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Top 15 TEs (Preseason 2026) · Sports Minds Fantasy Football

• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: What is going on, ballers?
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: It's your boy MJ coming at you with another episode of the Fantasy Fumble.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sitting here with my co-hosts and uh good friend Joe the Birdman.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Joe, how the hell are you doing today, brother?
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_01: I'm doing great, man.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_01: Season's just around the corner, and today we're talking about top 15 tight ends.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm pretty sure no one will be surprised with the first five picks, and then it just gets a little muddled from five to fifteen.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_01: But I'm eager to see what you got going on.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: I'll show you mine if you show me yours, buddy.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: Sounds good to me.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: So without further ado, let's go ahead and start off with the consensus.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: Probably, well, it's probably not consensus.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: I've seen it like one way or the other.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: But uh, let's go ahead and start with the top overall pick.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Joe, who do you have?
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: I have Trey McBride.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: Last year, I want to say that you and I went against the consensus, and we both had Trey McBride as our number one.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_01: Everybody else that you talked to under the sun had Brock Powers.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_01: You and I both had Trey McBride, so just want to give us a little pat on the back.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_01: He is my number one again.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: He's one of the most athletic, reliable tight ends we've ever seen.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_01: He's more involved every season.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_01: If you look at his stats, every season he takes a big jump forward.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: Last year he had 1,239 yards, and that was 300, over 300 more than the second most.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: He had 11 touchdowns.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_01: I think the offense is going to be better than people think.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, they're talking a lot of shit on that offense, but they always do.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, even people from Arizona hate him, but hey, um, it's not that bad.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: I think Brissett, uh, Jacoby Brissett is reliable.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_01: He proved to be reliable last year, and he peppered Trey McBride.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_01: And I feel like he's just gonna keep doing that.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_01: They do have a tough schedule, and they aren't the greatest team, but again, I think they're gonna be better than people think.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: And I think Trey McBride's a solid number one.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I'm just gonna go ahead and uh agree and add a little bit more to that.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, Trey McBride last year, 1,200 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: He averaged 10.6 touches per game or targets per game.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I mean, the guy was just on fire.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: He was the number one favorite target for Jacoby Brissett.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, one thing we noticed as well is coming into this season, there's a lot more hype again on M MJ Harrison Jr.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: Or uh, you know, so they they want him to step in and be that guy.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: You also have Michael Wilson on the other side who had a really good fantasy season last year, right?
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: Second half of the season.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but overall, you know, I think Trey still be gonna be that dude because he's just he's different, he's built different, and uh they're gonna keep feeding him the ball, whether it's Jacoby Brissett or Carson Beck off the bench.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I mean, so I I actually like that.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: And and looking at a fantasy perspective, Trey McBride actually has the fourth easiest schedule for tight end for matchups for the season.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: And his counterpart, which a lot of people are taking, you know, first tight end overall, actually is the 31st hardest schedule, which means that pretty much the worst schedule there is.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_01: I think that the consensus again for some reason this year is Brock Bowers at number one, but I got him at number two.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_01: As you just mentioned, and I have this in bold in my notes, he has a very tough schedule, and he's on the Raiders.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: They're gonna be alright at quarterback this year, and I think Brock Bowers is gonna be great, you know.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_01: Just in only 12 games last year, he had 680 yards and seven touchdowns.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_01: Don't get me wrong.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_01: But on a bad team with a difficult schedule, I just feel like that's a recipe for second place, not first place, and that's why I got him at number two.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, same.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: He he is my number two.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, his his stats aren't horrible for a tight end, right?
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: I I mean I can name a few other tight ends that had a better season, right?
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, it's about consistency.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: And uh Brock Bowers, obviously, his rookie season showed how good he can be, right?
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: It just right now he's my number two, and his his ADP is actually way too high for me.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: I I don't believe that he's someone that should be taken in the third round.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: I believe he's uh, you know, for the amount of production he's gonna get you, he's probably gonna be more of a you know, fourth round target, maybe fifth round.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but regardless, he is my number two overall.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: That tells you how I value the position.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: That is the only second, that is the one of two superstar tier tight ends.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: Everybody else, there's some really good ones.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: There's some you know great ones, but uh that for me is the end of the elite tight ends.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_01: I totally agree.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, I'm glad you said that.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like those two are in a league of their own.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so that's that's where the S tier ends for me, too.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: Now, who do you have in number three?
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: Uh number three, I had a guy that, you know, he looked really good to start off the season last year.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and then some injuries derailed his productive rookie season, but Tyler Warren, he's coming back to an offense of Shane Steichen.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, Shane, he's Shane's favorite target, so much so that they let Michael Pittman walk to Pittsburgh.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, outside of the Asking price, you know, they really, you know, ended up sticking to Josh Downs and frickin' Alec Pierce.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I get it, Alec Pierce had a productive season at 1,000 receiving yards last year, you know, but he only had like 60 receptions.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: Like, where are you gonna get the other 100 from?
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so that to me kind of shows the confidence they have in Tyler Warren and how they're gonna feed him the ball.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_00: And then obviously, when Daniel Jones is under center versus Anthony Richardson, it's a lot better of a Colts team, right?
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: A lot better fantasy-wise, a lot better wins-wise.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: So um, you know, I could sincerely see him being as you know, possibly breaking to try to get into that tier as you know, Trey McBride and Brock Bowers.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_00: But if if anything, he's he's definitely a really good value at like the sixth round.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, I totally agree with that.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_01: He's actually my number three as well.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_01: He had a very impressive rookie year, over 800 yards, five touchdowns, one rushing touchdown.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_01: And the offense is better than most people are giving him credit for.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I know people say the the Colts are good, but I think I think they're gonna be really good if everyone can stay healthy.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_01: And um, they do have a pretty nice schedule, too.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_01: So I think Tyler Warren, they like you said, they see what he they saw in his rookie year what he can do, and they see a future with him.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like I was always talking shit on Michael Pymman.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_01: I I never drafted him, never ended up with him on any of my teams.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_01: I do hope he does really well on Pittsburgh.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_01: But the culture were willing to give him up.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_01: That's a good point.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_01: And I think Alec Pierce, he's got some issues going on right now with his ankle, but um, I think they also saw a lot in Alec Pierce, but obviously they saw a ton in Tyler Warren, they saw a lot in Alec Pierce because they paid him so much money, like both of those guys they felt can fill that void with Michael Pittman leaving.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I expect uh big things from Tyler Warren.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: In my opinion, Alec Pierce was overpaid, man.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: You don't pay that much for uh uh you know wide receiver two, you know, in the league, like you're paying four years, a hundred million or something like that.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the thing is it don't get me wrong, it surprised me too.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, I was always high on Alec Pierce.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_01: I saw I saw like what he could do, and not just the long balls.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like he wasn't being utilized enough.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_01: I think they are gonna utilize him a lot more just based on what they paid him.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_01: But I but I thought I thought it was a bit much too.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, that was surprising.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: They better fucking do that.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, who do you have at number four?
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, number four, uh, I have Kyle Pitts Jr.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_00: Despite the fact that we don't know who's gonna be playing quarterback in Atlanta right now.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_00: There's a little bit of a debacle.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I love it.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: I love it.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: Quarterback drama.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: There's a rookie pushing for the starting spot.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: You know, he's gonna put out a valiant effort, but they're still gonna name Tua the starter, right?
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: Just because he signed there as a free agent.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's all customary at that point.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but Kyle Pitts, man, I mean, he had for a tight end schedule, it's the sixth best uh strength of schedule.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: So that means he's gonna have some soft matchups.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and it's actually pretty balanced throughout the year.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: So you're gonna have like a good game and a harder game and an easy game and a harder game.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it's actually pretty balanced.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that's gonna help out with his consistency and output.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_00: And uh it was his best year statistically as well.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: He had 928 receiving yards, uh 88 receptions, so he was pushing the hundred reception club for the season, uh, five touchdowns.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, I think I think that's with him just being introduced to the system, right?
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: That was a first year with that particular coordinator.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, who's a coordinator?
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: The guy from Cleveland, right?
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: The former coach from Cleveland.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_01: He's been there two years, right?
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: No, this is his first year.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I'll talk about him in a minute, but I totally agree with all that and um really easy schedule.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_01: I like that a lot.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_01: But at number four, I have Colston Loveland.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_01: Now, I'm just gonna preface this because I think the consensus is too high on him.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like we do need to see more.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: He had a slow start yesterday or last year, and he finished very strong.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_01: That's something I want to see.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_01: When someone finishes strong and they can keep that momentum going, I feel like that's much better than starting off with a bang and then fading away.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_01: So he did have a slow start, he finished real strong.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_01: It was his rookie year.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_01: He established that rapport with Caleb Williams.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_01: People are high on Caleb Williams.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_01: I do think they're too high on Colston Loveland, but he had over 700 yards.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_01: He's on a good offense with a with a tough schedule, but he's on a good offense and he had six touchdowns.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_01: For a rookie, I feel like that says a lot.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I wouldn't compare him uh to someone like Tyler Warren, but they did have the same amount of touchdowns.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_01: So I feel like he's capable of doing big things, and I feel like the team sees a lot in him too.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_01: So if he and Caleb Williams can get in sync, I could see him having a great year, and that's what I that's why I got him at four.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_01: Now for number five, I have Harold Fannon Jr.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, he's on the Cleveland Browns, but he's another sophomore with over 700 yards.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_01: He had seven touchdowns, one rushing touchdown.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_01: He's just a consistent player.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like he surprised everyone last year.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_01: And although the Browns are one of the worst teams in the NFL, they have one of the easiest schedules.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, they're a horrible offense, but they have an amazing schedule.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_01: So I think he's gonna pick up right where he left off and slide right into my top five.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah, that is uh definitely a big balls call, have them ranked that high, especially at number five.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I totally get that.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um now for my number five.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, this one is something that I kind of like tossed up just because, you know, the injury and everything like that.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: But I do have Tucker Kraft coming back in and being that number one option for offense.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: I know that Green Bay in the offseason paid, you know, Christian Watson all that money to be their starting wide receiver.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: However, I don't think Christian Watson's a wide receiver one.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I think he's a wide receiver two on any team, right?
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_00: Like you'd be lucky to have him as a wide receiver too.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: However, I don't think he takes the top off the defense like you need him too.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: And but I I believe that Tucker Kraft does do that.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: Every time he was on the field, he was uh super efficient, he ran great routes, he blocked good, like he was a uh, you know, he had the makings of a really good tight end, and then he tore his ACL, I think, early on in the season last year.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, him coming back, I think he's gonna establish himself as the guy and uh at barn the AACL that you know works for him, and then that that's not a guy that you're gonna be picking up until like the seventh to tenth round, anyways.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: So it's it's gonna give you a lot of value uh getting him, especially because if I'm gonna get him, I could wait a little bit longer than possibly everyone else.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I feel like you can pick him up late too.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I'll talk about him in a minute.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, but who do you have at number six?
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um my number six, I do have Colston Loveland.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, same as uh you.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_00: I'm up just a couple spots back.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, the only reason why I have him probably lower than contests is number one, they are overrating him as far as like when to draft him.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_00: I think I've been seeing him go in the fourth and fifth round.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: I just I can't, you know, with that much wide receiver talent on the board, you're not you're not grabbing a freaking tight end that early.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but also the other worry for me is Cole Komet is still there, right?
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_00: And they, you know, the Bears like Cole Komet, you know, they like to utilize Ben Johnson historically likes to utilize two tight ends, right?
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_00: He doesn't focus in on one.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, remember it was Laporta and uh, you know, whatever tight end was starting that day, right?
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_00: Because you can you could never pr predict it uh besides Amon Ross and Brown.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, that that that is why I have Colston Loveland a little bit back there.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I think the Bears are gonna struggle a little bit more than we possibly people expect them to because they do have a hard schedule, and um, you know, he's gonna hit that sophomore slump.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: So I just have him slightly behind these other guys.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, I totally agree.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_01: The consensus is too high on him.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, he could be the number one pass catcher there, but we'll see.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_01: It's probably gonna be Luther Burden or something.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, Caleb spreads the ball out, they they have a history of doing that too.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_01: Now, for my number six, I have George Kittle.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_01: He missed a good chunk of last season.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_01: The long injury history.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, every year, it's it's why I pause on George Kittle.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_01: But he's one of the best tight ends we've ever seen when he's healthy.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_01: So if he can stay healthy, I don't think he has any problem being in the top five, maybe even top three.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but because I'm worried about him missing a handful of games, I mean, right now he's still coming back from injury.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um, that's why I have him at six.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: I see that.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, what about your seventh guy?
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_01: For number seven, I have Kyle Pitts, and I am glad that you had him ranked so high because I was initially gonna rank him higher too.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I don't mind ranking him this high anymore.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_01: You know, he's he's had a few years that were a letdown, but you know, we saw what he could do his rookie year, and then we're all waiting for that to happen again, and then it did happen again last year.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_01: He had over 900 yards, that was the second most out of tight ends.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_01: He had five touchdowns, and you know, too, is gonna be using him as a safety valve.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_01: The Atlanta Falcons, they do have you know a difficult situation to quarterback and their whole offense, uh, but they do have a really easy schedule, too.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_01: So I really like Kyle Pitts and could easily see him in the top five.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_01: But I haven't met seven.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: I hear that.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now for my number seven, uh, you already spoke about him.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_00: I just have him a few spots back.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Harold Fanning Jr., I mean, he has a pretty sweet schedule, 13th, easiest.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: So, I mean, that's pretty solid, right?
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna face some competition here.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: You're gonna have, but it overall, it's a very, very balanced schedule, right?
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_00: Some good hard game, easy game, hard game, easy game.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: So you're gonna get good production.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but overall, the reason why he is this far back for me, possibly for you, is just because of that quarterback situation.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know what's happening.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_00: Cleveland is just a mess.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_00: Cleveland is the Browns, Browns are gonna brown.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um so unfortunately, they're just it's not fun to watch.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_00: And I I would hate to you know invest anything.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's why I'm also possibly farther like fading Quinchon Junkins Judkins more than other people, just because you know that uncertainty on offense.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he also had the second hardest like stacked boxes last year.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: So people just know send that blitz, and the Browns are gonna turn the ball over, unfortunately.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and if they can't get to the red zone, then you don't know how many touchdowns they're gonna be getting.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_01: But I do like Fan and I'm glad you at least have him on your list because being on the Browns, it gives everyone reasonable pause and completely understandable.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_01: At number eight, I have Sam Laporta.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_01: He's been inconsistent because the Lions are so stacked.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_01: You know, they just got such a great offense and so many different weapons that he's usually at the back end of the list.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but when they use him, he's amazing and they do have an easy schedule.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_01: He needs to be more involved this year, and if he is more involved, I I see no problem with him being in the top ten, and that's why I got him at eight.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: I don't have him this high, however, I think that he's a more reliable target than Jamison Williams.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_00: So I mean, I think he's their second best receiver on the on the Lions, you know.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_00: So that's saying for a lot.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um, now for my number eight, I have Travis Kelsey.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, the guy has a sweet schedule coming up, 15th easiest, so like right in the middle.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_00: Weeks one through nine are really juicy.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_00: So, like, when it comes to like early on in fantasy, you want some of those players who are gonna be super consistent early on when you're trying to win those close games, which only happened, what, the first four to six weeks of fantasy football, where it's anybody's game.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_00: Um, he's a player that you can plug in with confidence and know that he's gonna perform.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, last year, 851 receiving yards, right?
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_00: So he's still near the top five receiving yards for a tight end, five touchdowns, 76 receptions.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_00: He averaged 6.8 targets per game.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_00: So tight end getting seven looks a game to me is definitely a tight end that I would like to have.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: And right now, his ADP is a ninth or tenth round.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_00: So I think you getting them over there is an excellent value for a guy that's gonna give you 15 a game.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I'll talk about him in in a few minutes.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but for number nine, I have Juwan Johnson.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_01: He had almost 900 yards last year.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_01: That was third most out of tight ends.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_01: He's on an improved offense and he has established rapport with Tyler Shuck.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_01: I really like that.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_01: I think Tyler Shuck's gonna have a good year, and they do have a pretty nice schedule too.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_01: So I feel like their offense is improving enough where Jawan Johnson, although he's always been a reliable tight end, he's gonna be more consistent this year just because I think he's gonna get more targets.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I do think you're definitely uh very high on him, but I can see why.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_00: He was actually like a top 10 tight end all season long.
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_00: Like he was even in the top five for like I think in the middle of the season when him and Tyler Shuck were going off.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: It was a pretty good run for him, you know.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_00: And then obviously he fell off at the end of the season, but that's because they weren't really looking his way anymore, right?
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_00: They were just going to Chris Olave, Chris Olave, which you know is a sneaky good play last year, but you know, I could totally see that.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_01: Uh who do you have at number nine?
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so number nine, I do have George Kittle.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_00: He finally got you know activated from the PUP list um this week, I think yesterday.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_00: So we're looking at a uh pretty good, you know, potential, right?
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_00: We all know Kittle when he plays, he's getting you like 15 and 20 a game.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_00: He never disappoints, but the best ability is availability, and he has not been available for a whole season and uh probably his whole career, right?
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_00: Besides that one year, I think like year two or three.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_00: But uh he's unfortunately uh, you know, he takes a lot of injuries.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, uh if you grab Kittle, I I like his his potential, but you better grab a backup tight end because if he does go down, you know, you already know you you have somebody that can replace that production or at least get close to it.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_01: Now for number 10, I have a gentleman you were just talking about, Tucker Kraft.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_01: Uh he missed half the season, but he still had almost 500 yards and six touchdowns and only eight games.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_01: And I don't see the wide receiver changes making a big difference on his production.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's only gonna take a step towards his direction because they're gonna pepper Tucker Kraft as a safety valve.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_01: And um I agree with Watson, man.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I've always been, I don't want to say a hater, but I've always doubted Watson and um I don't understand.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe they see something we don't, but you know, I I've been waiting for years to see uh him really blow up, and it's it just never happens.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_01: So I do think they're gonna lean on Tucker Kraft more and just kind of divvy the ball up between the wide receivers.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_01: So I think he's gonna he could possibly be the top pass catcher on that team, and that's why I'm rounding out my top ten.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, definitely.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_00: I'm glad you got him in the top ten.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_00: Tucker's the man.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: When he's he's available, another guy.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_00: When available, he's great.
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um and and for his defense, that was the only year he's been injured in the last three years, right?
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, in his defense.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um now for my number 10.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_00: I actually have a guy sneaking in here.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_00: I think he has all the talent in the world, all the ability in the world.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_00: We just have to hope that Geno Smith can get the ball to him.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Kenyon Sidiq, uh tight end for the Jets.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_00: Uh he's a rookie coming in, but he's another guy that you look at that could be the top most reliable target for his quarterback, right?
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_00: The safety valve we were referring to.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um so he's that guy that can get those seven and eight looks of game and be productive, right?
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_00: Because he has the hands, he has the talent, but you know, we got to make sure he can do it at this level.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: So uh I think it'll be some growing pains at first, but uh, I mean, luckily his schedule does get easier second half of the season.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it gets to the 15th easiest, so that that's great.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_00: That tells me that he's gonna, you know, struggle early and possibly get his footing, you know, or he can never get his footing.
• 23:11
  SPEAKER_00: We never know, but that's it, it seems to be trending in that direction.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_01: That that is a big ball's call.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_01: I I don't have him in my top 15, but we'll see how it pans out.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_01: I just I stay away from every every player on the Jets, you know, including Brees Hall and Garrett Wilson.
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_00: So it's a good rule.
• 23:28
  SPEAKER_01: We shall see.
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_01: Now at number 11, I've got Travis Kelsey, and it feels almost criminal to have him outside of my top 10 because he is such a reliable player.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_01: The last three seasons have been disappointing, but like what are you talking about?
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_01: 800 900 yards instead of 11 or 1200 yards, you know, still really good.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_01: Last year, as you said, he finished with 850 yards, fourth most out of tight ends and five touchdowns.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_01: He's on a great offense.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, they do have a tough schedule and some issues going on with their offense, but he's uh probably the best pass catcher.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_01: And right now you've got uh a lot of issues going on with their wide receiver room, so you know that he's gonna be Mahomes' top target, at least for at least for a while.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_00: I can definitely see that.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_01: Uh who do you have at number 11?
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_00: Uh number 11.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I mean, I'm a big fan of these tight ends.
• 24:28
  SPEAKER_00: These seem to be the the the prototype you want.
• 24:31
  SPEAKER_00: But uh Mark Andrews, tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, he's my number 11.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_00: He's always Lamar Jackson's favorite red zone target.
• 24:39
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, we've seen games last year where he had two to three.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_00: Is he the most consistent?
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_00: No, because his quarterback play is not always the most consistent.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_00: So I think you know, if Lamar takes that step forward, you know, has an MVP like year he had a couple years ago, um, you know, that he could, I think that would be great for Mark Andrews because he's just gonna get those looks.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_00: But he's another guy that if you get him, you're gonna have to back up, uh, get a backup on your bench.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_00: You know, the luckily the tight end's a position that you can kind of waiver wire in the first couple of weeks, but uh I wouldn't wait any longer than that.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I um I don't have him in my top 15, but I'm glad you do because I feel like he's being overlooked by everybody.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_01: It's like, you know, he has one bad year, or you know, a couple questionable years, but really he's one of the best tight ends in the league still.
• 25:33
  SPEAKER_01: He was always hanging with Kelsey, and people just kind of forgot about him.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_01: And he's on one of the best offenses in the league, too.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_01: So with a healthy Lamar Jackson, he could easily be in the top 10 or even the top five.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_01: So I like that a lot.
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like everybody is overlooking him this year.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_01: Now at number 12, I have Jake Ferguson.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_01: He did fall below expectations last year, at least towards the end of the season, but he's on a great offense.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_01: He's got Dak Pepper in the entire team, but there are a lot of mouths to feed, and I think that's like the main reason that he's peaks and valleys.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, last year he only had 600 yards, but Dak likes him in the red zone.
• 26:16
  SPEAKER_01: That's why he had eight touchdowns.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_01: So I think that's gonna be uh a lot more of the same this year where Dak's gonna be looking for him in the red zone, and I see him doing a lot better than 600 yards this year, too.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_01: That's why I got him at number 12.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_00: You know, funny enough, I actually don't have him at in my top 15.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_00: And if not because I don't think he has talent, because he does, and obviously eight touchdowns, nothing to scoff at.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I just think that Dallas is gonna be a little bit more centered on, you know, now feeding the ball to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in the same game because they kind of got used to having one or the other, right?
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_00: Never both at the same time until the end.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_00: And then we kind of saw that target share kind of lean a lot more towards CD again, right?
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_00: George Pickens took the backseat.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_00: He wasn't really like getting the the looks.
• 27:08
  SPEAKER_00: So I think that they're gonna have to give him some of those looks, and who takes a cut?
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_00: Probably gonna be your tight end, right?
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_00: They're gonna probably leave one extra guy in blocking here and there.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_00: That's the only reason why I faded him.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_00: I just, you know, I don't think it'll be consistent.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_01: No, and you're probably right, it's it's probably not gonna be consistent.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I just think he's a red zone threat, but I I get why you don't have him in your top 15.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_01: Who do you have at number 12?
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_00: Number 12, I'm probably higher, a lot higher on this guy than probably most out there.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but Bretton Strange, tight end Jacksonville.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_00: This guy had a kind of a breakout year, so to speak, for for him personally.
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_00: I think that was his uh his fourth year in the league, and he was averaging five targets per game.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_00: He ended up hitting 540 uh yards, and keep in mind he missed a few games in the first half of the season.
• 28:03
  SPEAKER_00: So the guy when he was available was pretty solid.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_00: Also, let's not forget the Jags actually paid him in the offseason, right?
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_00: They gave him his contract extension.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_00: They wanted to keep him long term because they saw his talent and ability, and he has uh all the talent and ability in the world, especially at that position.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_00: I just think that now Liam Cohen actually recognizes that, and that's why they paid him.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_00: So you're gonna see a little bit more plays designed towards him.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_00: But the problem is obviously there's a lot of mouths to feed in Jacksonville.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_00: You're more than likely gonna see someone get traded before the end of the season.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I'm glad I don't have him my top 15, but he's another one I'm glad you mentioned him because I feel like he's being overlooked too.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_01: That's a good offense.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_01: He has a good quarterback, established rapport.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_01: I think he's gonna have a really good season.
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_01: And I think he's gonna have a pretty safe floor throughout the entire year.
• 29:00
  SPEAKER_01: At number 13, I have your boy Dallas Goddard.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_01: The Eagles have a great offense.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_01: Hurts loves him in the red zone.
• 29:08
  SPEAKER_01: That's why he had 11 touchdowns last year.
• 29:10
  SPEAKER_01: They do have a good schedule, too.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_01: Injury history.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_01: That's my biggest hang up with him, is you just know you're not getting a full season out of him.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_01: But when he's on the field, sometimes he's the only person that Jalen Hurts looks to.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_01: So I really like him for those blow-up games, and he's gonna be a risk.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_01: Anytime you you put him in, he's gonna be a risk.
• 29:32
  SPEAKER_01: Peaks and valleys, that's the way he plays.
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_01: But when he goes off, he goes off, and that's why I got him at 13.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you you're definitely higher on uh the me on him.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'll I'll leave it for a little bit down the line.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, my number 13, I have Juwan Johnson.
• 29:49
  SPEAKER_00: You and me are both higher in consensus than you know, most of those guys out there.
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_00: You're obviously higher than me, but uh it's because of that rapport that he has with Shuck, but also, you know, I I think overall when he was available and getting the looks, he he was pretty dominant out there.
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_00: You know, he's a big guy when he catches that ball and he kind of gets that momentum going.
• 30:11
  SPEAKER_00: He's not somebody that you want to step in front of, right?
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, so that we saw a lot of you know uh big plays by him last year.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_00: So I expect that to continue, you know, the Saints to build upon that success.
• 30:24
  SPEAKER_00: And uh that means you know, Juwan Johnson has has to maintain his looks.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_00: Uh because at five looks a game, that's pretty modest.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_00: I'd say he's it needs to get more like six or seven because he'll convert those.
• 30:37
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think if he gets more targets, it's gonna be lights out.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um now at 14, I have Dalton Schultz.
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like he's a little bit underrated, um, but he is a pretty reliable tight end.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_01: Last year he had 777 yards, that was sixth most.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_01: And he's on improved offense.
• 30:59
  SPEAKER_01: They they have been getting better.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_01: They do have a pretty good schedule, but a lot of this just depends on CJ Stroud.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_01: If CJ Stroud can play like he should play, then I think Dalton Schultz is going to be a big part of the offense.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm pretty much putting all this on CJ Stroud and how he plays throughout the season for the success of Dalton Schultz.
• 31:20
  SPEAKER_00: I don't even have uh Dalton Schultz in my top 15.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_00: Me personally, I I just I don't I don't trust the Texans offense that much as far as like in the past game.
• 31:31
  SPEAKER_00: I do like them in the run game, but uh yeah, uh you know that's the only reason why.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_00: Now for my number 14, I have Sam Laporta.
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, he's faded this far just because of the injury concerns.
• 31:48
  SPEAKER_00: I remember the year before he was going in like, you know, two years ago, he was going in like the fifth round.
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_00: Now, you know, you might get him a little bit later, but it's it's just to me, you know, there's a lot, a lot of injury history, you know, a lot of inconsistency with the brand uh with the Lions, excuse me.
• 32:07
  SPEAKER_00: So for me, they just move the ball around too much.
• 32:10
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe that changes this year.
• 32:11
  SPEAKER_00: Who knows, right?
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_00: Don't they have a new offensive coordinator?
• 32:15
  SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah, another one.
• 32:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 32:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 32:17
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, let's see what he brings to the table.
• 32:20
  SPEAKER_00: But uh, I think Sam Laporta, you know, has a good floor.
• 32:24
  SPEAKER_00: He's a he's a high floor, low ceiling guy, you know, so you don't expect you know those big games, but when you get that 15 and 20, you're thankful.
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
• 32:34
  SPEAKER_00: He just outperformed, you know, 90% of the the player uh position pool.
• 32:40
  SPEAKER_00: So it's you know, he he he gives a good value in that regard.
• 32:44
  SPEAKER_00: And also he does have um the a really good first half of the season for strength of schedule.
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_00: He has the fifth easiest.
• 32:53
  SPEAKER_00: So if any time the breakout, it's gonna be this uh in the very beginning.
• 32:59
  SPEAKER_01: Now to round out my top 15, I have a guy that I think I think you're probably high on him.
• 33:05
  SPEAKER_01: He's probably not on your list, but I know you like him as a player, and that's Dalton Kincaid.
• 33:10
  SPEAKER_01: He's a great athlete, but he's never played a full season.
• 33:14
  SPEAKER_01: He has an injury history that's always concerning.
• 33:16
  SPEAKER_01: And Josh Allen spreads the ball a lot.
• 33:19
  SPEAKER_01: So they are a really good offense, but the way Josh Allen plays, you just never know who's gonna get the ball.
• 33:25
  SPEAKER_01: And they do have kind of a tough schedule, but when he's on and he's involved in the offense, he does big things.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_01: That's why I got him at 15.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_00: I like Kincaid, but it's for that exact reason that I I faded him.
• 33:38
  SPEAKER_00: He's in my top 20, though.
• 33:40
  SPEAKER_00: Now, to round off my top 15, I do have my friend the Eagle on there, Dallas Goddard.
• 33:49
  SPEAKER_00: You know, 11 touchdowns, you know, for any player position is is really, really good, right?
• 33:55
  SPEAKER_00: Much less, you know, red zone.
• 33:56
  SPEAKER_00: You could tell he's Jalen Hurst's go-to target.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, injuries, you know, very constant.
• 34:02
  SPEAKER_00: You know, he's one of those other players when available, which seems to be pretty much the tight end pool, if you know, if I'm being honest, right?
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_00: There's only a handful of guys that you know are built for that, but you know, it's built for that for how long, right?
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_00: Because that's one of those positions where you get a lot of wear and tear.
• 34:20
  SPEAKER_00: You got to go up against, you know, 250, 300-pound linemen, you know, here and there.
• 34:25
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm sure that's no easy feat on the body.
• 34:28
  SPEAKER_00: You know, regardless, I like Dallas in there.
• 34:31
  SPEAKER_00: I think he's uh he has to step up this year more than last year, right?
• 34:36
  SPEAKER_00: Because now he has a defined role.
• 34:39
  SPEAKER_00: You know, he's helping siphon some of those targets because they're gonna go between Dontavian Wicks, Mikhail Lemon.
• 34:46
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they're gonna go to a trusted pair of hands on third down.
• 34:50
  SPEAKER_00: And I think the second best option for them would be Dallas Goddard, right?
• 34:55
  SPEAKER_00: Because when he is playing, he is very efficient.
• 34:59
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
• 35:00
  SPEAKER_01: When he's on, he's on.
• 35:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now, folks, that about wraps it up right there for our top 15 tight ends.
• 35:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we love the support, guys.
• 35:13
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for sharing everything, for commenting.
• 35:16
  SPEAKER_00: Let's keep it going.
• 35:17
  SPEAKER_00: Joe, you got something for them?
• 35:19
  SPEAKER_01: No, just uh like, comment, subscribe, all that good stuff, and uh look forward to the player profiles once the season starts.