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 T.J. Hockenson.
T.J. Hockenson’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
Tight ends: The bane of our existence in fantasy football. There are so few difference-making TEs that fantasy managers are almost forced to overvalue mediocre ones.
For his entire career, Hockenson has been a mediocre tight end. He just posted the best season of his career, averaging 12.7 ppg. He finished as the overall TE2.
The problem is Hockenson was really the same tight end after getting traded to the Vikings as he was with the Lions. He’s mostly no better than a random streamer. Then, occasionally, he explodes and wins you a matchup.
Hockenson posted games of 39.9 and 35.9 fantasy points. Obviously, he was the overall TE1 in both weeks. While we love massive spike weeks in fantasy, it’s also not exactly a good sign that Hockenson scored 35.2% of his total fantasy points in two games.
MORE: Dynasty Rankings 2023 — Top Fantasy Options at Tight End
So, for two weeks, you got the best tight end in the history of fantasy football. For the other 15 games, you got 8.7 ppg. Those are Cole Kmet/Gerald Everett numbers.
Basically, Hockenson is Kmet or Everett, except with a couple of massive boom weeks. Of course, that makes him more valuable in fantasy, but it doesn’t make him a difference-making tight end.
On a more positive note, Hockenson will be just 26 years old this season. He’s gotten better every year of his career. This Vikings offense is the best offense he’s been a part of. It also helps that he will now have the entire offseason to really get himself integrated into their plans.
There’s a real chance Hockenson is this team’s No. 2 pass catcher for the 2023 season. Adam Thielen is done, and K.J. Osborn just may not be good enough. Hockenson saw a 20.5% target share in 2022. That feels like his floor in 2023.
T.J. Hockenson’s Fantasy Ranking
Hockenson’s rookie deal expires after this season. However, the Vikings can and likely will exercise his fifth-year option. They traded for him midseason. I don’t think they made that move to just let him walk. Expect the Vikings to lock Hockenson up for the next 4-5 years, if not this offseason, then in 2024.
Long term, Hockenson has the same QB concerns as the rest of this team’s receivers. Will it be Kirk Cousins beyond 2023? Fortunately, that question is less important for Hockenson because of the position he plays.
While not yet a difference-making fantasy tight end, he’s still a locked-in top-six TE1 and will remain that regardless of who is throwing him passes. We have Hockenson as our TE4 (No. 65 overall) in our dynasty Superflex rankings.
In fantasy, I’m not really interested in any tight end that isn’t Travis Kelce. He’s the only truly elite fantasy TE currently in the NFL. With that said, you can do far worse than Hockenson. And streaming is far more difficult in dynasty than in redraft.
If you have Hockenson, I wouldn’t move him unless you were getting a comparable tight end in return. However, if you don’t have a tight end of consequence, I’m not running out to overpay for a TE1 that isn’t even going to give me WR3 numbers. I’m certainly not interested in Hockenson at his price in dynasty startup drafts.