Tight Ends – 2020 Outlook

The upcoming Fantasy Football 2020 season has me looking at the Tight Ends this week after the Wide Receivers – 2020 Outlook last week. When it comes to Tight Ends their outlook can be greater if they are on a more offensive team which would be more likely that they receive more Targets and Touchdowns! Over the years it seems you have a few high end Tight Ends, followed by a handful of pretty good Tight Ends and then your starters. Even as a Top 12 Tight End, there is no guarantee that the owners are excited to have them. It seems most years those Top 9-12 Tight End ranks just stay most healthy through the year. Below I go through the available Tight Ends this year using my initial 2020 rankings and group them in tiers with feedback and thoughts.

Tight Ends – The Best

• Travis Kelce
• George Kittle

Both Tight Ends are at the top of most rankings out there going into the 2020 NFL Season. Kelce tops the list in Targets at the position last year while Kittle was 4th best (Targets TE – 2019 Regular Season). Kelce tied for 5th most Touchdowns in 2019 at the position while Kittle tied for 9th most in the same category (Tight End TDs – 2020 Outlook). Note as well that Kelce has been Top 12 at the position for Touchdowns each of the last 5 years. These guys are going in the 1st Round through 3rd Rounds of most drafts if you want one. If I choose one of them, it would be Travis Kelce just ahead of George Kittle.

Tight Ends – Really Good

• Evan Engram
• Darren Waller
• Zach Ertz
• Hunter Henry
• Mark Andrews

This group of Tight Ends will be pushing the guys at the top for the overall #1 TE in 2020. Ertz was 2nd in Targets at the position last year while Waller was 3rd and Andrews was 5th. Andrews is coming off a season as the top Tight End for Touchdowns in 2019 receiving 10 total! Ertz tied for 5th most Touchdowns in 2019 at the position while Henry tied for 9th most in the same category. Ertz has been Top 5 at the position for Touchdowns over the last 3 years. Looks like these guys are going between Round 3 through Round 7. Of this grouping I like Engram the best as I cross my fingers for no health issues this year as his athleticism and opportunity are plenty for the Tight End this year.

Tight Ends – Good w/Upside

• Rob Gronkowski
• Jared Cook
• Tyler Higbee
• Dallas Goedert
• Jonnu Smith
• Hayden Hurst
• Austin Hooper

Hooper was 6th, Higbee was 7th and Goedert was 9th in Targets at the position last year. Cook had the 2nd most Touchdowns in 2019 for a Tight End. Hooper tied for 5th most Touchdowns in 2019 at the position while Goedert tied for 9th most in the same category. We are all waiting to see how much former stud Tight End Gronkowski does teaming up with Brady again in Tampa Bay. While Smith is taking the reins over from Delanie Walker in Tennessee and I do believe there is going to be a lot of opportunities for the Tight End this year! Hurst is the hot name taking over the spot left vacant by Hooper that last year did so well in Atlanta. These guys are going between Rounds 6 and 12 in most drafts. I would lean toward Goedert as my choice within this group.

Tight Ends – Quality Starters

• Greg Olsen
• O.J. Howard
• Noah Fant
• Jack Doyle
• Eric Ebron
• T.J. Hockenson

Olsen was 11th, Doyle 13th, Fant 15th and Hockenson tied at 20th in Targets at the position last year. Doyle finished tied for 15th most Touchdowns in 2019 for a Tight End. Does Olsen find a connection in Seattle? Is Doyle the new favorite Tight End for Phillip Rivers in Indy? Is Fant ready to take another step forward in his progress in becoming an elite Tight End? Can Ebron find similar success in Pittsburgh that he had at times in Indianapolis? I am seeing this group of Tight Ends go between Round 11 – Round 16. Of this grouping I would go with Ebron as the guy we have seen it from before and who is now in a nice spot in Pittsburgh. Followed closely by Fant, who is a very talented young Tight End that is ready to make that jump in year 2 in the NFL.

2020 Tight End Sleepers

1. Dallas Goedert – coming off a year with 87 Targets, 5 Touchdowns and 607 total yards, Goedert is prime for another increase in workload in 2020. If not for Ertz being on the Eagles as well, Goedert may well be ahead of his current pace on any other team. His talent is too much to not give more work. I believe he takes another step forward this year and finishes as a Top 8 TE this year and wouldn’t be shocked if he snuck into the Top 5.
2. Jonnu Smith – comes off 2019 with 44 Targets, 3 Touchdowns and 439 total yards. Partner that with the player he is taking over for in Delanie Walker also had 31 Targets, 2 Touchdowns and 215 total yards in 2019. The Titans do like to use their Tight Ends and if Smith is going to be the guy this year, he certainly can take a pretty big step in the Tight End ranks. He is an athletic Tight End that can really explode this year when given the opportunity. The thought here is that Smith ends the season as a Top 12 TE for you.

2020 Tight End Upside

Call them dart throws, late round Tight Ends with upside that could improve upon last year and have a larger role in 2020. Some of the following are top of mind:

• Mike Gesicki
• Blake Jarwin
• Ian Thomas
• Chris Herndon
• Tyler Eifert
• Will Dissly
• Cole Kmet
• Devin Asiasi
• Dalton Keene

Tight Ends Final Thoughts

It can be tough to predict which players will be getting Targets and Touchdowns each year. So by getting a Tight End with ability to get Targets, on an offensive team in the 2020 Fantasy Football season you can set yourself up for success. Whether you get one early in your draft or wait later to grab a few that may be ready to shoot up the ranks in 2020. If you believe a Tight End is set to be in the mix for many Targets & Touchdowns this season you know I would be interested in them!

Tight End Resources

• Tight End TDs – 2020 Outlook
• More Tight End TDs – 2020 Outlook
• Targets TE – 2019 Regular Season
• TD’s (Touchdowns) II – 2019 Regular Season
• TD’s (Touchdowns) – 2019 Regular Season

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

• Running Backs – 2020 Outlook
• Quarterbacks – 2020 Outlook
• Top Offenses – 2020 Outlook
• Running Back TDs – 2020 Outlook
• Wide Receiver TDs – 2020 Outlook

I hope everyone continues to stay safe and healthy! Enjoy the journey in the upcoming 2020 Fantasy Football Season!

Reference the Targets and TDs pages to see who had the opportunities and end-zone appearances through the 2019 regular season. 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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