We made it to Week 1, and so did our favorite (and less favorite) fantasy tight ends. In the past 20 seasons, there's been an average of one 20+ point TE scorer per 6.6 games and one 30+ point TE scorer every 52.6 games. (Yes, I've done the research so you don't have to.)
Will you strike gold at TE this season, or will you strike fossilized poop? If you missed out on the obvious must-start tight ends in your drafts, here are three recommended starters and three unconventional recommended sits for Week 1, using FantasyPros' composite of Week 1 rankings as our guide.
Start - T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (Ranked 20th)
The 20th-ranked fantasy TE in this opening week, T.J. Hockenson, has been ridiculously overlooked all summer. That's often what
happens when players come off unproductive campaigns. But if you look closely at last year's numbers, Hockenson elevated his bottom-tier quarterbacks. He has nowhere to go but up -- high up -- with Kyler Murray under center.
Start - Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (Ranked 16th)
In a somewhat injury-decimated, re-tooled Houston offense, Dalton Schultz is a reliable pair of hands for QB C.J. Stroud. This will be their fourth season together. Last season, Schultz helped propel his quarterbacks (primarily Stroud) to a sterling 106.5 passer rating. The 30-year-old still has juice, and this team will need him against Buffalo.
Start - Isaiah Likely, New York Giants (Ranked 12th)
One of the trendiest fantasy TEs this summer, Isaiah Likely joins a team in flux. Jaxson Dart's concussion history, Malik Nabers' injury recovery, and Cam Skattebo's hard-charging style make this team fascinating and (perhaps) frustrating. Likely showed in Baltimore that he could be a team's #1. There's an opening in Week 1 for the Giants to feature one of their key offseason additions.
Sit - Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (Ranked 10th)
I understand the appeal of starting Juwan Johnson when he could be the #3 offensive option. But in a frequently sparser offense last year, he needed 102 targets to manage TE12 numbers in points per game. Not ideal. The good news is that this opening contest falls on his birthday. The bad news is that it's his 30th -- when many tight ends begin or continue their decline.
Sit - Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers (Ranked 8th)
Tucker Kraft is ranked as if he'll pick up where he left off last year before a knee injury knocked him out for the season. The odds of a gradual return to form are far greater than any other scenario. There's a high risk of a 3-21-0 receiving line. I'd keep him stashed or trade him for preseason ADP value.
Sit - Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (Ranked 6th)
On paper, there's no good reason to bench Harold Fannin Jr., who led all Browns players last season in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs. Simply incredible for a rookie, and also not easily replicable in Year 2. He's never played a regular-season snap with QB Deshaun Watson, and now he must compete for looks with highly touted rookie wideouts K.C. Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Expect the kind of growing pains he avoided in 2025's more streamlined offense.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 1: TE Edition
