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.
- T.J. Hockenson
- Austin Hooper
We’ll discuss why these two are popping in our models, as well as take a look at some other tight ends.
Top Model NFL DFS Tight End Picks
T.J. Hockenson ($5,100 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel): Minnesota Vikings (+2) at Detroit Lions (51.5 total)
T.J. Hockenson had his worst performance as a Viking last week, hauling in four of six targets for just 33 yards. In three of his five games, Hockenson has posted double-digit DraftKings points, as he’s very quickly solidified himself as an important piece of the offense.
He saw nine, ten, and nine targets in his first three games in Minnesota, quickly becoming one of Kirk Cousins’ top targets. His targets haven’t been insanely valuable, as his average depth of target is merely 5.7 yards. He’s averaged 5.6 yards per target and 7.5 yards per catch with the Vikings after averaging 9.2 and 15.2 yards, respectively, with the Lions.
Hockenson now gets a revenge matchup against his former team. Detroit has struggled to defend opposing tight ends, so it might be a nice coming-home party for Hockenson. They’re allowing 8.0 yards per target, a 74.1% catch rate, and a 9.9% touchdown rate to tight ends. Each metric ranks in the bottom seven in the league.
Hockenson is a nice way to fill the tight end position while getting exposure to the best game on Sunday’s main slate.
He’s the top tight end in our Cash Game and Tournament Model, as Chris Raybon’s Pro Model.
Austin Hooper ($2,900 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel): Tennessee Titans (-3.5) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (41 total)
Chigoziem Okonkwo is making a name for himself in the tight end room, but Austin Hooper is still kicking around and remaining a consistent target for Ryan Tannehill. He has an insanely cheap price tag, so it’s worth digging into whether or not Hooper can be of service to us.
Hooper saw five targets last week, catching three balls for 22 yards. He ran a route on 61% of dropbacks but was targeted on a solid 24% of his routes. He also had a 27% share of the team’s air yards, showing that these weren’t just empty targets at the line of scrimmage.
He’s now run a route on 60% of dropbacks for the year, with a 13% target share. He’s seen 21%, 15%, 13%, and 20% of targets in the past four weeks, showing that his actual target number is probably closer to the high teens.
Jacksonville is a great matchup for tight ends, as they’re allowing a league-high 9.3 yards per target. With Treylon Burks out this week, it will likely open up some more opportunities for other Titans’ pass catchers, like Hooper. He’s the top tight end in Sean Koerner’s Pro Model.
Other Notable NFL DFS Tight End Picks
Travis Kelce ($7,600 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel): Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5) at Denver Broncos (44 total)
Welcome to the portion of the program that I know you’ve been waiting for. This is where I tell you once again just how awesome Travis Kelce is. Ironically, Kelce was not awesome last week, putting up his worst performance of the season with 8.6 DraftKings points. Despite the down performance, Kelce’s season-long numbers are still insane. He has 21 more catches, 314 more yards, and seven more touchdowns than any other tight end.
Denver did just shut down Mark Andrews for merely four catches for 53 yards, but tight ends are a solid way to attack this otherly sound defense. They’re allowing five catches per game to opposing tight ends, which is the 11th-most in the league. Kelce offers a ceiling that no other tight end can match, which always makes him an intriguing DFS option.
Mark Andrews ($6,500 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel): Baltimore Ravens (+2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (37 total)
Mark Andrews started the year hot, with 22+ DraftKings points in four of Baltimore’s first six games. His last five games have been disappointing, with a high of 12.3 DraftKings points and three games in the single digits. He still saw seven targets last week and has seven or more targets in three straight games.
Hopefully, Andrews can rekindle his past connection with Tyler Huntley, as they connected on 41-of-53 targets for 494 yards and three touchdowns last year. Andrews saw 29.1% of team targets with Huntley as the quarterback.
Greg Dulcich ($3,400 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel): Denver Broncos (+9.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (44 total)
Greg Dulcich was leaned on last week after Courtland Sutton left the game early. Dulcich saw a season-high 38.1% target share, catching six of eight targets for 85 yards. With Sutton out for this weekend’s game, Dulcich has another opportunity for an expanded role. The Chiefs have been subpar against tight ends, allowing 7.3 yards per target and a 7.3% touchdown rate. With Dulcich running a route on at least 80% of dropbacks in the past four games and at such a cheap price, he looks like a very viable DFS option this weekend.
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