Late Round Tight Ends
by Alan Seslowsky – Twitter: @Alanseslowsky

Tight Ends are often dismissed by fantasy managers as a low priority position in drafts. Not having a tight end plan before your draft is a leak in many player’s games. Travis Kelce and Darren Waller were both literal “league winners” in 2020. Both of those tight ends will cost you a top 30 draft pick in 2021. Both are worth it. Should you want to play the “wait on Tight End” game, RosterWatch has identified value pockets for tight ends at various points of the draft.

 

 

Round 8

Tyler Higbee, Rams 

Tyler Higbee was a popular “wait on TE”-target last year. Higbee’s historic finish to the 2019 season was a major reason why. In the last five weeks of 2019, Higbee averaged over 25 fantasy points per game with all of the yardage, receptions, and touchdowns that go along with it. Higbee did not deliver in 2020, relative to expectations. Two significant conditions have improved for Higbee in 2021. 

Upgraded QB: Rams traded Jared Goff for Mathew Stafford

Projected Target Share Increase: Gerald Everett walked in free agency

Tyler Higbee’s draft cost is lower in 2021 versus 2020, making him the obvious best “wait on TE” value in early drafts. 

 

Round 12

Blake Jarwin, Cowboys

Last year during draft preparation season, Blake Jarwin was one of the most popular “sleeper” tight ends. Jarwin was heading into his athletic peak at age 25 and the unquestioned starter in a good offense. In week one, Jarwin came through catching all three of his targets including a TD before going out for the season. In the next three games his backup, Dalton Schultz, averaged over 15 fantasy points a game with Dak Prescott as the starting QB. Dak was subsequently injured in week five, and the TE position became unreliable. Though it is a small sample, it is easy to see the case for the starting Dallas tight end to be fantasy viable. The market is ignoring Jarwin, who has as good of a chance as any tight end out of the top five to be a TE1. Jarwin is the definition of a “late round TE” to target. 

 

Deep League Dart Throws

Hayden Hurst, Falcons (18th Round)

Hurst was another popular late-round sleeper last year that failed. The Falcons traded a second round pick for him last off-season; now added Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall pick. Rumors of Julio Jones getting traded could push Pitts to play the role of a wide receiver at times, making room for Hayden Hurst to have sneaky value. The new Head Coach, Arthur Smith, is a former tight end coach who proactively tries to scheme his athletic tight ends the ball. 

 

Chris Herndon, Jets ( 16th round )

The case for Chris Herdon:

Head Coach: Gase is out, Robert Saleh in. A fresh start will benefit Herndon

Depth Chart: Herdon is the Jets’ TE1 heading into training camp

Strong Finish: The last two games of 2020, Herdon averaged almost 20 fantasy points per game. 

Improved Offense: With rookie QB Zach Wilson the starter and a stout offensive line, Herdon will presumably be able to run more routes. He is arguably the best red zone pass catcher on the roster. window.PLAYERCARDS_CONFIG={affiliateCode:”rowa”};