2022 CFF Tight End Rankings, Profiles and Projections

There is only one way to begin a college fantasy football tight end column: “To draft a tight end early, or wait to dumpster dive?” as Shakespeare so eloquently wrote in Hamlet. I prefer to wait patiently at the position and acquire a tight end after my starting lineup is filled. Nevertheless, a great argument can be made to select either Michael Mayer or Brock Bowers in the first three rounds this summer.

I have not grabbed either the Notre Dame or Georgia tight end in my seven drafts this year. Nonetheless, I will participate in at least one league in which I draft Mayer or Bowers on my roster to see how the strategy plays out over the course of the season.

So far, my three most rostered tight ends are Marshon Ford, Louisville, Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh and Isaac Rex, BYU. I have been very happy to build my CFF rosters with one or two of the aforementioned tight ends. While there is no record of Shakespeare going to college, he did foresee the great debate that would stymie CFF owners over four centuries after his death.

CFF TE Tiers

I have placed the tight end profiles in tiers—Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude—to provide flexibility for CFF managers based on their league’s scoring format, roster construction and starting lineup requirements. I have also provided fantasy projections for all the players.

Summa Cum Laude

Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 35.2 ppg. (19)

Passing: 282.5 ypg. (20)

2021 Fantasy Points: 197 (Mayer)

Rarely is a tight end rated as a five-star recruit and even rarer that the prospect lives up to expectations by the coaching staff and fans. Michael Mayer, a five-star recruit by 247Sports, is the exception to the norm since arriving on campus. In two seasons, Mayer has dominated opponents and become a Saturday luminary.

As a true freshman, he played in all 12 games and tied for the team lead in receptions (42) and second in receiving yards (450) with two touchdowns. He earned First Team Freshman All-American (The Athletic) and Third Team All-ACC.

Mayer was even better as a sophomore: He started all 12 games for the Fighting Irish and paced Notre Dame with 71 catches and finished second with 840 receiving yards. He also scored seven times. Against Florida State, he tied a school record for most catches in a game by a tight end with nine. For all of his efforts, the Associated Press anointed Mayer Third Team All-American, and he was named a Semifinalist for the John Mackey Award.

At 6’4” and 251-pounds, Mayer is the prototypical tight end prospect. He is a stupendous pass catcher who is physical at the line of scrimmage and down the field. Despite the change at coach and quarterback in South Bend, Indiana, Mayer is not worried: “Nothing changes for me. I compete the same way. At the end of the day, football’s football. I approach the game the same. I would approach the game the same way if I was a third-string tight end than the main guy,” he stated (ndinsider.com). The Notre Dame All-American stands atop my tight end rankings and might smash the 1,000-yard barrier in 2022.

Brock Bowers, Georgia

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 38.4 ppg. (10)

Passing: 251.9 ypg. (51)

2021 Fantasy Points: 233.8 (Bowers)

All offseason, I have debated with myself how to rank and project Brock Bowers. The number of total touchdowns scored (14) screams regression, and the depth chart is loaded at the tight end position, which might limit snaps and targets. What to do as a fantasy analyst?

First, let’s look at the touchdowns: He scored 13 receiving on 56 catches—a 23% TD:REC Rate. It does not seem reasonable to expect such a high percentage once again by the sophomore playmaker.

Second, the Bulldogs are loaded at the position with Bowers, Darnell Washington, Arik Gilbert, Brett Seither and Oscar Delp. Of course, Georgia will likely line up in 12- and 13-personnel more than any team in the nation. Will Bowers earn another 81 targets as the focus of every defensive coordinator’s attention and with terrific teammates at tight end?

Despite my concerns as a fantasy analyst, I could not rank Bowers outside of the Summa Cum Laude tier along with Mayer. Last year, Bowers finished as the No. 1 CFF tight end, scoring 233.8 fantasy points. He recorded 56 catches for 882 yards and 13 scores, averaging 15.8 yards per catch. He also rushed the ball four times for 56 yards and a touchdown, scoring 16.7 fantasy points per game. Among tight ends in program history, he set school single-season marks for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

A Napa, California native, Bowers was graded by 247Sports as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 3 TE prospect, No 10 prospect in California and No. 102 prospect nationally. As a freshman last year, he smashed the SEC and named First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-American. Can the 6’4” and 230-pounder repeat his fantastic fantasy production? Regression doctrine says otherwise. Yet. Bowers still should shine and be worthy of the second tight end taken.

Magna Cum Laude

Michael Trigg, Mississippi

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 33.7 ppg. (24)

Passing: 274.8 ypg. (22)

2021 Fantasy Points: 23.9 (Trigg)

The Rebels needed to replace 11 starters from last year’s squad, and coach Lane Kiffin utilized the transfer portal to acquire some of the top players available to fill holes on the roster. While QB Jaxson Dart received a lot of publicity, his former teammate Michael Trigg might be an even bigger addition in Oxford, Mississippi.

A four-star recruit from Florida in 2020, Trigg enrolled in USC and played one season for the Trojans. He only saw the field in six games and secured seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, the 6’3” and 240-pounder is no longer a secret after an eye-popping spring game: He scored three touchdowns on seven receptions for 89 yards.

The talent is undeniable: “I was trying to describe what it looks like when older guys played with younger guys, when there was the guy in high school playing with the junior high kids, that’s kind of how he plays. He’s not necessarily faster or quicker than everybody. But his ball control and his length looks like everyone’s younger,” coach Kiffin explained (clarionledger.com).

With six new starters on offense, there is a risk drafting Rebels’ players in CFF leagues. I am a believer in Kiffin’s scheme and ability to identify talent. In the past two drafts that I participated in, Trigg has been selected in the fifth and sixth rounds, which is a nice value at the position. He could be ranked in the Summa Cum Laude tier based on talent alone, but Trigg did not illustrate the production on the gridiron over the course of a full season to be rated with Mayer and Bowers.

Marshon Ford, Louisville

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 31.6 ppg. (41)

Passing: 236.4 ypg. (65)

2021 Fantasy Points: 116 (Ford)

Quarterback Malik Cunningham has tossed 61 touchdowns and passed for over 7,000 yards in the past three campaigns. Coach Scott Satterfield kicks off his fourth season at Louisville, and Cunningham has mastered Satterfield’s aerial assault. Luckily for CFF managers, Marshon Ford decided to return for a fifth season on campus, and I am always attracted to pass catchers attached to a top-flight quarterback.

“Personally, I have dealt with some tough circumstances over the past season both on and off the field, but keeping my faith has gotten me through many of these challenging times. I am blessed beyond belief to be on pace to earn my bachelor’s degree this spring and so grateful of the opportunities my future has in store for me,” Ford posted on his Instagram account as razor-sharp CFF players rejoiced on his return.

On offense, the Cardinals return both starting tackles and guards on the O-line, and three of the four starters are seniors, which bodes well for the passing game. Last year’s top two receivers are no longer with the program, and Ford is the top returning pass-catcher.

In 2021, Ford established career bests with 49 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns, scoring 116 fantasy points and finishing as the No. 22 scorer at the position. At 6’2” and 240-pounds, the hybrid tight end/H-back will take a step forward and conclude the campaign among the top CFF tight ends this year.

Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 27.3 ppg. (77)

Passing: 250 ypg. (101)

2021 Fantasy Points: 172.2 (Kuntz)

As a high schooler in 2017, Zack Kuntz claimed a first-team spot on USA Today’s All-USA Pennsylvania Football Team. 247Sports ranked the four-star recruit as the No. 111 overall prospect, No. 4 tight end, and No. 2 recruit in Pennsylvania by A multi-sport competitor, he earned three varsity letters in basketball and track & field. Kuntz enrolled at Penn State but caught only three passes as a Nittany Lion.

In 2021, Kuntz transferred to Old Dominion as a graduate student and immediately made an impact, earning First Team C-USA and CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. He was one of two college tight ends with over 100 targets, trailing only Tre McBride, and second with 73 catches. The Monarchs’ pass-catcher logged five games of eight catches or more, including a career-high nine twice, and posted two 100-yard receiving games.

“For some guys, it can be a gut check. I had some struggles with that and needed time to develop my frame going from high school to college. But I started to become a lot more confident player and a much more comfortable player and I think that is the first step in becoming an elite player, being comfortable,” Kuntz reflected after moving schools (yardbarker.com).

Old Dominion employs an underrated trio of playmakers–RB Blake Watson, WR Ali Jennings and Kuntz–and return four starting offensive linemen. At 6’8” and 245-pounds, Kuntz is the highest ranked G5 tight end in the nation and a stupendous option at the position in CFF drafts after the top three are off the board.

Benjamin Yurosek, Stanford

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 20.4 ppg. (113)

Passing: 215.2 ypg. (81)

2021 Fantasy Points: 126.4 (Yurosek)

Coach David Shaw wants to run the football and be efficient in the passing game. Unfortunately, the Cardinal have not been able to do either over the past three seasons. Since 2018, Stanford has an 11-19 mark and has not earned a bowl invite after eight consecutive postseason berths.

If Shaw puts an end to the misfortune, it will be with an efficient aerial assault led by QB Tanner McKee, WR Elijah Higgins and TE Benjamin Yurosek. In 2021, the junior tight end dazzled on the field despite the woes of the team. PFF named Yurosek First Team All-PAC-12, and he collected the Deswarte-Eller Award–outstanding sophomore player–for the Cardinals.

Yurosek started 11 games, hauling in 43 receptions and leading the team with 658 receiving yards. He reached the promised land three times and averaged 15.3 yards per reception, ranking third among P5 tight ends. He also secured 13 receptions of 20-plus yards to rank second among P5 tight ends and the only tight end in the Pac-12 to have multiple 40-plus yard touchdowns.

At 6’5” and 230-pounds, Yurosek was a four-star prospect and the No. 13 ranked tight end by 247Sports coming out of high school. He is garnering draft whispers from national scouts as a modern-day, move tight end in the NFL. The junior is a high-floor fantasy producer with touchdown upside if McKee reaches his potential throwing the football.

Cum Laude

Jaheim Bell, South Carolina

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 22.6 ppg. (104)

Passing: 201.2 ypg. (95)

2021 Fantasy Points: 113.7 (Bell)

During the bowl season, I get the opportunity to scout players for the upcoming NFL Draft and sometimes players pop who were not necessarily on my CFF radar over the course of the season. I cannot forget the Duke’s Mayo Bowl between North Carolina and Duke: I anticipated scouting only QB Sam Howell and WR Josh Downs.

As the contest unfolded, Jaheim Bell caught my attention. He scored twice on five catches for 159 yards and gained 21 yards rushing on three carries. I took mental notes and decided to research the Gamecocks’ tight end over the winter. Little did I know that South Carolina would drastically improve its depth chart under second-year coach Scott Beamer.

Far too many CFF managers are overlooking the acquisition of QB Spencer Rattler. One year ago, the former Sooners’ signal caller was the top DEVY quarterback and many NFL scouts ranked him atop their Class of ’23 rankings. How the mighty have fallen. Rattler isn’t even drafted in 24-player best ball leagues let alone redraft ones with smaller rosters. Regardless of your perspective, Rattler is a massive improvement behind center for Beamer and the offense.

At 6’3” and 230-pounds, Bell appears to be the preeminent pass catcher on the Gamecocks’ roster. Labeled a “Swiss Army Knife,” the South Carolina tight end is a matchup challenge for opponents. Despite only making 30 catches for 497 yards (16.6 average) and five touchdowns, he was named Second Team All-SEC by PFF. He recorded the most productive performance by a Gamecocks’ tight end when he snagged six passes for a then-school record 136 yards and a touchdown, including an 82-yard touchdown score versus Vanderbilt. Seeking a high-ceiling tight end, Bell is the player to place in your queue after the top five players are off the board.

Sam LaPorta, Iowa

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 23.4 ppg. (99)

Passing: 180.1 ypg. (109)

2021 Fantasy Points: 138.0 (LaPorta)

Always searching for players in fantasy-producing systems, CFF diehards target tight ends at Iowa, which might be the top program in the nation at recruiting and coaching the position. During coach Kirk Ferentz’s 23-year tenure, the Hawkeyes have produced four tight end studs–Dallas Clark, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, and Noah Fant.

Sam LaPorta is one of the top tight ends in the nation and yearns to impress NFL scouts as a senior. Last year, he led the Hawkeyes in receptions (53) and yards (670) and scored three times. He also paced all Big Ten tight ends in receptions, yards, yards after catch (299), yards after contact (206) and catches of 15-plus yards (18), according to PFF. For his efforts, the 6’4” and 249-pound junior was awarded the Team Hustle Award (offense), Second Team All-Big Ten (Phil Steele) and Third Team All-Big Ten (coaches).

Last year, the Iowa aerial assault remained grounded behind poor quarterback play and bad offensive line performance. In context, LaPorta’s numbers were actually impressive: He is in the right system to continue improving and producing fantasy points in 2022.

Twitterverse on Fire!

After the first ten rounds of CFF drafts, who are you targeting at tight end this summer?

• Isaac Rex, BYU: 20%
• Joshua Simon, Western Kentucky: 25%
• Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh: 17%
• Payne Durham, Purdue: 38%

“Payne Durham…big boy 6’5” and 255-pounds. 10.4 YPC 6 TDs on close to 50 rec!! Aidan O’Connell is a legit quarterback, and Durham should see more targets with David Bell gone.”

@NinoBrown_T2T

“Payne Durham gonna EAT this season.”

@Captain_Commish

“I have more shares of Joshua Simon, but I’m definitely gonna aim for some more Payne Durham.”

@CFF_Jared

“Isaac Rex was so disappointing last year.”

@CFFonIG

Brant Kuithe, Utah

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 36.1 ppg. (14)

Passing: 214.3 ypg. (84)

2021 Fantasy Points: 154.3 (Kuithe)

The Utes are a fun team to watch. Since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, coach Kyle Whittingham has guided the Utes to a 86-49 record, lost twice in conference title games, and finally won the Conference last year. Utah smashed Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game, 38-10, before losing to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, 48-45.

On offense, Whittingham employs an old-school, smash-mouth ground game that relies on play-action to take shots downfield. The passing games centers around Brant Kuithe. He is a three-time Second Team All-Pac-12 member and paced the Utes in receiving in three of the past four campaigns. Last year, he clutched 50 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns.

In the last three campaigns, Kuithe has also carried the football 16 times for 164 yards and four scores. During his four-years in Salt Lake City, he has posted 129 catches for 1,676 yards and 12 touchdowns. Kuithe is a formidable starter on CFF teams.

Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 41.4 ppg. (3)

Passing: 337.4 ypg. (8)

2021 Fantasy Points: 84.6 (Bartholomew)

Last year, Pittsburgh took a magic carpet ride to an 11-3 record and an ACC Championship after defeating Wake Forest, 45-21. There are big changes on campus in 2022: QB Kenny Pickett graduated and WR Jordan Addison transferred to USC, leaving big holes to fill by new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, Jr.

With Kedon Slovis taking over at quarterback, the Panthers’ passing game will not be as dangerous as last year, but the former USC field general should be able to find Gavin Bartholomew in the middle of the field.

A three-star prospect from Pennsylvania, Bartholomew played a variety of positions in high school: tight end, defensive end, punter, and quarterback during his senior year. As a junior, he was the team’s leading receiver, registering 27 catches for 527 yards and five touchdowns, and as a senior, he was the starting quarterback for the final five games of the campaign, completing 36-of-66 passes for 521 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 145 yards and three scores.

As a true freshman at Pittsburgh, the 6’5” and 260-pounder earned honorable mention All-ACC and Second Team Freshman All-American (The Athletic) after starting eight games. He secured 28 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 11.6 yards per catch. Tight end Lucas Krull (38 catches for 451 yards and 6 TDs) is no longer with the Panthers, and Bartholomew should see a major uptick in snaps and targets in 2022.

Payne Durham, Purdue

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 29.1 ppg. (59)

Passing: 355.3 ypg. (5)

2021 Fantasy Points: 127.7 (Durham)

The Twitterverse clearly does not agree with my ranking of Purdue tight end Payne Durham. The Boilermaker garnered the highest percentage of votes in the poll (above) with 38%. Am I too low on Durham?

In the past two years, the redshirt senior garnered honorable mention All-Big 10 each season and academic All-Big 10 in 2019 and 2020. Last year, his performance on the gridiron matched that in the classroom. He secured 45 passes for 467 yards and six touchdowns.

Coach Jeff Brohm prefers to throw the football, and last year, the Boilermakers attempted 576 passes, 44.3 per game, and completed 35 touchdowns. WR David Bell now plays in Cleveland, and his 134 targets and 93 catches are vacant. At 6’5” and 255-pounds, Durham is a nice option in drafts with a ceiling that intrigues many CFF managers in 2022.

Joshua Simon, Western Kentucky

Team Offense (Rank)

Scoring: 44.2 ppg. (2)

Passing: 433.7 ypg. (1)

2021 Fantasy Points: 22.3 (Simon)

In the summer of 2021, Joshua Simon was chosen for the John Mackey Award Watch List and the preseason All-C-USA team. In the opening game of last year’s campaign, he started with a bang, catching three passes for 73 yards and two scores. Regrettably, Simon injured his knee in the contest and missed the remainder of the season for the Hilltoppers.

During his first two seasons on campus, he started 18 games and snatched 63 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. Among tight ends at Western Kentucky, he is fifth all-time in receptions and fourth all-time with nine touchdowns.

Simon did not participate in spring practices but expected to be ready for training camp. In the Hilltoppers’ lethal passing game, the redshirt sophomore could be one of the more productive tight ends. CFF managers just have to understand the risk when drafting the Western Kentucky playmaker.

2022 College Football Tight End Projections