2021 Tight Ends

The fantasy football community is eager to start molding the shape of the upcoming 2021 season. After looking at the 2021 Wide Receivers and 2021 Running Backs, I want to give a look at the Tight Ends and some initial thoughts for the position in the 2021 season.

To start, lets recap our position leaders in Targets and Touchdowns for 2020 as it may be helpful as we look forward towards our Tight Ends of preference in 2021. Especially if we can compare previous years to see any trends. Again, keep in mind a players Ability, Availability, Opportunity, Consistency, Advantage/Upside and Matchup.

2020 Tight End Top 25 Targets

Player	Targets	Receptions	Receiving Yards	Rushing Yards	Total Yards
Travis Kelce	145	105	1,416	0	1,416
Darren Waller	145	107	1,196	0	1,196
Logan Thomas	110	72	670	5	675
Evan Engram	109	63	654	26	680
T.J. Hockenson	101	67	723	0	723
Noah Fant	93	62	673	0	673
Hunter Henry	93	60	613	0	613
Eric Ebron	91	56	558	0	558
Dalton Schultz	89	63	615	0	615
Mark Andrews	88	58	701	0	701
Hayden Hurst	88	56	571	0	571
Mike Gesicki	85	53	703	0	703
Rob Gronkowski	77	45	623	0	623
Zach Ertz	72	36	335	0	335
Austin Hooper	70	46	435	0	435
Dallas Goedert	65	46	524	0	524
Jonnu Smith	65	41	448	4	452
George Kittle	63	48	634	17	651
Gerald Everett	62	41	417	2	419
Tyler Higbee	60	44	521	1	522
Jared Cook	60	37	504	0	504
Tyler Eifert	60	36	349	0	349
Robert Tonyan	59	52	586	0	586
Anthony Firkser	53	39	387	0	387
Drew Sample	53	40	349	0	349

Above are your Top 25 Tight Ends in Targets for the 2020 NFL Season. Referencing some history with this Targets category Targets TE – 2019 Regular Season gives you some insight at what we anticipated going into 2020. So using the history, below are some Tight Ends that I would anticipate are in the mix of most Targets in the 2021 NFL Season:

2021 Tight End Top 25 Targets Projections

2020 Tight End Top 20 Touchdowns

Using the above yearly Touchdowns rankings I was looking from one year to the next to see how many of the previous years Tight Ends made the following year list. As you follow the colors (Grey – 2015, Green – 2016, Red – 2017, Blue – 2018 and Grey – 2019) it helps to pick out who stayed on the list from the previous year. In 2016, 8 tight ends from 2015 made it. In 2017, 7 tight ends from 2016 made the Top 20 list. While in 2018, 8 tight ends from 2017 made it. For 2019, 8 tight ends from 2018 made the Top 20 list. In 2020, 7 tight ends from 2019 made the list again.

Over the past few years it looks like the average of 8 players would be anticipated to make this list again in the 2021 NFL Season. Referencing some history with the Touchdowns category Tight End TDs – 2020 Outlook gives you some look at what we anticipated going into 2020 as well.

2021 Tight End Top 20 Touchdowns Projections

Utilizing the averages and picking 8 Tight Ends to find themselves on the Top 20 Touchdown list at the end of the 2021 season again I would currently lean to the following players: Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Logan Thomas, Robert Tonyan, Irv Smith Jr. and one of either Jonnu Smith or Hunter Henry. I think Hayden Hurst, Jared Cook and Dan Arnold are some interesting names to keep in mind if any of the initial 8 above don’t find themselves in the Top 20 Touchdown list for Tight Ends at the end of the 2021 Season.

2020 Tight End 3 Touchdown Club

*Note this list is an extension from the above Top 20 Tight End Touchdown Image that goes from rank 15 and beyond for the 5 years. It shows all the Tight Ends that are tied in ranking with 3 Touchdowns.

I have found over the years that an average of 2-4 Tight Ends who scored 3 Touchdowns the previous year end up making the current year Top 20 Tight End Touchdowns ranking. As you can see last year 5 of those Tight Ends (who only scored 3 Touchdowns in 2019) ended up making the Top 20 in 2020. I highlighted a few guys that jump out to me as potential movers up the rankings for 2021. All 3 of Harrison Bryant, Noah Fant and Dallas Goedert have some great opportunity for growth and increased usage this year. I also believe that Evan Engram just gets too many Targets to not be spoken about as possibly getting back in the Top 20 Tight End Touchdowns. Ironically he only scored 2 Touchdowns last year and didn’t even make the 3 Touchdown Club in 2020.

Mercedes Lewis finds himself in a similar spot as Jimmy Graham did in 2019. The veteran that made the leap from the 3 Touchdown Club back into the Top 20 the next season. He is on a pretty offensive team and it may not take much to get him more than 3 Touchdowns in 2021. Something to think about for those deeper fantasy football leagues or ones that play Tight End premium scoring.

2020 Tight End Top 25 Receiving

Player	Targets	Receptions	Receiving Yards	Rushing Yards	Total Yards
Travis Kelce	145	105	1,416	0	1,416
Darren Waller	145	107	1,196	0	1,196
T.J. Hockenson	101	67	723	0	723
Mike Gesicki	85	53	703	0	703
Mark Andrews	88	58	701	0	701
Noah Fant	93	62	673	0	673
Logan Thomas	110	72	670	5	675
Evan Engram	109	63	654	26	680
George Kittle	63	48	634	17	651
Rob Gronkowski	77	45	623	0	623
Dalton Schultz	89	63	615	0	615
Hunter Henry	93	60	613	0	613
Robert Tonyan	59	52	586	0	586
Hayden Hurst	88	56	571	0	571
Eric Ebron	91	56	558	0	558
Dallas Goedert	65	46	524	0	524
Tyler Higbee	60	44	521	1	522
Jared Cook	60	37	504	0	504
Jimmy Graham	76	50	456	0	456
Jonnu Smith	65	41	448	4	452
Dan Arnold	45	31	438	0	438
Austin Hooper	70	46	435	0	435
Gerald Everett	62	41	417	2	419
Jordan Akins	49	37	403	4	407
Mo Alie-Cox	39	31	394	0	394

The chart above is nice because so often we hear about the Receiving Leaders at the Tight End position. Since over the years more often than not, the Tight Ends just caught the football. That is certainly something to keep in mind but not the only thing. Depending on the type of league you have, carries and rushing yards could be beneficial. There may not be a lot to come by but every little extra yard can add up!

2021 Tight Ends

So who are the guys at the Tight End position that I like for in the upcoming 2021 Fantasy Football Season? I still believe in Travis Kelce, Darren Waller and George Kittle. The rookie Kyle Pitts will get his this year. I can see myself being lower than most on T.J. Hockenson but his value isn’t horrible. I just don’t think he cracks the Top 5 in Tight Ends in 2021. I think Adam Trautman is in a nice spot on a team that likes to throw the ball. To get a full idea of where the Tight Ends are ranked initially and leading up to the beginning of the 2021 NFL season, click the link below.

2021 Tight Ends Final Thoughts

We are getting closer to the start of the 2021 Fantasy Football Season. Having the ranks at positions and overall thoughts come into focus as we start the Pre-Season is very exciting! Plenty will happen from now until then, so be flexible and look for the value when drafting your Tight Ends this year. Don’t forget to consider Ability, Availability, Opportunity, Consistency, Advantage/Upside and Matchup. We are closer to the start of the 2021 Fantasy Football Season! Who has opportunity for Targets? Who will have the chance for Touchdowns? If you believe a player is in line for either, you know I would be interested in them!

Targets and TDs Fantasy Football

Find players that will have: Ability – Availability – Opportunity – Consistency – Advantage/Upside – Matchup

If your players are on an offensive team that can get many Targets and Touchdowns, you know I would be interested in them! Statistics courtesy of The Football Database , a great resource for your NFL players statistics. If you enjoyed the article please share it with others (via the social media links).

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Missed any recent posts?!, check them out below as you get your mind focused on fantasy football opportunities!

• 2021 Wide Receivers
• 2021 Running Backs
• 2021 NFL Schedule
• 2021 Post NFL Draft
• 2021 NFL Draft

I hope everyone continues to stay safe and healthy! Enjoy the journey throughout the 2021 Fantasy Football Season!