Finishing up with my 2022 Fantasy Football rankings for Point-Per-Reception (PPR) leagues, here are my top twenty Tight Ends for this season. Make sure to check out my rankings for: QBs, RBs, and WRs under the Fantasy Football tab of The Sports Branch.
1. Travis Kelce (KC, 8)
2. Mark Andrews (BAL, 10)
Andrews finished at TE1 last season, with over three hundred points in PPR leagues; nearly forty points ahead of TE2, Travis Kelce. Andrews also had the highest target share for Tight Ends in 2021 at twenty-five percent (FantasyPros). With Andrews having only to compete with Marquise Brown for targets a season ago, Andrews will now be the clear number one option for Baltimore, as Brown was traded to Arizona this offseason. It should be noted though that Andrews is likely to see his numbers regress. With Baltimore going into 2022 with wide receiver and second-round pick Rashod Bateman healthy, and their multiple running backs expected to return early this season from injuries suffered in 2021. The young Tight End is likely to see fewer targets and passing plays from an offense that is typically “run heavy”
3. Kyle Pitts (ATL, 14)
The number four overall pick from the 2021 draft put together a solid rookie campaign, amassing over one-thousand yards, but scoring just one touchdown. Pitts was heavily relied upon by then Quarterback, Matt Ryan. Although some may be concerned for Pitts in 2022 because of a new QB situation, I believe that Pitts is in store for an improvement from his rookie year. With Pitts scoring one touchdown last season, there’s a strong likelihood that his total touchdowns will increase substantially. Furthermore, with incoming rookie Drake London on the outside, defenses will have to pay more attention to at least one other receiving threat for Atlanta. Pitts finished as the TE6 last year and appeared in all seventeen games.
4. George Kittle (SF, 9)
5. Darren Waller (LV, 6)
6. Dalton Schultz (DAL, 7)
In Schultz’s second consecutive season of seeing a legitimate role in the offense, he posted career-highs in every category and finished as the TE3. Schultz could see his role continue to expand this season, as Amari Cooper was traded to Cleveland, and receiver Michael Gallup is expected to miss an early portion of 2022. On top of that, the Cowboys decided to place the four-year veteran under the franchise tag, giving Schultz some added motivation as he seeks a new contract with Dallas. Although being ranked just outside the top five for his position, Schultz will have a great opportunity for a second consecutive top-three finish for Tight Ends.
7. Dallas Goedert (PHI, 7)
8. Zach Ertz (ARI, 13)
9. T.J. Hockenson (DET, 6)
10. Cole Kmet (CHI, 14)
With Jimmy Graham still on the open market, it appears Chicago will ride with Kmet as their lead Tight End this year. Kmet was drafted in 2020 but spent his first two seasons fighting with Graham for reps and targets. With Darnell Mooney being the only other receiver that’s a real threat to the Notre Dame product, Kmet could put together the best season thus far of his short career. Kmet tallied just over six-hundred yards, but a disappointing zero touchdowns in his sophomore campaign; practically guaranteeing a boost in his numbers. Kmet is a great target in the later rounds of fantasy drafts to either have as a backup Tight End, that could become worthy of starting each week.
11. Pat Freiermuth (PIT, 9)
12. Mike Gesicki (MIA, 11)
13. David Njoku (CLE, 9)
Cleveland released Tight End Austin Hooper this offseason, opening the door for Njoku as the Browns’ top player at the position. Similarly to many other players on this list, Njoku will only have one teammate that will be a real threat to his production, Amari Cooper. Although Quarterback Deshaun Watson is suspended for the first eleven games of the season, Njoku could still make some noise with Jacoby Brissett at the helm. Njoku played over ninety percent of the first-team snaps during the preseason (FantasyPros) and Brissett has tended to target his Tight End heavily so far in his career. Njoku should be a player to target in one of the last rounds of fantasy drafts, as his ceiling for 2022 is tremendously high.
14. Dawson Knox (BUF, 7)
15. Hunter Henry (NE, 10)
16. Irv Smith Jr. (MIN, 7)
17. Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN, 9)
18. Noah Fant (SEA, 11)
19. Tyler Higbee (LAR, 7)
20. Gerald Everett (LAC, 8)
*All stats were received from ESPN Stats & Info. Department and FantasyPros.com