Fantasy Football TE Tiers 2023: Travis Kelce and Then Everyone Else

If you don’t draft the Chiefs star in the first round, use this breakdown to determine your tight end strategy.

We are inching closer to the start of the 2023 NFL season, so it’s time for the mad dash of fantasy football drafts to begin. That makes it more important than ever to put your players into positional “tiers.” Unlike my player rankings, tiers group players of similar value. So, if you miss out on a particular player, you can see others on the same tier as an alternative. And if that tier has been cleared, it might be a good idea to wait a round or two on players who fall into the next tier at the position.

I’ll cover all four of the offensive positional tiers for our fantasy football purposes. I have already broken down the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers into tiers, so now let’s move on to the final position, the tight ends.

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--- Tier 1 ---

Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce has his own tier, and he more than deserves it. The future Hall of Famer put up 100 more points than the second-best tight end last season, T.J. Hockenson, and he’s been the best tight end in fantasy for most of his career. He’s the lone player at the position who is worth a first-round selection in all redrafts.

--- Tier 2 ---

Mark Andrews, Ravens
T.J. Hockenson, Vikings
Darren Waller, Giants
George Kittle, 49ers

Andrews is the lone tight end to usurp Kelce in recent years (2021), but he saw his numbers drop a bit last season. Still, he’ll remain the top option in the passing game for Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. Hockenson was a star once he was traded to the Vikings, and he’ll remain a statistical success in their high-octane offense. Kittle was amazing into the second half of last season with Brock Purdy under center, and fantasy managers hope that trend continues in the 2023 campaign. Waller has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, but he’s in a great spot to rebound with the Giants. In fact, he’s the favorite to lead the team in targets, assuming he can avoid the trainer’s room. 

--- Tier 3 ---

Dallas Goedert, Eagles
Kyle Pitts, Falcons
Evan Engram, Jaguars
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers

Goedert might be a safer pick than Waller, but he has a lower ceiling. Still, the veteran should average 10-plus points in PPR formats. We’re still waiting for Pitts to break out, though his quarterbacks have been partially to blame for his lack of success. Engram had a good season in 2022, but he was inconsistent, and the Jaguars now have Calvin Ridley in the mix. Freiermuth was pretty consistent a season ago, though his ceiling wasn’t all that spectacular.

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--- Tier 4 --

David Njoku, Browns
Tyler Higbee, Rams
Dalton Schultz, Texans
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans
Dalton Kincaid, Bills
Sam LaPorta, Lions

The tight ends in this tier are for those fantasy fans who want to wait until the eighth or ninth rounds on the position.  Schultz could play a big role in the Houston pass attack for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Njoku has top-12 value in Cleveland. Higbee could see a ton of targets in the Rams offense, making him a potential bargain based on his current average draft spot (141.5). This tier also includes a pair of sleepers in Okonkwo, Kincaid and LaPorta.

--- Tier 5 ---

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys
Gerald Everett, Chargers
Greg Dulcich, Broncos
Luke Musgrave, Packers
Zach Ertz, Cardinals

Ferguson has sleeper appeal as the top tight end in Dallas. Dulcich has lost some luster with Adam Trautman in Denver, and Musgrave has had a great camp and looks like the starter in Green Bay. Ertz, who has been cleared for Week 1 after sustaining a knee injury last year, could be a bargain in the double-digit rounds.

--- Tier 6 ---

Cole Kmet, Bears
Irv Smith Jr., Bengals
Dawson Knox, Bills
Juwan Johnson, Saints
Hayden Hurst, Panthers

Kmet had a decent season in 2022, but he could lose some targets and red-zone looks to Robert Tonyan. Smith has been limited due to injuries in his career, but the Bengals’ superior offense should offer him a chance to be a matchup-based fantasy starter in 2023. Johnson could be a late-round bargain, and Hurst is the lead tight end in Carolina. 

--- Tier 7 ---

Michael Mayer, Raiders
Mike Gesicki, Patriots
Tyler Conklin, Jets
Noah Fant, Seahawks
Hunter Henry, Patriots

Mayer was considered the best overall tight end in the 2023 rookie class, and the Raiders already cut O.J. Howard. He has late-round appeal. Conklin could have a good season with Aaron Rodgers under center in the Big Apple.

--- Tier 8 --

Jelani Woods, Colts
Cade Otton, Buccaneers
Isaiah Likely, Ravens
Trey McBride, Cardinals

Woods and Otton have some late-round appeal in deeper leagues. With Ertz coming back for Week 1, McBride loses some of his sleeper value.