College Fantasy Football diehards must answer an age-old question in drafts this year: To draft, or not to draft an elite tight end? Last year, Brock Bowers and Oronde Gadsden both came off the board in the first two rounds of CFF drafts. Regrettably, neither tight end became a weekly difference-maker in CFF contests. Despite last year’s results, I am inclined to select a top-five tight end in the middle rounds of drafts this year and bypass the dumpster-diving strategy at the position.
The tight end position is the most difficult to project with the advent of the spread offense and fewer coaches relying on the position. The Miami Hurricanes were once known as Tight End U for the number of stupendous players who became high draft picks in the NFL. Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, Bubba Franks, David Njoku, and Kellen Winslow, II all shined in college and played for years as professionals.
Over the past decade, the Hawkeyes deserve the Tight End U moniker as a college-to-professional pipeline for prospects at the position. Since 2014, C.J. Fiedorowicz, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, and Sam LaPorta all earned high honors in college and were coveted by NFL organizations.
In 2024, there is not a Miami tight end among the top 15 players. Yet, Luke Lachey from Iowa does make the top 10 after missing last year with an injury. In all of my CFF drafts so far, I watch the tight ends closely, and I pounce on the opportunity when a top 5 competitor falls past the fifth round.
CFF TE Tiers
I have placed the tight end rankings and profiles into three tiers—Summa, Magna, 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
Oronde Gadsden, Syracuse
Team Offense (Rank): 343 ypg. (97)
Passing Yards: 171 ypg. (114)
Points Scored: 23.5 ppg. (90)
2023 FPPG: 9.8
Fantrax ADP: 73
In 2023, I drafted Oronde Gadsden on many teams and was devastated when the Orange tight end suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2. Against Western Michigan, Gadsden suffered a Lisfranc injury on the second offensive play of the game. In the spring, he had screws removed from his right foot and the surgery allegedly went well. Reports indicate that he will be ready to participate in training camp.
Two years ago, Gadsden was named First Team All-ACC after tallying 61 catches for 969 yards and six touchdowns. He scored 193.9 fantasy points (FPs), averaging 14.9 fantasy points per game (FPPG). Those are CFF game-winning totals at the position. He plays like his father, who caught passes in the World Football League (1997), Arena Football League (1998), and the NFL (Miami Dolphins, 1998-2003). At 6’5” and 235-pounds, the Syracuse game-breaker towers over smaller defensive backs, winning jump balls with long arms, a strong upper body, and great body control.
Gadsden is once again a preseason All-ACC honoree by many college football media outlets. He is one of two difference-markers at the position before training camps open. The redshirt junior is a no-brainer in the sixth round of drafts this summer.
Scouting Notebook: In April, coach Fran Brown said. “(Oronde) could practice now, but [he’s] not doing that. He’s one of the better football players on our team, and I think one of the better players throughout college football. (We) want to take care of him and do what’s right for him and not just what’s right for us.” (syracuse.com)
Harold Fannin, Bowling Green
Team Offense (Rank): 326 ypg. (107)
Passing Yards: 188 ypg. (104)
Points Scored: 26.2 ppg. (71)
2023 FPPG: 13.3
Fantrax ADP: 73
Around early November last season, Harold Fannin began to gain the attention of CFF diehards. Over the final six weeks of the 2023 campaign, he scored double-digit fantasy points each week and helped many CFF managers win their leagues.
I will never forget watching Fannin against Western Michigan on Thursday night of the CFF King’s Classic Championship weekend. My opponent, Tom Harvey, rostered the Falcons’ tight end who produced 17.9 points: I immediately fell behind in the contest before making a comeback to win the championship belt.
As a sophomore last year, Fannin concluded the crusade as No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the MAC among tight ends with 623 receiving yards. He recorded 44 receptions, which were No. 1 in the MAC and No. 12 in the country at the position. The junior finished the season among the top CFF TEs with 146 FPs, averaging 13.3 FPPG.
In high school, Fannin played safety and wide receiver and was named First Team All-Ohio as a defensive back: He made 106 tackles (82 solo), logged two interceptions, forced six fumbles, recovered four fumbles, and scored two defensive touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes for 601 yards with six touchdowns and rushed for a 78-yard score. An uber competitor, Fannin comes off the board as either the first or second tight in the vast majority of CFF drafts and is well worth selecting early.
Scouting Notebook: “I’ve really got to give thanks to my coaches just for believing in me and stuff like that. I’ll do whatever it takes for the team to win, so if the coach needs me to do that, I’ll go do it. But I love it. I love the role I play here,” Fannin proclaimed of his unique abilities last November (toledoblade.com).
Magna Cum Laude
RJ Maryland, SMU
Team Offense (Rank): 454 ypg. (16)
Passing Yards: 278 ypg. (22)
Points Scored: 38.7 ppg. (8)
2023 FPPG: 9.2
Fantrax ADP: 142
The other day I watched the classic “Catholics vs. Convicts” game between Miami and Notre Dame in 1988, and DL Russell Maryland wreaked havoc on the field. When I began my research this year, I uncovered that RJ Maryland is the son of Russell—the former Cowboys’ No. 1 overall pick. It is now time for the younger Maryland to demolish opponents.
In 2021, Maryland earned four stars as a recruit and ranked as the No. 17 tight end prospect in the nation. Despite offers from Boston College, Miami, Houston, Michigan State, Mississippi and Purdue, Maryland chose SMU, becoming an impact playmaker his first year on campus.
As a true freshman, Maryland played in all 13 games, making six starts. He notched 28 receptions for 296 yards and six scores—the total was the second-best for a Mustangs’ tight end in a single season. He garnered Freshman All-America honorable mention.
As a sophomore, the 6’4” and 233-pounder snatched 34 passes for 518 yards, averaging a robust 15.2 ypc., and scored seven times. The junior plays in a pass-happy offense by coach Rhett Lashlee with a good passer in Preston Stone, and Maryland will establish new career bests across the board in 2024.
Scouting Notebook: Maryland transformed his body between his freshman and sophomore seasons: “(RJ) has been super professional about (gaining weight). He’s kind of always had that demeanor, obviously with his background, but he’s kind of that kid. He’s serious about what he wants,” offensive coordinator Casey Woods stated last summer (dallasnews.com).
Brant Kuithe, Utah
Team Offense (Rank): 348 ypg. (92)
Passing Yards: 166 ypg. (117)
Points Scored: 23.2 ppg. (98)
2022 FPPG: 14.4
Fantrax ADP: 75
Looking back at the 2023 preseason CFF tight end rankings, it is unfortunate how many players endured catastrophic injuries that derailed their seasons. Despite some hope last summer that Brant Kuithe would return, he did not play a snap in 2023 after suffering a torn ACL early in the 2022 campaign. Luckily, the Utes’ tight end is on track to make a comeback this season.
Through four games in 2022, Kuithe had the second-most receiving touchdowns (3) and sixth-best receiving yards (204) among P5 tight ends. The 6’2” and 220-pounder opened the campaign with a career-high nine receptions for 105 yards versus Florida and reached the end zone in the first three games of the season before being injured.
The seventh-year competitor joined the program in 2018 and has registered 148 catches for 1,882 yards and 17 scores, adding 162 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries. During his campus tenure, he has logged a 32-consecutive game streak with a reception, including 30 outings with at least three catches.
While twice pacing Utah in receptions, Kuithe was named Second Team All-Pac-12 for three straight seasons from 2019-2021. Coach Kyle Whittingham centers his aerial assault around the tight end, and Kuithe likely leads the team in receiving for a third season.
Scouting Notebook: “You come prepared, you come ready to go, you have intention and you give great effort all practice long, and when Brant has been out there, that’s exactly what he has been doing. We also have the summer conditioning program and fall camp to continue to knock that rust off…you look at him from the first practice of spring till yesterday’s practice. He has knocked some rust off. You’ve seen growth every single practice,” TE coach Freddie Whittingham stated (deseret.com)
Luke Lachey, Iowa
Team Offense (Rank): 235 ypg. (130)
Passing Yards: 119 ypg. (127)
Points Scored: 15.4 ppg. (129)
2023 FPPG: 7.7
Fantrax ADP: 112
Luke Lachey’s family are Ohio State alumni: His dad was an All-American offensive lineman and his mom is a Buckeyes graduate. Yet, Luke decided to venture west and enrolled at Iowa after Ohio State offered a gray shirt instead of a full scholarship. In high school, he watched Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson in the black-and-gold uniform and tutored behind Sam LaPorta for three seasons on campus.
In 2022, Lachey played behind LaPorta but garnered significant playing time when the upperclassman was injured. In the Hawkeyes’ final three contests, Lachey mustered 23 targets, and seized 15 passes for 202 yards and two scores, finishing as the No. 5 CFF TE scorer over the three-game span. For the season, the junior recorded 38 catches for 398 yards and four touchdowns, obtaining honorable mention All-Big Ten.
In 2023, the senior played in essentially two games after a season-ending leg injury in the first quarter versus Western Michigan—catching 10 passes for 131 yards. Last December, he announced his return to Iowa for one more season, and the 6’6” and 253-pounder is expected to be fully healthy for training camp. Despite playing in a lackluster Hawkeyes’ offense, Lachey will provide plenty of fantasy production in 2024.
Scouting Notebook: “It’s been a long time since I’ve played. Just getting out there and playing low and fast and physical—that’s what Coach (Abdul) Hodge wants in a tight end, and so that’s what I’m just trying to kind of gain back as I go. I couldn’t wait. I was counting down the days at one point. I was really excited for spring break to get over just so I could get out and start playing football again,” Lachey said in April (247Sports.com).
Twitterverse on Fire!
After the first ten rounds of CFF drafts (based on CFF ADP), who are you targeting at tight end this summer?
- RJ Maryland, SMU: 18%
- Colston Loveland, Michigan: 20%
- Luke Hasz, Arkansas: 32%
- Caden Prieskorn, Mississippi: 30%
Cum Laude
Holden Willis, Middle Tennessee
Team Offense (Rank): 391 ypg. (59)
Passing Yards: 266 ypg. (33)
Points Scored: 24.2 ppg. (83)
2023 FPPG: 13.3
Fantrax ADP: 137
The CFF halcyon days of Blue Raiders’ QB Brent Stockstill tossing back-to-back seasons (2015 & 2016) of over 30 touchdowns, and WR Richie James tearing up C-USA opponents seems like a lifetime ago. Can new coach Derek Mason replicate the success of those exciting MTSU teams? A defensive-minded coach at Vanderbilt, Mason’s two best players are QB Nicholas Vattiato and TE/WR Holden Willis. The Blue Raiders’ coach would be unwise to not utilize his playmakers heavily.
Coming out of high school, the Tennessee native enrolled at USF in 2020 and transferred to Middle Tennessee before the 2023 season. A converted wide receiver, Willis is an undersized tight end at 6’4” and 215-pounds. Nonetheless, he presents matchup problems for opponents. Last year, the redshirt senior corralled 46 passes for 697 yards and five touchdowns, earning First Team All-C-USA. He produced double-digit FPs in six games and exceeded 20 FPs in three. Holden is WR/TE on Fantrax and provides a ton of flexibility for CFF managers setting weekly lineups.
Scouting Notebook: “There’s always a lot of nervous energy when there’s a coaching change or a new position coach. So, I try to assure them that what we’re doing is not foreign. We’re just going to ask you to do it more often, which is exciting… So, (our tight ends) are excited, because we utilize them a lot in our offense,” MTSU assistant coach Joe Ganz proclaimed in the offseason (goblueraiders.com).
Caden Prieskorn, Mississippi
Team Offense (Rank): 462 ypg. (13)
Passing Yards: 286 ypg. (19)
Points Scored: 35 ppg. (16)
2023 FPPG: 9.9
Fantrax ADP: 158
Two years ago, Caden Prieskorn caught my attention in a Memphis uniform. A walk-on for the Tigers in 2019, he recorded 55 career receptions with 681 yards and seven scores. In 2022, Prieskorn paced the club in receiving yards (602) and was tied for the lead in touchdown receptions (7). A member of the First Team All-AAC, he was also a semifinalist for the 2022 John Mackey Award and a Burlsworth Trophy nominee. Afterward, he packed his bags and moved south to Mississippi.
At 6’5” and 255-pounds, the senior missed the first three games of the Rebels’ season in 2023 and the running game suffered without his blocking presence. In 10 games, Prieskorn notched 30 catches for 449 yards and four scores. In the Peach Bowl versus Penn State, he closed his first fall on campus with an outstanding 10-catch, 136-yard and two-touchdown performance. Prieskorn returns for another crusade and has been named to numerous preseason All-SEC teams.
Scouting Notebook: “I feel like it’s pretty self-explanatory, how you watch the run game when (Caden) wasn’t in versus now with him being in. It’s almost like having another offensive lineman out there,” QB Jaxson Dart said last October when Prieskorn returned to the field (clarionledger.com).
Jake Briningstool, Clemson
Team Offense (Rank): 403 ypg. (50)
Passing Yards: 228 ypg. (60)
Points Scored: 29.8 ppg. (50)
2023 FPPG: 9.9
Fantrax ADP: 154
In his first season as a full-time starter, Jake Briningstool tied the Clemson single-season school record for a tight end with 50 receptions last year. Against Miami, he posted a record-setting night with 126 receiving yards, which were the most by a Clemson tight end in a single game. Briningstool’s nine receptions in the Gator Bowl tied the Clemson single-game record at the position. He kicks off the upcoming season with 78 career passes for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns.
A unanimous four-star prospect, Briningstool was a top 100 national player—No. 84 overall—No. 3 tight end and top player in Tennessee. He was also chosen for the Under Armour All-American Game as a senior in high school. In 2023 as the full-time starter, the senior recorded his best season with 50 catches for 498 yards and five scores, being named Second Team All-ACC and earning All-ACC Academic Team. At 6’6” and 230-pounds, Briningstool is a consummate all-around tight end with NFL aspirations. With an ADP beyond the top 150, the Tigers’ tight end is an easy selection late in CFF drafts.
Scouting Notebook: “I think [Briningstool] is coming off of a great year. [He’s] got a chance to leave here with a bunch of records. He’s shown what he can do. He looks like a pro out there. He is a great player, he’s very talented and I’m just proud of him because he’s matured. He’s a tough kid and he’s a tough competitor,” coach Dabo Swinney said (247Sports.com).
Colston Loveland, Michigan
Team Offense (Rank): 382 ypg. (67)
Passing Yards: 214 ypg. (81)
Points Scored: 35.9 ppg. (14)
2023 FPPG: 8.9
Fantrax ADP: 160
I have rooted for Michigan since 1978. For CFF purposes, enthusiasm for any of the Wolverines in the aerial attack has been restrained. During the Jim Harbaugh era, my trepidation paid dividends as Harbaugh’s teams relied on defense and the ground game to win. I can’t remember the last time a Michigan signal caller finished among the top 24 CFF QBs, and the pass catchers have fallen far short of their heated rivals in Columbus, OH.
Of course, there are always exceptions in life. Colston Loveland may lead the Wolverines in catches and be a solid CFF performer. A four-star recruit and the No. 1 player in Idaho, Loveland was a four-year varsity letterman in high school and set school records for catches in a season (91) and in a game (19). He also excelled on the hardwood.
In 2022, Loveland started five games and appeared in all 14 for the Wolverines. He tallied 16 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns and made four tackles. He was also named Offensive and Co-Special Teams Rookie of the Year.
In 2023, the sophomore took a giant leap forward, recording 45 receptions for 649 yards, averaging 14.4 ypc., and scoring four times. The 6’5” and 245-pounder collected First Team All-Big Ten afterward. With a new coach and a dearth of playmakers on the outside, Loveland is in line for career highs across the board.
Scouting Notebook: “In my opinion, Colston is the best player on the field on any given snap. It’s a major compliment to him, but I think certainly there becomes the duty and responsibility of you gotta do it every day. And he’s about it,” Michigan TE coach Steve Casula said over the offseason (michigandaily.com).
Jack Velling, Michigan State
Team Offense (Rank): 289 ypg. (125)
Passing Yards: 200 ypg. (96)
Points Scored: 15.9 ppg. (128)
2023 FPPG: 10.1
Fantrax ADP: 179
Jack Velling is the third Big Ten tight end ranked among CFF contributors at the position. Velling originally signed with Oregon State and played two seasons in Corvallis, OR before transferring to East Lansing, MI. He decided to follow his former coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State. In 2023, Velling earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors after setting a Beavers’ single-season record for touchdowns (8) by a tight end. He also tied for the most scores by an FBS tight end.
A three-star recruit, Velling was a team captain and three-time all-league selection in high school. He also earned three letters in basketball. As a true freshman, he was named honorable mention Freshman All-America after catching 16 passes for 281 yards and three scores. Last year, he collected Second Team All-Pac 12 after posting career highs with 29 catches for 438 yards and eight touchdowns. Familiar with Smith’s offensive scheme and philosophy, Velling could lead the Spartans in receiving in 2024.
Scouting Notebook: “The Seattle native has good size at 6’5” and 246-pounds, but separates himself with his combination of great hands and breakaway ability. His athleticism was on display throughout the season and is something the Spartans will milk in an offense that will feature multiple formations in allowing him to find open space,” noted Austen Flores and Ryan O’Bleness (rivals.com).
2024 CFF Tight End Rankings and Projections
| Player | Recs. | Rec. Yrds | TDs | Points | Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oronde Gadsden | 66 | 1,020 | 8 | 216 | 18.0 |
| Harold Fannin | 60 | 780 | 7 | 180 | 15.0 |
| RJ Maryland | 55 | 670 | 8 | 170 | 14.2 |
| Brant Kuithe | 53 | 660 | 7 | 161 | 13.4 |
| Luke Lachey | 56 | 730 | 6 | 165 | 13.8 |
| Holden Willis | 55 | 770 | 5 | 162 | 13.5 |
| Caden Prieskorn | 50 | 650 | 6 | 151 | 12.6 |
| Jake Briningstool | 47 | 540 | 4 | 125 | 10.4 |
| Colston Loveland | 50 | 600 | 5 | 140 | 11.7 |
| Jack Velling | 45 | 520 | 6 | 133 | 11.1 |