Travis Kelce is the consensus and clear-cut TE1 this year. The future Hall of Famer has been the TE1 in four of the past five seasons. However, only one team per fantasy football league can have the superstar tight end. Three tight end sleepers are my favorite draft targets this season — let’s explore the non-Kelce options.
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Tight End Sleepers To Target in Fantasy
My favorite draft strategy at the tight end position is great or late. That means either paying the price for a great tight end like Kelce or waiting till the double-digit rounds to draft one.
This year, there are several late-round tight ends I want to draft.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
I’ve been a fan of Sam LaPorta’s going back to February.
While the rookie’s ADP has risen over the past several weeks, the former Iowa star is a steal as the 17th tight end off the board.
Sam LaPorta is looking DANGEROUS 😳
LaPorta reportedly looks “far and away” the best TE on the Lions roster.
LaPorta has reportedly already became one of Jared Goff’s “primary” targets.
The Lions reportedly plan for LaPorta to play a big role right away.
The Lions seem to… pic.twitter.com/DP8U00HDXK
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) August 6, 2023
He had an outstanding college career, totaling 153 receptions for 1,786 receiving yards and five touchdowns despite playing with awful quarterbacks. More importantly, LaPorta has a pathway to fantasy success this season.
Last year, Amon-Ra St. Brown had 146 targets, 76 more than the next closest Lion. Yet, the team didn’t make any significant additions to their wide receiver corps this offseason. Instead, they used an early second-round NFL Draft pick on LaPorta.
The former Iowa star averaged six yards after the catch per reception, ranking first among tight ends with at least 65 targets last season. Meanwhile, Detroit got 12 touchdowns from their tight ends last year, with only three coming from T.J. Hockenson. LaPorta could finish second on the team in targets as a rookie.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson had a semi-breakout last season. He was the TE11, averaging 7.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, a career high. Furthermore, he set career highs in receptions (43), targets (65), receiving yards (508), and touchdowns (seven).
The former college wide receiver led the team in receiving touchdowns while finishing top three in receiving yards and targets. More importantly, he was third in receiving touchdowns among tight ends, only behind Travis Kelce and George Kittle.
Therefore, he is criminally underrated as the 18th tight end off the board. Johnson played with the first-team offense during the preseason, ahead of Jimmy Graham and Foster Moreau.
Furthermore, he was a popular target for Derek Carr. Johnson could become a watered-down version of Darren Waller for the veteran quarterback. If Michael Thomas struggles with injuries again this season, the young tight end has significant upside.
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals
While Ertz might not be ready for the Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders, the veteran has too much upside to be the 23rd tight end off the board. He is coming off a torn ACL from last season. However, Ertz was the TE3 before getting hurt, averaging 10 half-point PPR fantasy points and 7.6 targets per game over the first nine weeks.
Furthermore, the veteran finished seventh in red-zone targets (15) and 11th in deep targets (seven) among tight ends despite missing nearly half the year. The Cardinals have one of the least fantasy-friendly offenses.
Marquise Brown and James Conner are the only two options fantasy players should trust. However, Ertz could quickly return to his 2022 form. Whether Joshua Dobbs or Clayton Tune is under center to start the year, the veteran tight end should see plenty of targets.