Even with running backs and wide receivers receiving most of the attention in the early portion of fantasy football drafts, tight ends should never be neglected — especially this time around. In addition to the usual suspects at this position like San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews and several others, there will no doubt be some fantasy football breakout tight ends this season. Let's consider some fantasy breakout TEs, part of the larger group of fantasy football breakout candidates.

If you are eyeing running backs and wide receivers for the early portion of your fantasy football draft, you probably have a pretty bang on strategy. However, your starting tight end shouldn't be too far behind those running backs and wide receivers. Not only that, but there should also be some fantasy football breakout tight ends that you are targeting later on in the draft that could come up big down the stretch at either their natural position or even in a flex capacity of you are indeed able to nab two quality pass catchers as fantasy breakout TEs.

Fantasy football breakout tight ends:

5. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

With the Zach Ertz era all but over in the “City of Brotherly Love,” the Dallas Goedert era might just be gearing up to kickoff in a big way. A veteran tight end in Ertz remains on the Philadelphia Eagles' current roster but it is no secret that Ertz was on the trading block throughout the majority of the offseason — even if the NFC East franchise was unable to unload him in the end. Not only that, but Ertz has been injured and just simply hasn't produced over the course of the last several seasons, paving the way for Goedert to take over the reins in 2021-22. It is also worth noting that with a second-year quarterback in Jalen Hurts under center, the former collegiate standout needs a reliable tight end to make his life as easy as possible and Goedert appears to be the man for the job as it stands today. He's one of the fantasy breakout TEs you should consider.

4. Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team

The Washington Football Team will enter the upcoming 2021-22 campaign in a very unique position. Although this offense is comprised of up-and-coming players while being led by the ageless wonder in Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback, head coach Ron Rivera has one of the league's best defenses in one of the NFL's worst divisions — one that should be completely wide out this time around. A team that should be looking to run first with versatile running back Antonio Gibson in the backfield, Fitzpatrick will no doubt be able to lean on tight end Logan Thomas as well. Primed for a major statistical season in 2021-22, Thomas should receive a ton of attention from fantasy football owners as his size, strength and ability to get open all over the field should go a long way for Washington. This is one of the fantasy football breakout candidates to keep an eye on.

3. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos

Although the Denver Broncos play in an absolutely stacked AFC West division, this franchise could surprise a few folks in 2021-22 as this team has a high-powered offense with tons of different weapons all over the field. With the likes of Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and K.J. Hamler split out wide and a veteran in Melvin Gordon III at running back, up-and-coming tight end Noah Fant could be the key piece of the puzzle that ultimately brings the Denver offense to the next level. Whether it is Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater who eventually becomes the team's starting quarterback, both will need to rely heavily on Fant to serve as a reliable presence over the middle and for dump downs. Fant should surely become a very important part of the Broncos' offense sooner rather than later while most fantasy football owners won't even think of him as an option until it's too late. Get ahead of the curve — this is one of the better fantasy football breakout candidates to pick.

2. Irv Smith, Jr., Minnesota Vikings

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After serving as a mainstay in the NFC North division for many years, longtime Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is now a member of the New York Giants. With a veteran signal caller in Kirk Cousins still under center in Minnesota, a player that has always found his tight ends when it matters most, look for tight end Irv Smith, Jr. to step up in a big way come 2021-22. Although Rudolph didn't make a ton of plays all over the field as a wide receiver-esque tight end, he did come up big in the red zone quite often, which typically made him a decent (at worst) option for fantasy football owners throughout the years. With Rudolph now with the Giants, Smith, Jr. should be able to fill such a void for Cousins and company. Thanks to the presences of players like running back Dalvin Cook and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, Smith, Jr. could ultimately receive quite a few meaningful targets for the Vikings this season.

The best of the fantasy football breakout tight ends:

1. Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have had quite the offseason thus far. Thanks to acquiring longtime Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones via trade, signing former Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher Bud Dupree via free agency and failing to allow a single touchdown through two preseason games, the Titans have quickly become a team to watch in the AFC ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. Although Tennessee has continued to get better year after year over the course of the last handful of seasons, it can be argued that this year's squad is the best all-around group that the Titans have put together in some time. With the aforementioned Jones now on board, a potent offensive attack just became that much more dangerous with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver A.J. Brown all still in the mix. However, because of all of this firepower down in Nashville, there is one player that continuously gets overlooked — tight end Anthony Firkser. Because opposing defenses will need to focus so much attention on players like Henry, Jones and Brown, Firkser will more than likely be able to feast this season. Adding to his breakout ability, Firkser is now the main man at tight end for the Titans with Jonnu Smith making his way to the New England Patriots earlier this offseason. Think of Firkser when you think of fantasy football breakout candidates.