The 2021 NFL season is almost upon us, which means that Fantasy Football players are drafting their rosters for this year. While everyone focuses on the running back, wide receiver, and quarterback position first and foremost, the tight end position is a major difference maker in most leagues. Teams with productive tight ends are much more difficult to beat. Nevertheless, in this post, we're looking at Fantasy Football tight end sleepers.
Just like when the game is actually being played on the field, the tight end makes a huge difference. Some tight ends in Fantasy Football will score five points, while others have the potential to put up 30 fantasy points in any given game. Those are the guys that can completely shift the tide when it comes to the Fantasy Football playoffs.
Looking ahead at the upcoming season, there are obviously a handful of tight ends that everyone will want. Among those names are Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller. Outside of the elite group of tight ends, there are plenty of “sleeper” picks that players should be well aware of and should consider targeting.
All of that being said, let's dive in and rank the top five Fantasy Football sleepers at the tight end position in 2021.
Fantasy Football Tight End Sleepers
5. Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Let's start this list off with a guy that everyone knows. Gronkowski has been a superstar throughout the majority of his career, but when he decided to join the Buccaneers and play with Tom Brady again, he was placed a bit on the back burner.
That isn't saying that Gronkowski hasn't been productive. He caught 45 passes for 623 yards and seven touchdowns in 2020 for Tampa Bay. In the playoffs, he racked up eight catches for 110 yards and another two touchdowns.
Gronkowski is a guy that everyone should be targeting late in their Fantasy Football drafts. He isn't going to be a super big scorer every single week, but Brady loves and trusts him. That alone makes him a decently valuable late-round target at the tight end position.
4. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
Moving from one former superstar to another, Ertz is already being written off by most Fantasy Football players. He had a major down season in 2020 with the Eagles, but writing him off is a huge mistake. Ertz is still a more than capable tight end and in a new-look offense could turn things around in a big way.
Should the Eagles still consider trading him, as they were rumored to be wanting to do all offseason long, Ertz would again become a valuable Fantasy Football target. The teams that would target him would be searching for more weapons for an existing quarterback. Think of Ertz playing with a quarterback like Kyler Murray.
Ertz caught just 36 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown last season. He may not break back into the superstar category, but Ertz is a guy that you should not shy away from taking later on in your draft.
3. Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots
Next up, the Patriots signed two tight ends this offseason to give Cam Newton and the offense more firepower. Hunter Henry is the name that everyone is talking about, but Smith could end up being the real steal for New England.
Smith put together a solid campaign with the Tennessee Titans last season. He racked up 41 receptions for 448 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers may have flown under the radar, but the Patriots love utilizing their tight ends.
Henry is going to be the No. 1 tight end and there is very little doubt about that. However, Smith will have a lot of opportunities as the No. 2 tight end. Not to mention, Henry has struggled his entire career with injury issues and Smith could quickly find himself as the top tight end on the field very quickly.
2. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are going to be a very interesting team to watch this season on the offensive side of the football. Matthew Stafford was acquired in a big offseason trade that sent Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions. Having a quarterback like Stafford is a massive upgrade over Goff and Sean McVay's offense will be even more dangerous.
Higbee has been one of the most underrated tight ends in the NFL over the last couple of years. He hasn't put up massive numbers, but he caught 44 passes for 521 yards and five touchdowns in 2020. Back in 2019, he caught 69 passes for 734 yards and three touchdowns.
No one should be drafting Higbee early in their draft, but he is a solid fallback option. Los Angeles has an offense that utilizes the tight end heavily and Stafford is a massive addition for them. If Higbee forms a good connection with Stafford, he could end up being a massive Fantasy Football sleeper.
1. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
Finally, this list would not be complete without adding one of the biggest sleepers in the entire Fantasy Football season. Robert Tonyan was extremely productive for the Packers last season. His name hasn't been talked about a lot, but Fantasy Football players should be keeping a close eye on him and shouldn't shy away from making him a TE1.
Tonyan caught 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2020 season. He earned the trust of Aaron Rodgers, who loves throwing to tight ends and always has. Looking ahead to this season, Tonyan could have an even bigger role in the offense.
Standing in at 6-foot-5 and nearly 240 pounds, Tonyan has great speed and athleticism for the tight end position. He can create mismatches against almost every single defense in the NFL. This is a guy that you should absolutely target in your Fantasy Football draft, but he could go much, much later than he should.
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