Tight End Rankings #1-10 for Fantasy Football Drafts - Evan Engram, Dallas Goedert, Darren Waller, Kyle Pitts, more

August 16, 2023

Ellis' fantasy football tight end rankings #1-10 for 2023. Use his fantasy football TE rankings and TE analysis to draft winning fantasy football teams.

It’s official, the 2023 pre-season has begun! As the 2023 season looms, we welcome the final group of fantasy football fans back into the mix. This season we have had some big names change teams (see, Aaron Rodgers), a division that is made up of two quarterbacks who were top-four draft picks this year (AFC South), and of course, we have do-or-die seasons for a few veterans (Russell Wilson).

For the second year in a row, I am releasing my draft rankings in article format. I have a brief breakdown of each player and the factors I use to influence my rankings. I am starting this season off with my tight ends, as I predict the fewest changes will happen to this position as training camps begin 

Each Sunday I will be releasing a portion of my positional rankings. Two years ago I was the 61st most accurate analyst for draft rankings in the FantasyPros accuracy contest. Although last year was not as successful, I am hoping to bounce back. So without further ado, here are my 2023 positional draft rankings for tight ends. Check out my player outlook videos on TikTok @FiresideFantasy_FF.

10. Evan Engram, JAX

Despite passing the ball the seventh most times last season, Trevor Lawrence only passed for the ninth most yards. I say all of this because Engram's biggest threat to his production this season is the addition of Calvin Ridley.

It's true, this offense has a lot of mouths to feed, but all were relevant last season and there is clearly room for the volume to increase. If Lawrence takes another step forward, Engram should once again find himself among the weekly fantasy starters at the position.

9. David Njoku, CLE

Njoku has been well on his way to becoming everyone's favorite breakout TE for 2023. Outside of his elite athleticism, his production and usage have steadily increased each year. Since his return, the Cleveland QB targeted Njoku at least five times in every game but two.

If this offense can take a step forward and he can maintain this target share, he should easily find his way into the top 10 at the position. 

8. Taysom Hill, NO

I hate having Hill here. I know he is a tight end but he is more of a running back than anything. Last year he was the TE5 despite having just 77 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. All his production came from his 96 rushes for 575 yards and seven touchdowns.

As ridiculous as it may be, we can expect similar usage as the coaching staff and the weapons around him have largely remained unchanged. He won't produce every week, but if you're stuck picking between a locked-in three points at the position or Hill's potential 30-point weeks, I'll take the few zero-point weeks that'll come his way.

7. Dallas Goedert, PHI

In 2022 Goedert finished as the TE5 based on points per game. Unfortunately, he missed six games, negatively impacting his end-of-season finish. This offense was electric last season and it shouldn't slow down in 2023.

If anything, Jalen Hurts might be forced to pass more in the red zone if teams can find a way to stop them on the goal line. However, even if he passes more, Goedert is clearly the third pass-catching option on this team.

It's not often you find fantasy relevance from a TE who is not top-two on his own team’s pecking order. Goedert's involvement in one of the league's best offenses makes him the last of the locked-in options for fantasy.

6. George Kittle, SF

Kittle ended the season on fire last year. His seven touchdowns in the final four games of the season definitely led some fantasy managers to championships. Unfortunately, this production could change drastically if Trey Lance or Sam Darnold is under center to start the season.

Although I like Lance as a passer and also to start this season, we don't know how he will utilize Kittle. He has the talent and ability to be elite regardless of who is under center, however, I think the QB situation will determine whether he is top-three at the position or 4-8.

If Brock Purdy is healthy, we could see some more explosive games, however, his pace last year is almost definitely unsustainable. He is one of the rare TEs with top-two upside every week but will have his share of weeks outside of the top 10 as well. 

5. Kyle Pitts, ATL

Is this the year we finally see Kyle Pitts reach his potential? Unfortunately, with Desmond Ridder under center, it's probably unlikely. However, the team brought in Taylor Heinicke who has been known to lock in and target his top options.

Although Ridder may surprise us this season, it might be best for Pitts' production if Hienicke is under center. Either way, with the addition of Bijan Robinson, this offense will be explosive and should find a way to accumulate first downs. One of these years Pitts won't be a pipe dream, it's up to you if you want to risk the draft pick this year.

4. T.J. Hockenson, MIN

Currently, Hockenson is missing some of the training camp due to an undisclosed injury. As a result, he has moved from my TE-three to my TE-four. Where Hockenson lacks in upside, he makes up for in target volume.

After being traded in Week Eight last season, he had six or more targets in every game (outside of Week 18). Despite drafting Jordan Addison, the departure of Adam Thielen leaves an additional 107 targets on the table. That should be plenty to cover Addison and add to Hockenson’s impact. As soon as he arrived in Minnesota, we saw Kirk Cousins lean on the reliable TE.

So much in fact that on the last play of their season, which was a fourth and long, Cousins dumped it off to Hockenson for a four-yard gain. Now that's commitment. Hockenson is in line to be a clear top-five option for the position.

3. Darren Waller, NYG

One of the most interesting trades of this offseason, in my opinion, was the Giants bringing in Waller. Daniel Jones has notoriously had no elite weapons outside of Saquon Barkley, and now he has Waller, along with a plethora of solid WRs.

The key to Waller's success will be if he can stay healthy and get consistent target volume on a team that is now loaded with playmakers from the slot position. If he becomes Jones' top target, serving as the only big body in the middle of the field, he could volume his way into the top five. However, I believe Waller will need Jones to pass for more than last year’s 15 touchdowns to crack that mark.

2. Travis Kelce, KC

Death, taxes, Ochocinco is open, and Travis Kelce is the best TE in fantasy. Those are the four guarantees in life and it's hard to dispute any of them. Kelce is arguably the all-time best to play the position and is linked to a QB who also happens to be on pace to be the best to play his position.

He is locked into volume and touchdowns, two things that are hard to find in the current TE landscape. I don't think it's possible to draft Kelce "too high" based on what he brings to your fantasy roster.

1. Mark Andrews, BAL

Yes, I have Andrews above Travis Kelce. Although he is the riskier of the two, you can flip a coin for who you think will finish first. Across my rankings, I am buying into this Ravens offense having more passing volume than we've seen in recent years.

The last time we saw Lamar Jackson as a prolific passer (2021), Andrews managed to finish as the top fantasy TE. There's no wrong answer between these two, it's all personal preference.

Thank you for reading. Please check out my other positional rankings being released this month!

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