touchdowns. He's had between 32 and 38 catches in each of his three seasons, but the yardage and the yards per reception increased each year as Jordan became more comfortable in that Miami offense.

An NFL team can use Jordan in a variety of ways and he is a solid blocker. He wasn't used in the red zone as much as we'd have liked him to be last year, but he can make things happen between the 20s.

I know a friend of the site, John Laub, is fairly high on Jordan:

Laub's breakdown refers to Jordan as having an "elite combination of size, speed, and athleticism." And while recent NFL history is littered with tight ends who fit that description and then struggle at the next level, I think Jordan is someone who you should definitely take a chance on.

 

Pat Freiermuth, Penn State

The last of the guys who feel like locks to start in the NFL, Freiermuth had 23 catches for 310 yards last year despite playing just four games due to a shoulder injury. That limited sample can make it tough to evaluate him, but the tape on him screams "good NFL receiver."

Using AddMoreFund's CFB receiving database, we can see that Freiermuth was third at the position in targets per game at 8.75, behind Colorado's Brady Russell (who played one game) and Kyle Pitts (who is Kyle Pitts).

There are concerns about his blocking ability and how that will translate to the next level, but overall his receiving skill is what shines, and it's what will ensure he sticks in the NFL as a starting tight end. He might take longer to see the field than the other two, but you aren't drafting rookie tight ends in re-draft, and outside of Pitts, you aren't taking them with year-one production in mind in most dynasty leagues either.

 

Hunter Long, Boston College

This is where things get a lot more tentative. This is a three-tight end draft, but there is some potential value deeper in the field. It's just unclear how much upside there is with the guys after Pitts, Jordan, and Freiermuth.

Long was the most targeted tight end in college football last year, with 77 targets in nine games. He was fourth in targets per game:

So, why am I not as high on Long? I'm just not sold on him having the athleticism to do what he did at Boston College against NFL defenses. He'll probably be a solid blocker and a solid pass catcher in the NFL, but it's hard to see him excelling in the ways that the first three guys can because I worry about his ability to create separation or get usage down the field. He's not as dynamic as we might want from a tight end when we're thinking specifically about fantasy football, even if he has the skills to stick as a low-end starter or high-end backup in the NFL. He'll move the chains. He'll be effective as a blocker. I just don't see the same elite upside as the others.

 

Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame

Finally, Notre Dame's Tommy Tremble.

The skill and upside are there, but the college production hasn't been. In 2019, he caught 16 passes for 183 yards and four touchdowns while backing up Cole Kmet, but we expected a breakout in 2020. Instead, we got 19 catches for 218 yards and no touchdowns, with Michael Mayer ending up as the best Notre Dame tight end.

Betting on Tremble is scary. He looks like he can be a dynamic pass-catching threat in the NFL, someone who can be used in a multitude of ways, but then we look at the actual production from him and are left with so many questions. Maybe it's just that he's never been the best tight end in South Bend, so he never got to show those skills enough? Mayer did have 4.18 targets per game to Tremble's 2.5 this year, so it makes sense that Mayer was better. But Tremble's five red-zone targets resulted in no touchdowns, which is a definite concern.

I don't know. This is a boom-or-bust kind of pick. Depending on the landing spot, I'd take a shot late in a rookie draft just because of the positional scarcity at tight end and the potential upside here.



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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Laken Tomlinson

Confident in Texans Offensive Line
J.K. Dobbins

the Starter in Denver?
JT Woods

Seahawks Release JT Woods
Darren Waller

Trade to Miami Becomes Official
Asante Samuel Jr.

Dolphins Interested in Asante Samuel Jr.
Nyheim Hines

Seeking Return to NFL
Dak Prescott

Expects to be Full-Go for Training Camp
Ajay Mitchell

Posts 16 Points in Summer League Win on Monday
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Waived by Bucks
Brice Sensabaugh

Logs 37 points in Summer League Win on Monday
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
GG Jackson II

Collects 27 Points in Summer League Loss
Ace Bailey

Scores 18 Points in Summer League Victory
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Kobe Bufkin

Cleared for Summer League Action
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Agrees to Contract Buyout with Bucks
PGA

Sungjae Im Still a Liability at Scottish Open
James Wiseman

Pacers Bring Back James Wiseman
Ludvig Aberg

is a Solid Option at Scottish Open
Tyrese Haliburton

to Miss Entire 2025-26 Campaign
Paolo Banchero

Signs Historic Five-Year Extension with Magic
Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
Kyle Lowry

Staying With 76ers
Kyle Anderson

Lands in Utah
Kevin Love

Traded to Jazz in 3-Team Swap
Norman Powell

Traded to Miami
John Collins

Dealt to Clippers
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied For 14 at Travelers Championship
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 61 at Travelers Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Tied For 17 at Travelers Championship
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 11 at John Deere Classic
Viktor Hovland

Withdraws From Travelers Championship
Tommy Fleetwood

Finishes Tied For Second at Travelers Championship
Brian Campbell

Wins John Deere Classic
Bronny James Jr.

Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
Golden State Warriors

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
Ryan Rollins

Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
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
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
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
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
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
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
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
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