Fantasy football players scramble for breakout candidates and sleepers every season. Some people toss their seasons away on calculated risks while others ride hidden gems to championships. Ahead of the hectic 2020 NFL season, there are a handful of fantasy football breakout tight ends that could raise their ADPs significantly.
Several tight ends earned consideration for this article but didn't make the cut. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Tyler Eifert remains intriguing. Last season, the 29-year-old finished 21st in points among tight ends in standard leagues. Injuries are a concern for Eifert, but he's in position to be Jacksonville's starting tight end, which significantly boosts his fantasy football value.
Will Dissly finds himself in a similar situation, except the competition is stronger. Dissly averaged the seventh-most points per game at his position last season. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old suffered a season-ending injury for the second year in a row. He's competing with Greg Olsen for starting snaps.
Eric Ebron and rookie Cole Kmet also warrant attention. While none of these honorable mentions fall into the same category as the breakout candidates, they are intriguing sleeper prospects.
Here are the fantasy football breakout tight ends for the 2020 NFL season.
NFL breakout candidates
5. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert comes in at fifth because he already took several steps in the right direction last year. After a mediocre rookie campaign, Goedert played 66% of Philadelphia's offensive snaps in 2019. He finished second on the team in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Despite Goedert's noticeable improvements, Zach Ertz is still Carson Wentz's go-to option. Ertz, who has five consecutive seasons with at least 800 yards, led the Eagles in all major receiving categories last year. He's technically above Goedert on the depth chart, but the two tight ends usually share the field.
As long as Ertz remains in play, Goedert might never reach a full breakout level. However, even as Philly's second fiddle, Goedert finished tenth in standard league fantasy football points in 2019. If Goedert became Philadelphia's primary receiving option, he could claim a top-five spot.
The Eagles went to extensive lengths to repair their wide receiver corps this offseason. Last year, injuries decimated the unit and left the tight ends and Miles Sanders and Wentz's best options. Injuries are never too far away in Philadelphia, so Goedert could see his role expand this coming season.
4. Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
Fantasy football fans met Smith last year. The former third-round pick became a significant contributor in Delanie Walker's absence. Smith earned 14 starts and played 71% of Tennessee's offensive snaps. He didn't produce game-changing numbers, but Smith built a strong foundation.
In 2019, Smith ranked fourth on the Titans with 44 targets and 35 receptions. His 439 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns finished third on the team. Those numbers don't inspire a ton of confidence, but Smith produced four games with over 60 yards. The key to his breakout is consistency. Smith finished seven games with fewer than ten receiving yards.
Despite his erratic play and Tennessee's devotion to the run, Smith ranked 17th among tight ends in standard leagues. He's not a fantasy football household name yet, but Smith should see his role and production increase this year while becoming a fantasy football breakout tight end.
3. Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins
Gesicki is the second third-year tight end to appear on this list. Similar to Goedert, he followed up a forgettable rookie season with a solid sophomore campaign. He and Ryan Fitzpatrick worked well together, and fantasy football owners began snatching Gesicki up by the middle of last season.
Alongside breakout wide receiver DeVante Parker, Gesicki became a central cog in Miami's offense. He finished second on the team in every significant statistical receiving category. Gesicki even saw more targets (89) than Goedert (87). However, Gesicki finished directly behind Goedert in fantasy football points, claiming the 11th spot in standard leagues.
The introduction of Tua Tagovailoa could cause a drop in Gesicki's stock. He already has a rapport with Fitzpatrick, and Tagovailoa is entering the NFL with a shortened training camp and no preseason games. Luckily, Fitzpatrick should open the season, and Miami will slowly introduce Tagovailoa to the offense. The transition shouldn't tank Gesicki's value, but it's something to keep an eye on.
2. Blake Jarwin, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are a hotbed for fantasy football prospects. The team's offense already features a receiver, running back, and a quarterback who finished in the top ten at their respective positions last year. That doesn't even take into account Michael Gallup's 1,107-yard season and the team drafting CeeDee Lamb. In terms of personnel, the Cowboys have one of the NFL's best offenses.
Despite all of that talent, fantasy football pundits can't stop raving about Jarwin's potential. The former underrated free agent finished 25th in standard league points last year. However, the departure of Jason Witten opens a world of possibilities for Jarwin.
Witten racked up the 12th-most fantasy points at his position last year. Most of those points, along with a chunk of Witten's 83 targets, should fall to Jarwin. Considering the backup tight end already saw 41 targets and made 31 receptions in 2019, his numbers could skyrocket this coming season.
Don't get too captivated with Dallas' offense. Dak Prescott threw for 4,902 yards last year, which was more than 1,000 yards over his previous career-high. That production might not be sustainable and could wreak havoc on fantasy football leagues.
1. Hayden Hurst, Atlanta Falcons
The Baltimore Ravens saw something when they took Hurst with the 25th overall pick in 2018. Keep in mind, that's seven picks before Baltimore traded up for Lamar Jackson. Unfortunately, Hurst didn't stick with the Ravens. Instead, 2018 third-round pick Mark Andrews supplanted his draft mate as the team's starter. Hurst's struggles led Baltimore to trade him to Atlanta this offseason.
Down South, Hurst faces the challenge of replacing Austin Hooper. The two-time Pro Bowler signed with the Cleveland Browns this offseason, leaving a massive hole on Atlanta's offense. Fantasy football analysts believe Hurst could thrive with his new team.
Hooper ranked second on the Falcons with 97 targets and 75 receptions last season. The majority of those looks now belong to Hurst, who only saw 62 combined targets during his time in Baltimore. The Falcons sport a high-flying offense captained by Matt Ryan, who led the NFL with 408 completions in 2019.
Despite finishing 34th in standard leagues last season, Hurst could earn a top-15 spot in 2020. He's joining a proven cast of players with a desperate need at tight end. They're the perfect conditions for a breakout season.
*Additionally, here are ClutchPoints' top 5 fantasy football breakout candidates at running back, wide receiver, and quarterback*
Follow Us
Subscribe