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2024 PRE-DRAFT ROOKIE RANKINGS FOR (DYNASTY) FANTASY FOOTBALL: TIGHT ENDS
Here are the top 5 (ok fine...top 10) rookie rankings for tight ends to target in your 2024 (dynasty) fantasy football leagues!
But first, here are those just outside the Top Five rookie rankings:
10. Tanner McLachlan, Arizona
9. Jaheim Bell, Florida Stae
8. AJ Barner, Michigan
7. Tip Reiman, Illinois
6. Theo Johnson, Penn State
5. Erick All, Iowa
Bio: Will Erick All be the next great tight end to come out of Iowa? Maybe. It seems like Iowa has been churning out tight ends forever; George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, and Sam LaPorta in most recent memory. It's safe to say the coaching staff over there knows what they’re doing. Erick All transferred to Iowa for his final season after playing four years at the University of Michigan and produced decent numbers in only two of his five seasons; his best being in 2021 where he had 38 receptions for 437 yards and two touchdowns. This past season he finished with 21 receptions for 299 yards and 3 touchdowns. He’s a player whose tape shines a lot more than his stats would show, especially because the offense he was in was so bad. The Hawkeyes had a bit of a quarterback carousel this season, having two quarterbacks starting a significant amount of games. Those two combined for a total of 1,657 yards, nine touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. No one is going to put up good numbers with quarterback play like that. While All’s numbers were subpar, he did end the season leading his team in yards and touchdowns, and he played in only seven games. He wins through good route running and decent hands but lacks the long speed needed to make a difference down the field. He has done good things with the ball in his hands, but him being a 24-year-old rookie and having the injury history along with it makes him a fantasy long shot. He will likely be a day-three pick and can be left off of fantasy boards in redraft leagues, but he could be worth a dart throw in dynasty leagues since he is an Iowa tight end (kind of joking).
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 252 lbs
Strengths:
-Good route runner
-Decent hands
-Tough after the catch
Weaknesses:
-Will be a 24-year-old rookie
-Injury concerns (Two season-ending injuries)
-Lacks deep speed
NFL Draft Projection: Rounds four to six
Fantasy: Erick All’s injury history and lack of production in his five-year collegiate career make him a long shot to be a valuable fantasy contributor. He’s not worth being drafted in redraft leagues and should only be drafted as a dart throw in dynasty leagues if the landing spot is perfect.
4. Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
Bio: Ben Sinnott is your classic underdog story. A zero-star recruit in 2021, Sinnott walked on at Kansas State University and against all odds, earned himself a starting role in the offense. After doing essentially nothing his freshman year, Sinnot had 31 receptions for 447 yards and four touchdowns in his sophomore season. His production kept getting better with this past season being his best. A stat line of 48 receptions for 669 receiving yards and six touchdowns would put him first in targets and yards and second in receptions for his team. This season, he had the fourth most receiving yards among tight ends in the nation, behind only Dallin Holker and the projected top two tight ends of the 2024 class, Brock Bowers and Ja’Tavion Sanders. He also ranked among the top ten tight ends in receptions and touchdowns. Sinnott is an athletic tight end who makes good use of speed and quickness as a receiver. He also has reliable hands and the concentration needed to make tough contested catches. Perhaps Sinnott’s biggest selling point is his versatility. While he did play most inline most of the time, he also played in the slot, out wide, and even had 91 snaps in the backfield. His ability to line up all over the field provides him more opportunities at the next level as a type of TE/FB hybrid. He is an incredibly fun player to watch and root for and has the upside to be a valuable fantasy asset if given a fair shot. Steer clear of him in redraft leagues, but in dynasty leagues, he’s worth a late 3rd round rookie pick because of his upside.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 250 lbs
Strengths:
-Strong hands
-Athleticism
-YAC ability
Weaknesses:
-Blocking
-Lacks explosiveness
NFL Draft Projection: Rounds three to five
Fantasy: Like most rookie tight ends, Sinnott can be left off of fantasy boards in redraft leagues. He does possess the athleticism and versatility to be worth a 3rd round rookie pick or waiver addition for a dynasty squad. If drafted by the right team, Sinnott could be a steal.
3. Cade Stover, Ohio State
Bio: If you watch Cade Stover play football, you’d assume he’s been a tight end his whole life. The truth is, he’s relatively new to playing on the offensive side. Originally a pass rusher, Stover switched to tight end his sophomore season at Ohio State. In both 2022 and 2023, he’s had 35+ receptions, 400+, and five touchdowns. His 576 receiving yards this past season ranks him eighth in the nation among tight ends and his five touchdowns would have him tied at 10th. It appears he is adjusting to the new position just fine. Stover is an explosive athlete who is surprisingly light on his feet for such a big guy. He moves with solid fluidity and agility. He also has great ball skills, giving him the edge in jump balls and in contested catches. Out of all tight ends with a minimum of 50 targets this past season, Stover ranked 5th with a contested catch percentage of 60%. While he is explosive, he doesn’t have game-changing speed which limits the yards he’ll get after the catch. His 284 yards after the catch aren’t bad, but because of his average speed, it is more likely he will be a possession receiver with the ball in his hands. Since Stover is still relatively new to the position, he’s best seen as a developmental prospect. He’s a great addition for dynasty managers who want to bolster their tight-end room. He has a very fair shot to make an impact soon due to being a natural athlete and the potential he has shown this far.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 247 lbs
Strengths:
-Explosiveness
-Good hands
Weaknesses:
-Average speed
-New to the position
NFL Draft Projection: Rounds three to five
Fantasy: Cade Stover is the kind of guy you draft and hope can develop into something special. He has a lot of the necessary tools to be a productive NFL and fantasy tight end, but the lack of speed limits his upside. He’s a 3rd round rookie pick in dynasty leagues and shouldn’t be in consideration for redraft leagues.
2. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
Bio: Ja’Tavion Sanders was a receiving threat in college and will look to continue that trend in the pros. Sanders didn’t register a catch his freshman year after joining the Longhorns in 2021, but he caught 40+ balls and got over 600 receiving yards in 2022 and 2023. His numbers would put him third on the team in receiving yards in both seasons as well as third in the nation among tight ends. Sanders is fast (4.69 40-yard dash time) and can make tough catches in traffic. He caught seven of 13 passes that were considered “contested catches” for a percentage of 53.8% (Tied for 7th in the nation among tight ends). If you watch his tape, you’ll see him outrun defenders and hold onto the catch after being bulldozed by the defender. It's also important to note that Sanders’ best game of the season was against #5 Alabama where he caught five of seven targets for 114 yards. He has big play potential as a tight end and proved that he can produce even against top competition. Once he’s drafted, he will be one of the smaller tight ends in the league which is a minor concern. His smaller frame will make it tough in both blocking and fighting press coverage, but the hope is his athleticism can help make up for that. He can be drafted in the middle to end of round two of rookie drafts and is being drafted as the TE23 with an ADP of 181 (Round 15). That is a very cheap price to pay for someone with legitimate receiving upside, even if he is a rookie. I’ll be keeping an eye out on his landing spot because that will greatly affect his fantasy value. He could be a sneaky starting option found in the later rounds if he is selected by a team with no clear TE1.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 245 lbs
Strengths:
-Good play strength as a receiver
-YAC ability
-Athleticism
Weaknesses:
-On the smaller size for tight ends
-Not the greatest blocker
NFL Draft Projection: Round two to three
Fantasy: Ja’Tavion Sanders is one of the few tight ends in this class that can make a quick fantasy impact. He’s more of a bigger receiver than he is a tight end which provides a lot of fantasy value, especially in PPR or tight end premium leagues. Keep a close eye out on where he goes because he could be a steal if he lands in a good situation. The Dolphins, Bengals, or Chargers would all be juicy landing spots. Dynasty-wise, he has enough receiving potential to be a solid stash on a roster and can crack the top 12 with time.
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
Bio: To the surprise of no one, Brock Bowers is the top tight end among 2024 rookies for fantasy purposes. He’s been an elite receiving option and arguably the best tight end in college football for the last three years. Bowers was a four-star high school recruit and played college football at the University of Georgia. He led the Georgia Bulldogs in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns all three years he played. That’s unheard of for a tight end. His freshman season was his best, catching 56 passes for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bowers projects to be a receiving threat in the NFL, making him an exciting pick for dynasty teams needing a tight end. What makes Bowers so special is his ability to generate yards after the catch. He looks like a running back with the ball in his hands. Bowers missed a few games due to injury this season, and still led all tight ends in the nation in yards after the catch (486 yards). The only big knock on Bowers is he is undersized at 6’3” and 243 lbs, so he may have a hard time playing against bigger defenders and may not be on the field for running situations. Still, he is a lock to be the first tight end taken in the draft and should be taken within the first 15 picks. With that being said, the tight end position is one of the harder positions to transition to in the NFL, so Bowers may take some time to develop. Kyle Pitts was a generational tight end prospect, getting drafted at number four overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he has disappointed the fantasy community due to not playing consistently anywhere near the level he is capable of. T.J. Hockenson was the eighth overall pick in the 2019 draft and he’s been very good, but not elite. Brock Bowers will likely be an investment that won’t return value immediately, which is okay. Just don’t be disappointed if he doesn’t automatically have a top-five tight-end fantasy season in his rookie year. Bowers should be drafted within the first four to seven picks in rookie drafts due to how dangerous of a receiver he is and the ceiling he has. He has legit top 3 tight-end potential for the next decade. In redraft leagues, he is drafted as the TE7 with an ADP of 72. That is a steep price for a rookie considering he is currently ranked before Evan Engram (TE2 in 2023) and David Njoku (TE5 in 2023), who both had excellent fantasy seasons, but could be worth the risk if he ends up in a good landing spot.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 243 lbs
Strengths:
-Elite college production
-Soft hands
-YAC ability
Weaknesses:
-On the smaller size for tight ends
-Had ankle surgery in 2023
NFL Draft Projection: Top 15 pick
Fantasy: Brock Bowers will be a solid dynasty asset if you have the patience to let him develop. He can very easily become one of the next great tight ends in the league. He should be viewed as a top-three dynasty tight end and a top 10 tight end in redraft.
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