The tight end position is arguably the most interesting in fantasy football. Some prefer to pay the price to draft Travis Kelce. Others target Mark Andrews, Darren Waller, or Kyle Pitts in the middle rounds. Yet, some like to try and find this year’s late-round draft darling.
Last year, only six tight ends were drafted inside the top 12 and finished the season as a TE1 in half-PPR scoring. The other six tight ends were massive busts for fantasy managers.
Let’s see which tight ends fantasy players should avoid drafting in 2023.
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Fantasy Football Busts
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
Hockenson had the best year of his career in 2022, totaling 86 receptions on 129 targets for 914 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Furthermore, he was the TE2, averaging 10.1 half-PPR fantasy points per game, a career high.
HOCKENSON. What a grab!@Vikings take the lead!
📺: #NYGvsMIN on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/AJ2krgfBrW pic.twitter.com/CKHCls11me— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
However, the former Iowa star was inconsistent for fantasy players. The veteran tight end averaged 10.7 fantasy points per game last year with Minnesota, not including a meaningless Week 18 matchup.
Unfortunately, Hockenson scored 27.4% of his fantasy points with the team in the Week 16 contest. By comparison, he averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game in the other nine games.
The veteran tight end also scored more than 9.6 fantasy points in only 30% of his contests with the Vikings last season. While Hockenson isn’t a terrible fantasy pick, I would wait a few rounds and target Darren Waller or Kyle Pitts instead.
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
Last year, Engram was a popular sleeper candidate after he joined the Jaguars. The former Ole Miss star was the TE6 in 2022, averaging 8.3 half-PPR fantasy points per game.
While many are happy to draft the veteran at his TE8 ADP this season, fantasy managers should look deeper into Engram’s fantasy numbers from 2022. He had an outstanding four-week stretch late last season.
Engram was the TE1, averaging 10 targets and 17.6 fantasy points per game from Week 13-16. However, he averaged only 4.5 targets and 5.4 fantasy points per game in the other 13 matchups last year.
Engram would have been the TE20 over a 17-game pace with that fantasy ppg average in 2022. More importantly, Calvin Ridley’s arrival means Engram will not see the same 17.1% target share again this season. There is no way the veteran finishes in the top 10 again this year.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
The third-year tight end is a potential breakout candidate, given the growth from Kenny Pickett this offseason. However, I’m still skeptical about Freiermuth. He was solid as a rookie, finishing as the TE13, averaging 7.6 half-PPR fantasy points per game.
The rookie finished sixth among tight ends and 23rd in the NFL with seven receiving touchdowns. Unfortunately, those numbers regressed in 2022.
Freiermuth was the TE8 last season. However, he averaged 7.3 fantasy points per game, down from the year before. The former Penn State star also had his touchdown production severely regress, totaling only two last year.
Meanwhile, Diontae Johnson is a target hog, George Pickens is a popular sleeper, and the Steelers added Allen Robinson and Darnell Washington in the offseason. While Freiermuth isn’t a bad pick at his ADP, fantasy players should wait a few rounds and target a tight end with more upside.
Irv Smith Jr., Cincinnati Bengals
I have never understood the hype surrounding Smith. The veteran tight end has averaged only 5.2 half-PPR fantasy points per game in his career. He has only one career top-24 finish, coming as the TE23 in 2020.
More importantly, Smith has scored under 9.5 fantasy points in 89.2% of the games in his career. Yet, he gets labeled a sleeper because he joined the Bengals in free agency.
MORE: 2023 TE Fantasy Football Rankings
Last year, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd combined for a 53.3% target share despite the former LSU star missing four games with a hip injury. Hayden Hurst was the starting tight end for the Bengals last season, totaling a 14.6% target share.
Yet, the veteran was only the TE24, averaging 6.1 fantasy points per game. Instead of using a late-round pick on Smith, fantasy players should target Zach Ertz with a later ADP. He has significantly more upside than Smith.