2024 preseason rankings: Top 30 tight ends

30. Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

Age: 25
2023 rank: 36 (standard), 37 (PPR)
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo
Other receivers: Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, DeMarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell

Tyler Higbee will be out for the foreseeable future and in his absence, Colby Parkinson has taken over as Los Angeles' TE1 during the preseason. As a career backup, Parkinson figures to get the biggest opportunity of his career but has never topped 322 yards in a single season and has just four career receiving touchdowns. Until he proves otherwise, he is not on the fantasy radar, even in an offense driven by Sean McVay.

29. Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks

Age: 26
2023 rank: 33 (standard), 32 (PPR)
Quarterback: Geno Smith, Sam Howell
Other receivers: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo

His talent should make him much higher than this but for some reason, Geno Smith has despised looking in his direction. Despite playing in all 17 games, Fant finished his 2023 season with just 43 targets and 32 total catches while ending the year without a touchdown for the first time in his career. His numbers have consistently dropped across the board, making him a null in fantasy. He is still just 26 and has more than enough time to turn it around but Smith's refusal to give him anything worthwhile severely limits his ceiling while dropping his floor to zero.

28. Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders

Age: 22
2023 rank: NA
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota
Other receivers: Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown

By the end of the season, Sinnott could easily be a top-10 fantasy tight end. He just cannot begin the year ranked any higher than this as he projects to start his career as the backup to Zach Ertz. Washington has raved on his talent during the offseason and in his limited snaps, Sinnott has shown out during the preseason. He cannot remain hidden for much longer but until he takes over as the starter, Sinnott is only a buy-low target every manager needs to keep an eye on.

27. Josh Oliver, Minnesota Vikings

Age: 27
2023 rank: 50 (standard), 51 (PPR)
Quarterback: Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens
Other receivers: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell

After four years as a backup, Oliver figures to see significant playing time for the first time in his career with TJ Hockenson still out of commission. It remains to be seen how effective he can be in an increased role, given how his production has steadily grown each year, but a primarily blocking tight end in a Sam Darnold-led offense cannot be given much thought in fantasy until proven otherwise. In 2023, Oliver had just 22 catches, even with Hockenson missing a couple of games.

26. Daniel Bellinger, New York Giants

Age: 23
2023 rank: 49 (standard), 45 (PPR)
Quarterback: Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito
Other receivers: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt

Bellinger spent all of the 2023 season behind Darren Waller but with the veteran's abrupt retirement, he is thrust back into the starting role he had as a rookie in 2022. Until Theo Johnson or someone else surfaces, this is Bellinger's job to lose, but expect a revolving door at tight end early in the year for New York. Before he got injured, Bellinger showed promising red zone upside in 2022 but reverted to sole blocking duties in 2023. It is anyone's guess as to which version of him shows up in his third season.

25. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

Age: 33
2023 rank: 53 (standard), 43 (PPR)
Quarterback: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota
Other receivers: Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown

It is hard to see Ertz as anything more than a stand-in starter for Washington until Ben Sinnott can get his feet beneath him. After a terrible year in 2023, Ertz has now played just one full season in the last five years entering his age-33 campaign. Rookie quarterbacks tend to lean on their tight ends early in the year, so there is hope Ertz can develop chemistry with Jayden Daniels early on, but it will be a miracle if he is still healthy and the starter by Week 6.