In this piece, I highlight tight ends who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.
As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change. For updates, visit the models directly.
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Top NFL DFS Tight End Picks in the FantasyLabs Models
On DraftKings, there are two tight ends near the top of the individual Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon, Cash Game, and Tournament Player Models.
- Dalton Schultz
- Dawson Knox
We’ll discuss why these are popping in our models, as well as take a look at some other tight ends.
Top Model NFL DFS Tight End Picks
Dalton Schultz ($4,300 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel): Dallas Cowboys (-1.5) at Minnesota Vikings (48.5 total)
When you look at Dalton Schultz’s game log, it’s very easy to tell which games Dak Prescott played in and which games he was out of. Prescott has been the quarterback for four of Schultz’s seven games this season. He has 13.2, 9.9, 13.4, and 17.4 DraftKings points with Prescott under center. With Cooper Rush as the quarterback, he’s had 2.8, 0, and 0 DraftKings points.
Schultz is also healthy now after the bye, and he ran a route on 72.9% of dropbacks this past week. That was his highest rate since Week 4, which is a great sign. Schultz has been targeted on 27.8% of his routes with Prescott under center while averaging 2.28 yards per route run.
The matchup is exploitable, as Minnesota is in the bottom ten in catch rate allowed to opposing tight ends (72.7%), yards per target (8.2), and touchdown rate (7.3%). He ran more routes in each of the past three games, and we could see that number continue to rise.
Schultz is the top tight end in our Cash Game and Tournament Model, as well as Sean Koerner’s Pro Model.
Dawson Knox ($3,200 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel): Buffalo Bills (-7.5) vs. Cleveland Browns (50 total)
Dawson Knox caught four of six targets last week while posting a season-high 57 receiving yards. He ran a route on 81% of dropbacks and has floated at that number since the Week 7 bye. Knox doesn’t have the same ceiling that some tight ends do, but his floor is moderate, and he has touchdown equity on one of the top offenses in the league.
At such a cheap price tag, Knox doesn’t even need to find the end zone to be fine for your lineups. But, if he can simply fall into the end zone, he’ll surely pay off. The matchup isn’t anything to get excited about, however. The Browns have allowed a 56% catch rate and 2.0% touchdown rate to tight ends. Both marks rank in the top seven in the league.
Knox ranks toward the top of the position in Projected Plus/Minus and Points/Salary. He’s also a cheap stacking partner for Josh Allen, and with pricing being tight this week, you may need the savings.
Knox is the top tight end in Chris Raybon’s Pro Model.
Other Notable NFL DFS Tight End Picks
Mark Andrews ($6,800 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel): Baltimore Ravens (-13) vs. Carolina Panthers (41.5 total)
Mark Andrews is expected to play on Sunday, but there is a chance that they hold him out. The return of a healthy Mark Andrews would be huge for this Baltimore offense. He still leads all tight ends in team target share despite missing time. He also leads the position in target rate per route run at 28.6%.
The matchup is exploitable, as Carolina has struggled against tight ends. They’ve allowed a 70.5% catch rate, 7.4 yards per target, and a 4.9% touchdown rate. All of which rank in the bottom half of the league. We talk a lot about positional value in DFS, and with tight end lacking some of the top options this week, Andrews could be extremely valuable.
A ceiling performance out of Andrews could blow the rest of the tight ends out of the water.
Tyler Higbee ($4,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel): Los Angeles Rams (+2.5) at New Orleans Saints (39 total)
With Cooper Kupp sidelined due to injury, Matt Stafford will need a new favorite target. Higbee is the leader to fill that role, as he already has the second-most targets on the team, with 16 more than the next closest player. Higbee caught all eight of his targets for 73 yards last week after catching three passes for 22 yards over the previous three games. We’ve seen Higbee get a lot of usage in some games this year, with three games of double-digit targets over the first five weeks of the season.
The matchup is difficult, as the Saints have allowed a league-low 4.7 yards per target and 53.7% catch rate. Higbee isn’t too expensive, so hopefully, enough volume can help him overcome the difficult matchup.
Greg Dulcich ($3,800 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel): Denver Broncos (-2.5) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (41.5 total)
Greg Dulcich had a disappointing box score last week, catching one of four targets for 11 yards. He still ran a route on 40 of 49 dropbacks, so there’s no reason to be too worried. He still should be a shoo-in for a handful of targets. There’s room for an increase also, as Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler are out with injuries.
The matchup is advantageous, as the Raiders have allowed a 9.5% touchdown rate, which is the third most in the league. Dulcich was a good prospect coming out of college, and the Broncos were very happy to get him back after his injury. Perhaps this slew of injuries could provide Dulcich with a chance to break out and take on an even bigger role.
