Press Coverage - Tight End SMASH or PASS

AJ Barner is a major 'sell' candidate due to a high pass-block rate (16.8%) and low inline route participation. The source notes that tight ends with his profile rarely finish in the top five for fantasy production.

The source considers AJ Barner the biggest sell, arguing that he lacks upside if Elijah Arroyo secures a slot role. The source views established tight ends like Dawson Knox, Cole Kmet, and David Njoku as superior options.

Andrew Cooper ranks Brock Bowers ahead of Trey McBride, though he notes that Bowers is rarely available in the third round, making him difficult to draft at his current second-round ADP.

Andrew Cooper prefers drafting Colson Loveland at his current ADP over the more expensive elite tight ends, especially noting that the Luther Burden injury highlights the fragility of the position.

The source characterizes Cooper Kupp's current role as ambiguous, jokingly referring to him as a part-time coach.

Dalton Kincaid is a divisive, high-upside bet due to elite per-route efficiency, but his fantasy value is capped by a limited snap share (often under 40%) and injury history. The source suggests he is more viable in redraft where you can cut bait if the role remains unreliable, compared to best ball.

The source references Dalton Kincaid's route snap share as a benchmark for the type of usage that would render AJ Barner's fantasy outlook obsolete.

Dalton Schultz is recommended as a safe, late-round pick for deep leagues or as a safety blanket for C.J. Stroud. Statistically, he has performed similarly to Jake Ferguson over the last two years.

Darren Waller is noted as a potential red-zone force for the Panthers who can line up at split end. He is considered a viable late-round best ball pick due to his touchdown potential.

Drew Sample is considered 'drawing dead' for fantasy purposes, requiring an unrealistic number of injuries to teammates to become fantasy-relevant.

Elijah Arroyo is a deep sleeper who could carve out a 'big slot' role. If he achieves a 40% route participation rate, he could potentially outperform AJ Barner.

Elijah Arroyo is highlighted as a deep sleeper with pure upside. He reached 60% route participation last year and could potentially carve out a significant slot role, giving him a path to be a top-two target on his team without needing an injury to others.

Greg Dulcich is a target in Bobby Slowik's scheme, which utilizes tight ends in a 'big slot' role similar to how Johnnie Smith and Darren Waller were used. Despite a poor floor, he is a high-upside late-round pick because his role will be clarified immediately in Week 1.

The offseason was poor for Harold Fannin, as his team invested high draft capital in wide receivers without upgrading the quarterback position.

The source is skeptical of Isaiah Likely, noting his 39th percentile speed (4.8+ 40-yard dash) makes him dependent on high target volume to produce. The source argues he is a 'worse Dalton Kincaid' whose routes and snaps are limited by the team's preference for inline tight ends like Theo Johnson and Chris Manhertz.

Jake Ferguson is a 'contingent upside' player; he was TE20 in points per game with CeeDee Lamb healthy, but jumped to TE2 in points per game during the five games Lamb missed.

The source identifies Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the primary pass catcher on his team, noting that his potential absence would create significant target volatility for the rest of the offense.

Juwan Johnson is highlighted as a strong late-round target, particularly in 'yin and yang' tight end strategies. He possesses 95th percentile speed and benefits from Jordan Mims' absence, potentially serving as a starter for the first two months of the season.

Kenyon Sadiq is identified as a 'pure' upside play who does not require an injury to matter, though he currently carries significant risk due to a hernia injury that has kept him from practicing.

Kyle Pitts is a preferred target because the Falcons did not add high-end wide receiver competition, and the new coaching staff under Kevin Stefanski/Drew Petsing historically funnels the offense through the X and Y positions.

The source describes Rashid Shaheed as a field stretcher within his team's offensive scheme.

Sam LaPorta is dealing with a back injury and faces significant target competition from Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Terrence Ferguson is a preferred late-round target over Jake Ferguson due to his superior athleticism and contingent upside. He functions as a wide receiver in the Rams' offense, though he currently lacks standalone utility and requires an injury to a starting wide receiver to reach his ceiling.

The source views Travis Kelce as a boring, lower-upside option this year, noting he has the earliest bye week (Week 5) of any tight end, which necessitates drafting a second tight end early in the season.

Travis Kelce is viewed as a 'safe but boring' option with lower upside; his early Week 5 bye necessitates drafting a second tight end if he is your primary starter.

Trey McBride is a top-tier tight end who leads his team in targets, fitting the criteria for a 'number one stud' who is a difference-maker at the position.

Tucker Craft is coming off an injury and is viewed by Andrew Cooper as more of a best-ball option rather than a high-volume target earner in standard formats.

Tyler Warren's fantasy outlook is negatively impacted by the signing of Keenan Allen, who commands a significant target share.