Fantasy Football: Top sleepers at TE for 2024 drafts
Looking for some hidden value at the tight end position in your 2024 fantasy football drafts? The team at Yahoo Fantasy highlights five of their favorite TE sleepers to consider in the late rounds.
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
If not for the presence of Mark Andrews on Baltimore's roster, Likely would be an easy top-10 fantasy tight end, possibly challenging for top-six status. He's been outstanding whenever pressed into serious usage. Last year, when Andrews was sidelined over the final six games of the regular season, Likely delivered 21 receptions for 322 yards and five touchdowns. Extend that level of production over a full 17-game season and you have a contender for overall TE1 status.
Likely ranked fifth among all receivers and tight ends last year in yards-after-catch per reception (7.4) — a stat that syncs with his various highlights:
ISAIAH LIKELY. Incredible catch and run for the @Ravens TD!
📺: #MIAvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqko01pD pic.twitter.com/Bw7Fh2EBwX— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023
Baltimore's receiving room isn't so talent-rich that Likely and Andrews couldn't possibly coexist as starting-quality fantasy options. Coach Harbaugh is at least making noises about getting Likely involved in a meaningful way. As an end-of-draft flier, Likely is as good as it gets at this spot. — Andy Behrens
Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams
Colby Parkinson has been ignored at draft tables despite entering 2024 as Los Angeles’ clear new starting tight end. The former five-star recruit signed a $22.5 million contract (with a lot guaranteed) during the offseason and has been getting praise throughout camp. Tyler Higbee has been a major part of LA’s offense in the past, but he’s unlikely to be a factor this season after undergoing ACL surgery in late February.
Parkinson rested along with the Rams’ starters during LA’s first preseason game, while Davis Allen played with the backups, suggesting he’s fighting for the TE2 spot with Hunter Long. The Rams led the NFL in yards per play when fully healthy last season, so LA’s offense has big potential behind a strong offensive line as well. Parkinson is going undrafted in Yahoo leagues despite the position being a total crapshoot after the top-12 are off the board. — Dalton Del Don
Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders
Ben Sinnott’s 2024 potential is about as clear-cut as you can get. If the second-round draft pick can surpass Zach Ertz, he has a clear path to a top-12 tight end. Sinnott’s talent is undeniable, but the problem is the Commanders’ new offensive coordinator has a very specific history with Ertz that creates a direct comp for Sinnott; he could essentially be the 2022 version of Trey McBride.
In 2022 under Kliff Kingsbury, Ertz had 47 receptions on 69 targets in 10 games while McBride had 29 receptions on 39 targets in 16 games, many of which came after Ertz suffered a season-ending injury. If Ertz plays the majority of the season, Sinnott will struggle to make a fantasy impact. However, Ertz is 33 and hasn’t played a full season since 2021. Sinnott has a solid shot at being Jayden Daniels’ TE1 and an intriguing deep sleeper pick. — Tera Roberts
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins boast arguably the fastest, most prolific offense in football. Add Jonnu Smith into the mix, and Miami has yet another weapon who excels after the catch. Smith ranks first among TEs over the past three seasons in yards after the catch per reception, offering Tua Tagovailoa a reliable security blanket whenever defenses try to quell the Tyreek-Waddle aerial attack.
Miami got nothing from the TE position last season, so Smith will be a welcomed addition to their offense as he's coming off career bests in targets (70), receptions (50) and yards (582) as the backup tight end for the Atlanta Falcons. Whether you trust the coach speak or not, it's not like Mike McDaniel hasn't successfully integrated TEs into his scheme before — see George Kittle. So, for any fantasy managers who miss out on a top or middle-tiered TE, taking a flier on Jonnu in the best passing offense in the league is a solid contingency plan. — Dan Titus
More Fantasy Football analysis
Theo Johnson, New York Giants
When evaluating a potential breakout tight end, I ask myself two questions: 1) Does this player have an immediate pathway to compete for targets?; and 2) Is he a really good athlete? For Giants rookie Theo Johnson, the answer to both of those questions is a resounding "yes."
The Penn State prospect may not have been drafted into a high-flying offense, but he does have some significant potential for target volume given the lack of a clear-cut second receiving option behind rookie Malik Nabers. Johnson is also an elite athlete, grading out with a 9.93 Relative Athletic Score (RAS, out of 10) that ranked ninth-best among all tight ends dating back to 1987.
Theo Johnson was drafted in round 4 pick 107 in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.93 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 9 out of 1199 TE from 1987 to 2024. https://t.co/sVZgB7wazA pic.twitter.com/mxhtoPNHDq
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2024
Johnson has earned himself rave reviews within the organization and throughout training camp, with HC Brian Daboll occasionally pulling the rookie from meetings to show him clips of legend Rob Gronkowski as examples of the type of play they expect from him in the years to come. He's made some big plays in training camp, and there's buzz that he could push for the TE1 role over Daniel Bellinger right off the bat. Johnson will be one of my favorite fliers in the final round of my fantasy drafts. — Kate Magdziuk