The 2024 fantasy tight end results are in (months ago) and we have ourselves some new blood atop the tight end rankings. In the past we’ve put faith in rookie tight ends and more often than not we’ve ended up disappointed. Well, for two years in a row now, a rookie has not just been a good fantasy play, but has led the position in fantasy points. Two seasons ago it was Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and last year it was the Raiders Brock Bowers. Add in Tre McBride, and young tight ends are firmly at the top of the fantasy ranks.
Will another rookie TE lead the league in fantasy points for a third straight year?
This season we once again have some high profile rookie tight ends to debate. The Bears grabbed Colston Loveland with the tenth pick in the first round, while the Colts took Tyler Warren at 14th overall. Both have strong ability and of course draft capital, but Loveland has a better situation and should be better at winning targets his rookie year.
Loveland also has Ben Johnson, who just two season ago helped LaPorta to that No. 1 fantasy spot. We can’t expect him to lead the position in fantasy points, but he is very much draftable in re-draft leagues.
Every year there are a strong group of tight ends who look poised to take a step forward and every year we watch as these players end up failing to do so. The position needs a lot of things to go right for them to garner the targets needed to top 80 receptions and 1,000 yards. And when you add in touchdown variance, it is tough to find any kind of consistency for your fake teams. I like some later round tight ends like Chig Okonkwo, Brenton Strange, and Tucker Kraft, but I wouldn’t love it if they were my starters. At the very least, I’d want to grab two later round tight ends to double my chances of finding a useful fantasy player.
