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Week 1 Tight End Preview: David Njoku And Others Set To Smash

Top Fantasy TEs for Week 1

Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 1 TE Rankings.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers

In Brazil

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Our first look at Skinny Kelce, who shed some lbs. this offseason ahead of his 13th NFL campaign. He gets a tough Week 1 draw against Derwin James and the Chargers, who ranked first in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs last year. But Kelce should see plenty of volume with WR Rashee Rice serving the first of his six-game suspension.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons

Kyle Pitts, Falcons

You're not counting on Pitts for Week 1, particularly after a quiet offseason. But there’s at least some optimism that he’ll form a better connection with new full-time starter Michael Penix Jr. The Bucs supply a fine matchup, as only four teams allowed more TE catches last season.

Cade Otton, Buccaneers

Otton developed a leg injury late in August, but it sounds like he’ll try to play through it vs. Atlanta. If he’s healthy enough, there’s room for Otton to pick up an extra target or two with Chris Godwin sidelined. The young TE is best viewed as a deep-league starter.

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

David Njoku, Browns

During Joe Flacco's last stint in Cleveland in 2023, he targeted David Njoku 56 times, resulting in 37 receptions for 483 yards and 4 TDs in 6 games. Last season, Cincinnati ranked dead last against TEs, allowing over 16 PPR PPG to the position. This is a great spot for Njoku, making him a strong start in the season opener.

Mike Gesicki, Bengals

The Bengals will have four TEs active on most weeks, but it's Mike Gesicki who is their main receiving threat. Cincinnati is projected to score the second-most points this week, so Gesicki offers some streaming value against a Cleveland defense that surrendered the 9th-most points to TEs in 2024.

Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts

Tyler Warren, Colts

Warren flashed this preseason, catching 4 of 6 targets for 65 yards. He primarily played inline but sprinkled in usage out wide and in the slot. He projects as a key piece of this Indy offense, especially with a short-range passer in Daniel Jones under center. Miami brings a strong pass rush but doesn't have threatening coverage talent. At bottom, Warren brings top-five fantasy upside into his NFL debut.

Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars

Brenton Strange, Jaguars

Strange opens his first season as Jacksonville's lead receiving TE. There's upside to that role and his matchup with Carolina. But we have no way to know how much target volume to expect here. Strange announced himself with a 12-target, 11-catch outing late last season. But he reached five targets just three other times and exceeded four receptions only once.

Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers

Sanders is expected to open the year as Carolina's lead TE and gets a Jags D that ranked fourth-most friendly to TE scoring last season, by our adjusted fantasy points allowed. But we need to see something in-season from the second-year TE before considering him more than a deep-league option or cheap DFS play.

Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots

Brock Bowers, Raiders

Bowers had the best rookie TE season in NFL history ending the season with 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and 5 TDs. He ran the most pass routes of any NFL TE last year with 591. That might decrease as OC Chip Kelly likes to lean on the run, but Bowers is a special talent that will command consistent targets each week. The QB upgrade to Geno Smith won’t hurt either. He is a must start this week.

Hunter Henry, Patriots

Henry led the Patriots in receiving last year with 674 yards on 66 receptions. He was a red zone option for Drake Maye with 12 targets in the red zone, though those only converted into two TDs. He offers little PPR upside, but Henry should remain a prime option near the end zone. He is a TD dependent TE2 this week.

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints

Trey McBride, Cardinals

McBride's Cardinals are implied for 24.75 points -- tied for eighth eighth-highest on the week. Don't be surprised if McBride gets into the end zone in this one (after failing to catch a TD in his first 14 games last year).

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets

Jonnu Smith, Steelers

Smith had a career year last year on the Dolphins, catching 88 passes for 884 yards and 8 TDs. He rejoins OC Arthur Smith, having played for him on the Titans and Falcons. Jonnu’s peak season with Smith was 2023, when he caught 50 passes for 582 yards and 3 TDs. He will contend with Pat Freiermuth on the Steelers, but there should be plenty of two-TE sets this week. Jonnu could be the Steelers' most reliable red zone target as well, so he is a TE2 with TD upside.  

New York Giants at Washington Commanders

Zach Ertz, Commanders

Ertz remains a top-20 TE with week-to-week upside. But the Giants did an excellent job against the position in 2024, holding opposing TEs to just 9.3 PPR points per game -- tied for second-lowest in the NFL. Ertz's two games versus the G-Men last year were a mixed bag, but his role as the receiving TE in a potent Washington offense keeps him in the TE2 conversation.

Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos

Evan Engram, Broncos

Engram generated plenty of buzz this summer, and there’s room for him to produce right away alongside Courtland Sutton. Denver’s four WRs behind Sutton collectively own only 175 career catches. Engram settles in as a top-10 fantasy TE for Week 1.

Chig Okonkwo, Titans

Denver is talented (and deep) at all three levels on defense, especially after spending a Round 1 pick on versatile DB Jahdae Barron. So we’re not high on the TD potential here. If you’re looking for the upside case, it’s that Tennessee figures to play from behind. We’ll also see if anyone steps up at WR behind Calvin Ridley. Any lack of development there should help funnel looks to Okonkwo.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

George Kittle, 49ers

With injury flags waving all around him, Kittle remains the proven 49ers pass catcher we can comfortably start. He's got a shot at leading the team in targets this season -- and especially this week.

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Sam LaPorta, Lions

LaPorta saw fewer opportunities inhis second season, catching 60 passes for 726 yards and 7 TDs. Early injuries slowed him down, but he scored 5 TDs over his last eight games. The Lions offense could regress this season after their scoring surge last year. His TD potential, especially against the Packers’ Cover-2 scheme, makes LaPorta a TE1 this week.   

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Kraft was second among TEs in yards per catch with 14.1, just behind George Kittle. Jordan Love targeted Kraft consistently near the end zone as well with a 21.1% target share in the red zone. When he scored a TD, Kraft generally landed as a TE1 for the week. That makes him a low-end TE1 this week.  

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams

Dalton Schultz, Texans

No Christian Kirk could push an extra target or two Schultz's way on Sunday. And he gets a Rams defense that ranked 26th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs last year. Hopefully you're not this desperate in Week 1 ... but you could do worse than Schultz as a spot starter.

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills

Mark Andrews

With Isaiah Likely out for Week 1, Andrews has a prime opportunity to score this week. He played 77.6% of snaps either in the slot or out wide last season, and that trend should continue again. His 11 receiving TDs were the most of his career, and the Ravens found a groove targeting him in the end zone. Andrews is locked in as a starter this week.

Dalton Kincaid, Bills

Kincaid took a step back in his second season with only 44 catches for 448 yards and 2 TDs. He did lead the Bills with a target on 27.2% of his routes. But, he did stay in to block more and dealt with multiple injuries. Kincaid is a good bounce-back candidate if the Bills throw the ball a bit more. He is a high-end TE2 this week.

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings

Hockenson opens against a Bears defense that ranked 20th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs last year. We're expecting a run-leaning attack from Minnesota in QB J.J. McCarthy's first start, though, which puts a damper on Hockenson's Week 1 outlook.

Colston Loveland, Bears

Loveland ran a route on just 50% of QB Caleb Williams' dropbacks in the Bears' second preseason game. We're expecting to see the rookie in a timeshare with TE Cole Kmet early this season, leaving him as a shaky Week 1 fantasy play.

Next Up

Week 1 Matchups That Matter: Trevor Lawrence Primed For A Fast Start

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Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and in-season tools. He currently ranks ninth among 173 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.