The tight end position has become less valuable in the world of fantasy football in recent years, but that doesn’t mean it lacks importance. Finding a player at the position in the middle-to-late round who breaks out gives fantasy managers a significant advantage over the competition every week.
Just ask anyone who drafted Sam LaPorta last season!
The pool of potential breakouts is small (after all, this is a “onesie” position in our lineups), but landing such a player can be the difference between a team that struggles to make the postseason and a league title contender.
With that in mind, here are four breakout tight ends to target somewhere in the early to middle rounds who could have career-best seasons in 2024.
Admittedly, I’m “breaking” my own rule here because McBride finished seventh in points among tight ends last season. However, I don’t think McBride hit his statistical ceiling. Why? Well, keep in mind that McBride saw just 15 targets in his first six games and didn’t produce solid totals until Zach Ertz went down. Imagine what he can do with a full season of high target totals!
Kincaid showed flashes of potential as a rookie, but he was inconsistent and hard to trust when Dawson Knox was active. This season, however, Kincaid is almost a lock to see consistent targets with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis no longer on the roster. In fact, I can easily see him push for top-five value among tight ends as one of the top options in the Bills offense for Josh Allen.
It feels like we’ve been here before, right? Pitts has been a popular breakout in his career, but he’s still not realized his fantasy potential because of poor-quality targets and bad quarterbacks. That won’t be the case this season though, as Atlanta signed inked Kirk Cousins to lead the offense. The passing game should be far better as a result, putting Pitts in a great spot to find success.
Bowers is one of the most highly touted tight ends to come out of college, so it’s no surprise to see him on this list. I don’t love where he landed, as Bowers will contend with Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and, to a lesser degree, fellow tight end Michael Mayer. Still, he’s got the tools to stay on the field all three downs and become a trustworthy option for Adian O’Connell or Gardner Minshew.
MICHAEL FABIANO
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Formerly of CBS Sports, NFL Network and SirusXM, Michael was the first fantasy analyst to appear on one of the four major TV networks. His work can now be found on SI, Westwood One Radio and the Bleav Podcast Network.
Follow Michael_Fabiano?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
© 2024 ABG-SI LLC. – SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. – All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Gambling content intended for 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
