INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 30: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a 16-yard touchdown catch during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Inglewood, California. The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** George Kittle
2022 Fantasy Football Tight Ends To Avoid Based On ADP
TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (34.48)
While George Kittle had a solid season receiving last year for the 49ers, he only caught six touchdowns. In fact, Kittle only has 20 touchdowns in his five-year NFL career. In addition, Deebo Samuel serves as the focal point in the 49ers’ passing game. Not to mention, Brandon Aiyuk is also lining up on the outside as Trey Lance looks to step into the starting quarterback role and lead this offense. Kittle should remain the second option in the passing game but this will be the big tight end’s first season with Lance under center. Kittle is potentially one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL. However, his abilities as a blocker don’t translate to fantasy points. Although Kittle is being selected in the late third round, fantasy owners should be patient and wait until the end of the fourth. Otherwise, you are overpaying and might as well spend a second-round selection on Baltimore’s Mark Andrews.
TE T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions (58.05)
Hockenson got off to a monster start to the 2021 season but fizzled out by Week 3. The young tight end hauled in eight receptions on 10 targets for 97 receiving yards and a touchdown in Detroit’s Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Hockenson then corralled another eight receptions on nine targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in the Lions’ Week 2 loss to Washington. In 11 more games last season, Hock never managed to eclipse 90 receiving yards after his strong coming-out party in Week 1 and only found the end zone two additional times in his final 11 weeks of the regular season. Simply put, after a very strong start to the season (specifically in PPR formats), Hockenson really let fantasy owners down. This year, he’ll not only be competing for targets with Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he’ll also have rookie Jameson Williams, D.J. Chark, and Josh Reynolds eating a solid chunk of his potential targets. Considering Hockenson is the sixth tight end being selected off the board, it seems like too high of a price to pay. He’s not going to have as many opportunities as perhaps he deserves, which will prevent him from finishing as a top-five tight end in the fantasy football world.
Mike Gesicki has caught at least 50 passes for 700+ yards in each of the last two seasons. Yet, while Gesicki had five touchdowns in 2019, and six in 2020, he only had two in 2021. The Miami Dolphins will have Tua Tugaviloa back and the young gun-slinger is poised for a true breakout campaign. Still, most of the passes should be going to their receiving core that features Jaylen Waddle and now Tyreek Hill, whom Miami signed this offseason by providing him with a four-year, $120 million extension. Waddle had 104 receptions for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season. Heading into 2021, the Dolphins could have one of the best receiving duos in football. Expect the majority of their passing game to focus on getting the ball to these explosive wideouts. Gesicki’s value is significantly deflated now that Hill will demand such a large target share. The veteran tight end should still be a starter in fantasy but he could have a capped ceiling now that his targets will be limited.
TE Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders (129.53)
Thomas is a talented player and his large basketball body frame makes him a solid weapon whenever he steps onto the field. The biggest issue in Thomas’ NFL career thus far though has been his ability to stay healthy. He can be very efficient, but last season, injuries kept him to just 18 receptions for 196 yards and three touchdowns. After a breakout season in 2020 in which he totaled a career-high 72 receptions for 670 receiving yards and six touchdowns, the former college quarterback has been unable to remain healthy. Thomas missed 11 games last season due to two stints on Injured Reserve. After injuring his hamstring in Week 4, Thomas returned in Week 11 in a victory over the Seahawks in which he hauled in three receptions, not including a touchdown pass that was called back due to a penalty. Thomas then tore his ACL in Week 13 against the New York Giants, a game in which he caught three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown before being helped to the sidelines. Thomas hopes to be ready to go by Week 1 of the 2022 season but there’s a chance that he could begin the season on Injured Reserve. The Commanders also added some depth to the wide receiver room. Jahan Doctson will join Terry McLaurin in two wide receiver sets. Not to mention, Curtis Samuel should be at full strength this season after dealing with several nagging injuries in 2021. Plus, Thomas will need some practice time to develop a rapport with new Commanders quarterback, Carson Wentz. Fantasy owners should be wary before selecting Thomas as their starting tight end. He will be third or fourth in the pecking order and could struggle to remain healthy yet again. I’d avoid him at all costs even though he isn’t being drafted until the 12th round of fantasy drafts.
TE Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars (161.95)
Evan Engram’s best season in the NFL was 2017 in his rookie year when he produced 722 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Engram has not scored more than three touchdowns in each of the last four seasons (2018-2021). Last season, Engram barely hit 400 yards receiving and averaged less than 10 yards per catch (8.9 AVG) for the first time in his five-year NFL career. Now that he is headed to Jacksonville, nothing suggests he will perform better than he did for the Giants. In fact, Trevor Lawrence struggled with accuracy in his rookie season. In 2022, Lawrence will likely improve but not enough to bring out better numbers from a guy like Engram, who really hasn’t done anything interesting in the NFL since 2017. Not to mention, Engram will have to battle with Dan Arnold for targets and snaps at the tight end position. In New York, he was clearly the superior talent over Kyle Rudolph. I’m not so sure that’s the case when comparing him to Arnold.
