Fantasy Football: 3 Late-Round Tight Ends to Target

There are a variety of ways you can address the tight end position during fantasy football drafts. Taking at least one of the elite tight ends early could provide consistency at a volatile position while waiting until the later rounds for a player with upside is also viable.

Ahead of the 2024-25 NFL season, there are a few tight ends worth considering with an average draft position (ADP) of 109 or later in FantasyPros' consensus ADP for half-PPR leagues.

Here are the three tight ends who could outperform their ADP this year.

Fantasy Football: Late-Round Tight Ends to Target

Dallas Goedert, Eagles

ADP: TE12 (109th Overall)

Dallas Goedert often gets forgotten in a Philadelphia Eagles offense that features A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith at wide receiver. Even with the Eagles adding Saquon Barkley to their backfield, there is still room for Goedert to eat.

Despite being limited to 14 games last season because of a fractured forearm, Goedert registered a modest 78.6% route rate, 19.2% target share, and 1.54 yards per route run, via NextGenStats. At the tight end position, Goedert finished with the 13th-most fantasy points per game (7.6) in half-PPR formats.

The addition of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore should work wonders for Goedert as the Los Angeles Chargers had the seventh-highest pass rate over expected (0.7%) with Moore calling the plays in 2023-24. With numberFire's fantasy football projections -- assuming a 17-game season for each player -- predicting Jalen Hurts to throw for a career-high 3,989 yards, there can be enough volume for Goedert to deliver a top-10 season at the position.

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers

ADP: TE15 (129th Overall)

Some may be avoiding the pass-catchers on the Pittsburgh Steelers with Arthur Smith now calling the plays. But with an upgrade at quarterback -- whether it be Russell Wilson or Justin Fields -- there could be value in taking skill players from the Steel City.

It was a disastrous output for Pittsburgh's offense last season with Kenny Pickett under center, which led to Pat Freiermuth logging a 13.9% target share, 6.8 average depth of target, and 1.19 yards per route run. However, even with injuries also being a factor, Freiermuth finished as the TE13 in 2021 and TE11 in 2022 in fantasy points per game.

Wilson and Fields are more capable of pushing the ball down the field than Pickett, and Jonnu Smith just produced career-best marks in receptions (50) and receiving yards (582) playing in Smith's offense. The trade involving Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers could also naturally lead to more targets for Freiermuth this season.

Hunter Henry, Patriots

ADP: TE18 (161st Overall)

Uncertainty at the quarterback position for the New England Patriots has led to the skill players on the team seeing extremely low ADPs. While everyone tries to decipher who the No. 1 wideout will be in New England's new-look offense, Hunter Henry could be a security blanket for Drake Maye -- whenever he becomes the starter.

Demario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker are all first or second-year players who have yet to prove they can be a go-to target in an NFL offense. Meanwhile, Kendrick Bourne is recovering from a season-ending knee injury, and JuJu Smith-Schuster has dealt with a variety of injuries in recent years.

It has been a forgettable last two seasons for Henry with Mac Jones -- who is now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars -- at quarterback, but he managed a TE9 finish in 2021. Even though Henry turns 30 years old during the upcoming campaign, he has tallied 500-plus yards in four of his last five seasons, and six-plus touchdowns in two of his last three.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.