Tight End Tiers: Travis Kelce and Then Everyone Else

We are inching closer to the start of the 2023 NFL season, so it’s time for the mad dash of fantasy football drafts to begin. That makes it more important than ever to put your players into positional “tiers.” Unlike my player rankings, tiers group players of similar value. So, if you miss out on a particular player, you can see others on the same tier as an alternative. And if that tier has been cleared, it might be a good idea to wait a round or two on players who fall into the next tier at the position.

I’ll cover all four of the offensive positional tiers for our fantasy football purposes. I have already broken down the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers into tiers, so now let’s move on to the final position, the tight ends.

--- Tier 1 ---

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce has his own tier, and he more than deserves it. The future Hall of Famer put up 100 more points than the second-best tight end last season, T.J. Hockenson, and he’s been the best tight end in fantasy for most of his career. He’s the lone player at the position who is worth a first-round selection in all redrafts.

--- Tier 2 ---

Mark Andrews, Ravens
T.J. Hockenson, Vikings
George Kittle, 49ers

Andrews is the lone tight end to usurp Kelce in recent years (2021), but he saw his numbers drop a bit last season. Still, he’ll remain the top option in the passing game for Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. Hockenson was a star once he was traded to the Vikings, and he’ll remain a statistical success in their high-octane offense. Kittle was amazing in the second half of last season with Brock Purdy under center, and fantasy managers hope that trend continues in the 2023 campaign.

--- Tier 3 ---

Darren Waller, Giants
Dallas Goedert, Eagles
Kyle Pitts, Falcons
Evan Engram, Jaguars

Waller has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, but he’s in a great spot to rebound with the Giants. In fact, he’s the favorite to lead the team in targets assuming he can avoid the trainer’s room. Goedert might be a safer pick than Waller, but he has a lower ceiling. Still, the veteran should average 10-plus points in PPR formats. We’re still waiting for Pitts to break out, though his quarterbacks have been partially to blame for his lack of success. Engram had a good season in 2022, but he was inconsistent, and the Jaguars now have Calvin Ridley in the mix.

--- Tier 4 ---

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers
Dalton Schultz, Texans
David Njoku, Browns
Tyler Higbee, Rams

The tight ends in this tier are for those fantasy fans who want to wait until the eighth or ninth rounds on the position. Freiermuth was pretty consistent a season ago, though his ceiling wasn’t all that spectacular. Schultz could play a big role in the Houston pass attack for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Njoku has top-12 value in Cleveland. Higbee could see a ton of targets in the Rams offense, making him a potential bargain based on his current average draft spot (141.5).

--- Tier 5 ---

Greg Dulcich, Broncos
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans
Zach Ertz, Cardinals
Dawson Knox, Bills
Cole Kmet, Bears

This tier includes a pair of sleepers in Dulcich and Okonkwo and a trio of veterans. Ertz, who has been cleared for Week 1 after sustaining a knee injury last year, could be a bargain in the double-digit rounds. Kmet was the TE8 a season ago, but can he duplicate his seven touchdowns in a Bears offense now with more weapons? Knox is now more of a TE2 with the addition of rookie Dalton Kincaid.

--- Tier 6 ---

Dalton Kincaid, Bills
Gerald Everett, Chargers
Irv Smith Jr., Bengals
Sam LaPorta, Lions

Kincaid is likely to be used more like a wide receiver in the Bills offense, but he will lose some work to Knox. Still, he’s a sleeper candidate. The same goes for LaPorta, who is already the top tight end in Detroit’s powerful offense. Everett averaged what was a respectable 8.7 points per game for the Bolts a season ago. Smith has been limited due to injuries in his career, but the Bengals’ superior offense should offer him a chance to be a matchup-based fantasy starter in 2023.

--- Tier 7 ---

Hayden Hurst, Panthers
Jake Ferguson, Cowboys
Michael Mayer, Raiders
Tyler Conklin, Jets
Luke Musgrave, Packers

Another tier, another level of sleepers (more on the deep side) at the position. Hurst is worth a late look at the top tight end in Carolina, and I like Ferguson to take over Schultz’s role in the Cowboys offense. Mayer was considered the best overall tight end in the 2023 rookie class, and the Raiders already cut O.J. Howard. Musgrave is a strong pass catcher and has the inside track to start in Green Bay.

--- Tier 8 ---

Noah Fant, Seahawks 
Mike Gesicki, Patriots
Hunter Henry, Patriots
Taysom Hill, Saints
Jelani Woods, Colts
Cade Otton, Buccaneers

This tier brings little upside, unless you like Woods or Otton to have big years. Fant is a matchup-based option, and Hill is tough to trust because of his multiple roles in the New Orleans offense. Gesicki should see more targets than Henry in the New England offense, but will they hurt each other’s value in New England?