2024 preseason rankings: Top 30 tight ends

6. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

Age: 24
2023 rank: 16 (standard), 11 (PPR)
Quarterback: Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky
Other receivers: Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Mack Hollins

It is a long shot, but Kincaid could become the top target for Josh Allen in 2024. Without Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir is expected to make the leap to becoming the team's WR1 after just 611 receiving yards in 2023. Rookie Keon Coleman is also in the mix, as is free agent acquisition Curtis Samuel, who played with offensive coordinator Joe Brady in Carolina.

Even then, after putting up 673 yards as a rookie, Kincaid has the look and tools to be the next young breakout tight end in his second season. His role in the offense significantly increased late in the year including in the playoffs, when he played a key role in both of Buffalo's postseason games. Kincaid will need to build on his two touchdowns, something he should be able to do now that he has firmly established himself as the starting tight end over Dawson Knox.

5. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Age: 25
2023 rank: 9 (standard), 9 (PPR)
Quarterback: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush
Other receivers: CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin

Ferguson came through in a big way in 2023 as the full-time starter, finishing as Dallas' second-leading receiver with 761 yards. Entering 2024, Ferguson should easily have the same role as the second option of a high-volume passing game behind CeeDee Lamb, the overall fantasy WR1. Following his impressive second-year leap, Ferguson could find himself topping 1,000 yards in 2024 with no real threat to his role as Dak Prescott's target over the middle.

Historically, Prescott has sustained the fantasy value of his tight ends, having turned Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz into reliable fantasy options. Ferguson is arguably the most talented tight end of the group. Depending on how Lamb's offseason contract dispute works itself out, Ferguson could even find himself as the team's de facto WR1 by Week 1, though cooler heads are expected to prevail. Overall TE1 is the ceiling for Ferguson.

4. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Age: 30
2023 rank: 2 (standard), 5 (PPR)
Quarterback: Brock Purdy, Brandon Allen
Other receivers: Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall

As the trio of San Francisco's offensive core ages out of their respective primes — Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey — Kittle's role is the safest with his game the least reliant on athleticism of the three. Age and injury issues have been the main concern for Kittle over the last three years but he turned back the clock in 2023 with his first 1,000-yard season since 2019. After it seemed as if he hit his peak with Jimmy Garoppolo, Kittle has found a new rhythm and chemistry with Brock Purdy as the 24-year-old's go-to short-yardage option.

With Kittle claiming he is dealing with another serious injury over the offseason, the same durability and age concerns will be there entering 2024. The beginning of the year will do a lot in telling if his 2023 campaign was an outlier or a sign of the veteran re-finding his niche with a new quarterback. If Brandon Aiyuk ever gets moved, Kittle's outlook gets even brighter as it is not out of the realm of possibility that he could be Purdy's No. 1 option sans Aiyuk.

3. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age: 29
2023 rank: 6 (standard), 2 (PPR)
Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones
Other receivers: Christian Kirk, Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Parker Washington

Engram seems to have found his true home in Jacksonville after years of inconsistency in New York. It may be shocking for some to see Engram as a top-three fantasy tight end but in 2023, no player of the position saw more targets than him. Engram's 143 targets were easily the most among all tight ends with no other player even topping 130.

The wide receiver room in Jacksonville saw a big shake-up over the offseason with Calvin Ridley departing and subsequently replaced by rookie Brian Thomas Jr. and veteran Gabe Davis. But if his 2023 was any indication, Engram's role in the offense is as safe as any player on the team. The Jaguars' frequent use of two-wideout sets gave Engram space to operate out of the slot, a move that proved to be a game-changer for his value.

2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Age: 24
2023 rank: 10 (standard), 7 (PPR)
Quarterback: Kyler Murray, Desmond Ridder
Other receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Zay Jones

It could be bold to have McBride ranked this high in the preseason but it is difficult to see a world where he does not truly break out in 2024. As a rookie, McBride began his career buried behind Zach Ertz but quickly rose to the top of the depth chart in the middle of the year. It was no coincidence that his rise coincided with Kyler Murray's return from injury as the two showed clear chemistry late in the season. From Week 10 to Week 18, McBride was the TE4 in PPR leagues.

With all the hype surrounding rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., McBride is expected to begin the year as the No. 2 option on the team. Harrison figures to cut into the juicy target share McBride had late in the year but with the rookie's speed being utilized on the outside all throughout the preseason, McBride is still the short-yardage and middle option for Murray. With Arizona's defense being as bad as it currently looks, the team will need to pass a lot in 2024, giving McBride a relatively safe floor.

1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

Age: 23
2023 rank: 1 (standard), 1 (PPR)
Quarterback: Jared Goff, Nate Sudfeld
Other receivers: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones

On the heels of a TE1 season in his rookie year, there are no legitimate reasons why LaPorta should not continue his reign in 2024. He was not without his lumps in 2023, experiencing a few dud games early on, but put up seven weeks with 15 or more points in PPR, the most of any tight end. As many would expect for a rookie, his consistency improved as the year went on.

Even with Amon-Ra St. Brown being the clear WR1 in Detroit, the efficiency of the offense makes LaPorta as safe of a second option as there is in the league. Assuming Jameson Williams takes on increased responsibilities in his first full NFL season, his role as primarily a deep threat is not threatening to LaPorta's value. It is still early in his career but LaPorta has the skill set and situation to become the next Travis Kelce and take full control of the position in fantasy. If there is any tight end worthy of a first-round pick in re-draft leagues, it's LaPorta.