Every NFL team can soon begin negotiating with free agent players come noon on March 14, 2022. Once the clock strikes 4:00 p.m. on March 16th, free agency officially begins and players will start inking their new deals. For fantasy football purposes, the free agency period is an undoubtedly exciting time. It’s the first bit of real football news to get us all buzzing ahead of the 2022 fantasy football season, albeit, by that time, over six months away. While that seems like a long time now, trust me, there will be plenty to talk about, especially as the free agents start making moves.
Fantasy football managers should be keeping a close eye on the top free agent tight ends especially. More often than not, most fantasy football managers are working the waiver wire for a streamer to plug and play at the position each season. Therefore, the 2022 free agent tight ends landing with a team that they can produce value on a week-to-week basis proves to be crucial.
Below, I rank the top available free agent tight ends, give a brief overview of each, and make a call at where we can expect the most value from them for the 2022 fantasy football season, with consideration to team needs at the position and cap space ahead of 2022 free agency.
Top Free Agent Tight Ends’ Top Landing Spots for 2022 Fantasy Football
1. Mike Gesicki
The big story surrounding Mike Gesicki this offseason is his desire to reclassify as a wide receiver. This doesn’t come at a surprise in the least bit. After ranking 12th in receptions amongst all tight ends in both 2019 and 2020, Gesicki landed at fifth in 2021 setting career highs in both receptions (73) and receiving yards (780). Furthermore, Gesicki tied for third in targets (112) amongst all tight ends behind just Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce.
Gesicki played 828 snaps, easily the most of any Miami Dolphins tight end, and more than every Dolphins wide receiver, aside from rookie, Jaylen Waddle. More importantly, over 700 of those snaps, Gesicki lined up out wide as a receiver or in the slot. By classifying as a wide receiver, Gesicki has more of an opportunity at a larger payday, specifically from Miami, if they choose to use the franchise tag on him. This reclassification will be a factor in the money he is looking for and which team can pay him, if granted.
Gesicki’s Best Fantasy Football Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers
As of now, the Chargers have the second-most cap space ahead of 2022 free agency just behind Miami. Go figure. I would love to see them steal Gesicki away from the Dolphins. With 34-year old tight end, Jared Cook, not expected back, it’s important to add someone younger, like 26-year old Gesicki, to quarterback, Justin Herbert’s, arsenal of weapons.
Also, if free agent wide receiver, Mike Williams, signs elsewhere, Los Angeles will need a big-body receiver to especially replace Williams’ 12 red zone targets from the 2021 season. Gesicki, at 6’6″ and 250-pounds, should have no problem doing so. If he finds himself on the west coast come March, fantasy football managers will find the tight end flying up draft boards over the summer.
2. Rob Gronkowski
It’s hard to imagine Gronk catching passes from anyone other than Tom Brady at this point. Now, with Brady seemingly retired, one would think the tight end could finally call it a career himself before the 2022 season kicks off. However, in recent interviews, Gronk dropped a hint that he may be interested in playing with Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Following a brief retirement, Rob Gronkowski had some rust to shake off during the 2020 season that still resulted in a TE9 finish in fantasy football. After a vintage Gronk Super Bowl performance, managers rallied around the idea of the star tight end ahead of the 2021 season, and for good reason. Although he played just 10 games, Gronk bounced back in a big way averaging 13.2 points per game, which was fourth amongst the position. In nine of his 12 games played last season, including playoffs, Gronk totaled at least 71 receiving yards and/or scored a touchdown.
Gronk’s Best Fantasy Football Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals
This may not be the best landing spot for the tight end, but it’s one of two spots imaginable from Gronk’s own words and past actions. He is at the point in his career where he could walk away from the game, wait to see who is expected to start at quarterback for Tampa Bay, or sign a one-year deal in Cincy to help them get back to the Super Bowl.
Even with the fifth-most cap space, adding a player like Gronk in free agency would probably cost less than $10 million for the season. It would be one of the cheaper boosts in talent this roster is expected to see, especially at tight end. As far as fantasy football is concerned, adding Gronkowski is just another mouth to feed for Joe Burrow in the Bengals’ passing game. It wouldn’t really hurt the likes of Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins. However, it likely caps Gronk’s ability to finish in the top-five at the position.
3. Dalton Schultz
Tight end, Dalton Schultz, is a great example of “next man up” for the Dallas Cowboys. Ahead of the 2020 season, it was Blake Jarwin who signed a three-year deal, only to tear his ACL in Week 1. From there, Schultz recorded 17 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns on 24 targets from Weeks 2-4 with a healthy Dak Prescott under center. Good enough to rank as TE3 during that short span.
Again, during the 2021 season, Schultz had a good showing. Specifically, after a hip injury to Jarwin in Week 8, Schultz went on to score five of his eight touchdowns of the season from Weeks 9 through 18. He also logged 65% of his regular-season targets in that time. He ultimately ranks third in receptions (78) for the 2021 season. Following a TE4 finish in fantasy football, all eyes will be on where he lands in free agency as managers look to cash in again.
Schultz’ Best Fantasy Football Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys
I ultimately think Schultz ends up getting the approximate $11 million franchise tag in Dallas. Currently, the Cowboys are over the salary cap. So, keeping Schultz around is going to be tough. However, Dallas is in a good position to win their division again so keeping proven, familiar faces, like Schultz, around is key for this season. With that said, this sort of move likely means tight end, Blake Jarwin, is released.
If Schultz does find himself sticking around in Dallas, he will have another shot at finishing as a top-five tight end in fantasy football. His 16% team target share in 2021 is enough of a reason to get him on your team given the lack of consistency in volume at the position. As Dallas makes their decisions, keep an eye on which pass catchers stay and which pass-catchers go in free agency. Schultz could be a big winner once the dust settles.
4. Zach Ertz
This time last year, Ertz was a top trade candidate ahead of the 2021 NFL off-season. It took a while, but he eventually was shipped to Arizona from Philadelphia following the injury to Cardinals tight end, Maxx Williams. From there, Ertz surged from fantasy football’s TE15 from Weeks 1 through 6 to TE4 from Weeks 7 through 17. It’s worth noting that Eagles teammate, tight end Dallas Goedert, also got a boost from Ertz’s exit. He went from TE16 to TE6 before and after the trade.
Zach Ertz is now 31 years old and a free agent tight end for the first time in his career. This is likely his last opportunity to secure a multi-year deal, with a good bet that he’s choosing where to finish playing ball. Age shouldn’t be too much of a factor as we’ve seen multiple tight ends Ertz’ age and beyond play, with success, into their mid-30s. Furthermore, Ertz is still an effective receiver that can rack up fantasy points at tight end. Of the 574 yards he recorded in 11 games as a Cardinal, 264 of them were after the catch.
Ertz’ Best Fantasy Football Landing Spot: Jacksonville Jaguars
The obvious draw for Ertz to Jacksonville is newly hired head coach, Doug Pederson. Ertz is a few years removed from his career-high 2018 season of 116 receptions for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns through 16 games. Those 116 receptions, by the way, are an NFL record for most in a season by a tight end. The bottom line is that Ertz was an elite fantasy option under Pederson. From 2017 to 2019, the three of five seasons Pederson led the Eagles to the playoffs, Ertz ranked 3rd, 2nd, and 2nd at tight end in fantasy football respectively.
The Jaguars enter 2022 with a lot of hope to get their young quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, and the team, back on track. Specifically, at tight end, James O’Shaughnessy, who just turned 30, is set to be a free agent tight end. That leaves Dan Arnold as the only other notable tight end on the roster. Arnold, who the Jags acquired via trade last season, is on his fourth NFL team in four years. He only has 86 total career receptions.
That said, signing Ertz in free agency to reunite with Pederson seems like a no-brainer for the development of Lawrence. It helps that the Jaguars have the third-most salary cap space. If Ertz ends up in Jacksonville, he will be a top-10 tight end for the 2022 fantasy football season with a late-round price tag.
5. Evan Engram
Is this the year tight end, Evan Engram, finally breaks out in fantasy football? Evan Engram’s career-high receptions (64), receiving yards (722) and receiving touchdowns (6) all came in his rookie season back in 2017. Since then, Engram averages just under 50 receptions in just over 12 games played per season. The New York Giants’ offense continues to add talent to the roster. Unfortunately, injuries, specifically to running back, Saquon Barkley, and just about every pass-catcher, including Engram, have held them back.
The Giants enter free agency with an entirely new regime. They’ve plucked general manager, Joe Schoen, from the Buffalo Bills. They also added the Bills’ former offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, as their new head coach. With that said, we should see a step in the right direction for the Giants’ offensive production. New York had suitors for Engram, the former 2017 23rd overall pick, at last season’s trade deadline. They ultimately decided to keep him. However, those who made that decision are no longer calling the shots.
Engram’s Best Fantasy Football Landing Spot: New York Jets
I think Engram has a chance to remain in New York, but with the Jets rather than the Giants. It’s no secret that up to this point, the teams with the most salary cap space I’m leaning toward as the likeliest to land top free agent tight ends. The Jets are no different as they enter 2022 free agency with the fifth-most cap space.
The Jets ranked dead last in the league in tight end targets during the 2021 regular season. Additionally, the Jets have yet to have a tight end rank higher than TE15 in the last five fantasy football seasons. The Jets will look to continue to build around last year’s second overall pick, quarterback, Zach Wilson. Adding a receiving tight end like Engram in free agency would be a good start. It not only gives Wilson a safer option underneath, but Engram also provides reliability and size in the red zone, as well. If Engram does end up playing for the Jets, he could be a very low-risk, high reward option at the tight end position next fantasy football season.
Other Free Agent Tight Ends That Could Be on the Move
C.J. Uzomah is one of the more notable boom-or-bust tight ends of the 2021 fantasy football season. Nearly 40% of Uzomah’s 128.3 fantasy points came from two big games in Weeks 4 and 7. Still, it’s hard to ignore his early playoff heroics. Given that the above Gronk take is probably a stretch, Uzomah returning to Cincy is most probable in free agency. Let’s just hope he’s more consistent in 2022, wherever he is.
Gerald Everett is entering 2022 free agency following a career high in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns with the Seahawks. If he doesn’t remain in Seattle, I wonder the likelihood he reunites with Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota. O’Connell was the Rams’ offensive coordinator in 2020 when Everett was there at tight end.
David Njoku‘s exit from Cleveland is almost inevitable. He stuck it out through his rookie contract, but had requested a trade after getting buried on the depth chart. Sashi Brown, the Browns’ GM who traded up to select Njoku 29th overall in 2017, is now in Baltimore. I wonder if they would add him to the Ravens’ tight end room behind Mark Andrews. I love the player, but have hated the situation. At 25-years old, I hope he can find somewhere to carve a fantasy relevant role out for himself.