The tight end position in fantasy football often presents a challenge to managers aiming to secure a competitive edge. While the elite tier of Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews is well-documented, the middle and late rounds offer untapped potential that can make or break your season.
The reality is that there are so many talented tight ends in the NFL today that the skill gap between the best and average ones has greatly shrunk. Here are three dark horse candidates that could possibly finish as the TE1.
3 Dark Horse TE1 Candidates for 2024 Fantasy Football
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Freiermuth enters the 2024 NFL season in quite a favorable position as compared to last season. His 2023 campaign was underwhelming, as he only had 32 receptions, 308 yards, and two touchdowns, averaging 5.1 points in half-point PPR fantasy. Now, the stars have aligned for Freiermuth, and he is in a position to see increased targets. The Steelers hired former Falcons OC Arthur Smith, traded away WR Dianote Johnson, and picked up Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to enhance their quarterback play.
Under Smith last year, the Falcons tight ends averaged a 31.7% overall target share. With a much more accurate quarterback (Wilson/Fields as opposed to Kenny Pickett) and a play-caller who likes to lean on his tight ends, expect Freiermuth to have a much better season in the final year of his rookie contract.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo quietly put together an impressive season despite a limited role in the Titans’ run-heavy offense, finishing with 77 targets, 54 receptions, 528 yards, and one touchdown. His percentage of team targets went up as the season went on and as Will Levis became the starting quarterback (he finished 12th, with 16.1%).
With Derrick Henry’s departure and the receiving corps undergoing changes, Okonkwo is poised to see an even larger increase in target share. Young quarterbacks like Levis like to rely on their tight ends, and Okonkwo has shown that he is versatile and can be thrown to in any given scenario. His explosive potential and expected increased role in the offense make him a compelling darkhorse candidate for a TE1 finish.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Ferguson is perhaps the least under-the-radar candidate, but his situation in Dallas still provides a fertile ground for a breakout. Ferguson’s 2023 stats include 102 targets, 71 receptions, 761 yards, and five touchdowns. He was the 10th-ranked fantasy tight end in his first year as a starter, averaging 10.1 points in half-point PPR fantasy.
Ferguson and his quarterback Dak Prescott have built lots of chemistry together, as Ferguson was the second most targeted player on the Cowboys behind CeeDee Lamb. Now, with Michael Gallup and Tony Pollard departing this past offseason and Lamb holding out for a contract extension, Fergusons’ targets could go up much more.
Who are your favorite dark horse TE1 candidates? Drop some names in the comments below and then make sure to check out our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.