When conducting a successful fantasy football draft, hitting on the running back, wide receiver, and quarterback positions is what every team needs to do, especially since those three areas are the biggest areas in which points come from on a consistent basis. But consider fantasy football tight end sleepers as well: Tight end, while not as important as other positions, carries a ton of potential value that can make the difference between missing the playoffs and bringing home the championship trophy.
The likes of Travis Kelce and George Kittle are the cream of the crop options at the TE position, as both have paced the top of their positional group for a few years now, with Kelce having been at the top for a few more seasons longer than Kittle has. But with the torch seeming to be close to passing onto Kittle, there needs to be a few other names that jump up into the draftable category.
This past season saw the Baltimore Ravens discover that they had arguably the league’s third-best TE on their roster in Mark Andrews. Fantasy football tight end sleepers recognized what Andrews achieved. The Raiders, in their final season in Oakland, were able to capitalize on Darren Waller’s breakout to find a diamond in the rough before coming to Las Vegas. Besides Andrews and Waller, Philadelphia Eagles’ tight end Zach Ertz put together another strong season, and even with health concerns slowing down his production slightly, he still remains a top-five option heading into 2020.
But this piece is not about the names that you know – rather, it is about the names that you do not, the names that could go from 12th-round flier to TE7 before the season it is over. These are fantasy football tight end sleepers. It is about the TE sleepers that changed teams in the offseason, lucked into their team’s TE1 option departing, or even just benefiting from another season under their belt to blossom into the receiving threat that they were hoped that they could become.
Regardless of the backstory or why they are in this discussion, it is time you found out why these five players are fantasy football sleepers, players who could help you win your league for a very cheap price (all projected average draft position projections are based on a point-per-reception, 12-team league).
Fantasy Football Sleepers
5. Chris Herndon
2018 stats (only played in one game in 2019) – 39 catches, 502 yards, 4 touchdowns
The New York Jets always seem to be on the cusp of mediocrity, and their offensive pieces are developed enough that they should be able to be more than that. But with head coach Adam Gase weighing this team down, it is quite remarkable that the Jets are able to be in that conversation the past few seasons.
Regardless, quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Le’Veon Bell both have heavy workloads (one could argue that Bell’s is not substantial enough), and the thought process is that tight end Chris Herndon can finally put together a big season and rise to the top of fantasy football tight end sleepers.
Earning 56 targets in his first year in the NFL is quite a substantial amount for the Miami Hurricane rookie, but unfortunately, his sophomore season was limited to only one game due to injuries. However, with WR Robby Anderson out of town and only replaced with Breshad Perriman, there are still plenty of targets to go around, something that Herndon can gobble up.
The atrocious offensive line that halted offensive progress last year is slightly improved, so both Darnold and Bell should be able to be more efficient, and that also reflects on Herndon as well. A 70-target season is decently likely, and 600+ yards, along with 5+ scores would create a safe floor for the third-year player. TE sleepers? Herndon is one.
Projected average draft position (ADP) – 13.06
4. T.J. Hockenson
2019 stats – 32 catches, 367 yards, 2 TDs (12 games)
Even with missing the final four games of his rookie campaign, former Iowa Hawkeye tight end T.J. Hockenson has put together a solid start to his NFL career with the Detroit Lions. Expectations need to be tempered for any first-year tight end, but second-year products seem to have bursts, which is exactly what Hockenson is capable of this year. He can become the best of the fantasy football tight end sleepers.
As the eight-overall selection, Hockenson entered a Lions offense that was lacking any serious tight end depth and competition, so his role as the team’s TE1 was quite evident from day one. And while he did produce 6 catches, 131 yards, and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Cardinals, Hockenson was only able to produce a double-digit fantasy scoring output once more the rest of the season, including only scoring one more time.
He was targeted 59 times, which is quite substantial, especially with both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. in the fold as receivers. But, as any football fan knows, the backup QBs best friend (besides the Gatorade cooler) is the tight end, so when Matthew Stafford went down and was lost for the rest of the season, David Blough was able to keep up the target share workload with Hockenson, even if the stats did not back that up.
Regardless, Stafford’s pace from last year was incredulous, to the point where he would have put up one of the best single-season QB performances in league history, but his injuries got in the way of that. So, with Stafford at full health to enter the year, Hockenson should be able to help Stafford get back to his record pacing.
Sitting late in drafts, Hockenson is a great value pick that holds extra value (and projects to go a few rounds earlier) in dynasty setups, but in standard leagues, don’t expect to see him off the board anytime before round 12.
Projected ADP – 12.08
3. Hayden Hurst
30 catches / 349 yards / 2 TDs
Hayden Hurst fits into the persona of an underachieving tight end joining a lesser squad than his former team, but increasing his workload at least double. For Hurst and anyone that is interested in having shares of Hurst, this is great news.
He was stuck behind Andrews on the Ravens, and with how dominant Andrews was, any sort of role for Hurst had passed by the wayside, just as it had for Maxx Williams, who was signed by the Cardinals after he just never got solid footing with the Ravens.
But for Hurst, this offseason movement is a perfect storm for him, as he slots in as the TE1 in the Falcons’ offense, which is perfect, seeing as how much Austin Hooper was focused on as an option by Matt Ryan, even alongside Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.
For Hurst, a career year looks to be in the cards, as a two-fold increase in all statistical categories (at least) from last season certainly is possible. In Hooper’s final two seasons in ATL, he converted 185 targets into 146 receptions, 1,447 yards, and 10 TDs, monster numbers that will mostly be directed right to Hurst.
While a bit rich due to him being an industry pick for TE sleeper, Hurst is well worth the middle round investment it would take to grab him.
Projected ADP – 7.09
2. Blake Jarwin
31 catches / 365 yards / 3 TDs
Having sat in the shadows of veteran Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys’ TE Blake Jarwin finally has the place to himself, and man, does it feel good. Having received a lucrative long-term extension this past offseason, Jarwin is primed to put up big numbers and show why the team was smart to have let Witten walk.
His three TDs from ‘19 all came in Week 17, and so did seven of those catches and 199 of those yards, so his season last year was not all that eye-popping. Regardless, Jarwin is the top TE on the roster, but unfortunately still pretty low on the target totem pole.
Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and rookie CeeDee Lamb all project to have massive roles in this offensive attack, and with Ezekiel Elliott needing his touches, Jarwin could fall by the wayside a few games, but don’t lose hope. Witten was able to carve out that consistent five-catch game role that made him just valuable enough, and Jarwin is younger than Witten, so his abilities are much better suited to a larger role in the offense.
An early double-digit round ADP makes Jarwin’s value quite interesting, so if looking for a long-term dynasty option or you just waited for your TE1, Jarwin is a safe grab and one that could immediately slide up the board if other offensive weapons fail to produce.
Projected ADP – 12.10
1. Mike Gesicki
51 catches / 570 yards / 5 TDs
Probably the most valuable player on this list based on ADP and ‘19 stats alone, Mike Gesicks projects to be the second-best option in the Miami Dolphins’ roster behind DeVante Parker, with Preston Williams not too far behind. And with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovoiloa both looking at earning playing time this year, a solid TE is exactly the type of weapon that can thrive.
Gesicki was able to earn a whopping 89 targets last year, and while only 51 turned into receptions, his 11.2 YPC is impressive, and so is his physical stature (6’6”, 250 lbs.).
The Dolphins are hell-bent on proving everyone wrong about Tua’s injury past, and Gesicki can be that super safety valve among fantasy football sleepers, a guy who can also split the field from the slot and give Tua a huge downfield target to hook up with. As scary as it may seem to want to roster any member of that Dolphins’ offense, Gesicki offers the safest floor on that entire team.
Plus, a double-digit projected ADP makes the former Penn State Nittany Lion a very interesting get going into his third season. He is one of the foremost fantasy football tight end sleepers on the board.
Projected ADP – 12.02
*Additionally, here are ClutchPoints' top fantasy football sleepers at running back, wide receiver, and quarterback, as well as sleeper rookies*
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