As we inch toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of Dalton Schultz.
Dalton Schultz’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
When the Cowboys drafted Schultz in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, I doubt they expected he’d become their primary tight end. At that point, the Cowboys had Blake Jarwin and Geoff Swaim. In 2019, Jason Witten came out of retirement to play another season. All of that led to Schultz catching a total of 13 passes in 12 games over his first two seasons.
In 2020, Witten left for the Raiders, and Jarwin tore his ACL in the first game of the season. That thrust Schultz into an every-down role. He took that and ran.
From the moment he took over as the Cowboys’ TE1, Schultz has been a fantasy TE1. He averaged 9.2 fantasy points per game in 2020, 12.3 ppg in 2021, and 9.5 ppg in 2022. Schultz’s 2021 average was good for a top-five finish.
Although 2022 looks like a step-down, Schultz was better than his numbers indicated. Early in the season, he was dealing with a PCL sprain. That helped contribute to three of his first four games being a 1.8 and two zero-point fantasy outputs.
MORE: Top Tight End Dynasty Rankings
Once Schultz got healthy, he was Dalton Schultz again. From Week 7 onward, he averaged 11.6 ppg, which would’ve put him at TE6 over a full season.
Schultz and the Cowboys negotiated a long-term extension last season but were unable to reach an agreement. As a result, he played the 2022 season on the franchise tag, making just under $11 million.
Dallas could’ve tagged Schultz again this season, which is projected to cost a little over $11 million. Schultz probably wouldn’t have liked that, as a multi-year extension would almost certainly net him a larger average annual value. It’s all moot now, though, as the Cowboys used their tag on Tony Pollard.
Now, the only way Schultz is back in Dallas is if they reach an agreement on an extension. Fantasy managers would love to see Schultz back in Dallas, but there’s a very real possibility he’s playing elsewhere.
3/20 Update: That very real possibility became a reality when Schultz signed with the Texans. He will now operate as their clear TE1.
This is actually a pretty good landing spot for Schultz’s fantasy value. The Texans lack a true WR1 and have a very weak group of wide receivers. Schultz could very well lead this team in targets and serve as the safety blanket for their rookie quarterback.
Dalton Schultz’s Fantasy Ranking
While Schultz is undoubtedly a talented player, he’s not this incredible athlete like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller, to name a few. Schultz is not going to necessarily command an 18.7% target share on just any team. It needs to be the right offense where he’s a key member of the passing game.
As a result, fantasy managers are in a tricky spot with Schultz. The best spot for his fantasy value is a return to Dallas. But if he leaves, he could be fine or go from a mid TE1 to a low one — or even a high-end TE2. The best course of action is to follow the tea leaves as to where Schultz might sign and react accordingly.
3/20 Update: Unfortunately, even though we know Schultz is on the Texans, it’s only a one year deal. It’s great that he’ll be tied to a young, ascending quarterback for 2023, but it tells us nothing about 2024 and beyond.
Schultz currently sits at TE8 (No. 100 overall) in our dynasty Superflex rankings. At 27 years old this season, Schultz has plenty of quality football ahead of him. He’s a fine pick at cost in dynasty startup drafts.