Top Fantasy Football tight ends to draft in 2023

There's now only one more offensive position group to evaluate for fantasy football. The tight ends. Like running backs, these players are very difficult to evaluate. But, for very different reasons. Very few tight ends end up being successful in any given fantasy season. These are my top 20.

1. Travis Kelce

TE1 in six of the last seven years. Is that not proof enough that he's the best TE in the league? He's also QB Patrick Mahomes' favorite target. Even in his down weeks, he's a near assured 10 points. His ESPN ADP (Average Draft Position) is 5.6. I would take him third overall.

2. Mark Andrews

Yeesh. Going from TE1 to TE2 is quite the drop-off. But, Mark Andrews is still a very good TE. I just don't think he'll be as good as he's been due to WR Odell Beckham Jr. joining the Ravens. He averaged 12.7 points per game last season and I expect that to fall. His ADP is 32.5. I would probably take him in the third round, but if there are better options on the board, waiting until the fourth would not be a bad plan.

3. T.J. Hockenson

After being traded from the Lions to the Vikings at the deadline last season, Hockenson's fantasy points skyrocketed. In Weeks 1-8, he had 85.5 fantasy points. In Weeks 9-18, he had 129.9 points, 45.4 more points in one more week. His ADP is 46.1. If he's still there in the fourth round, snag him.

4. Darren Waller

The Giants finally have a tight end. One that can catch the ball, at least. After spending five years with the Raiders, Waller was traded to the Giants early this offseason. He was already a top-tier TE in LV. I fully expect him to remain a top 5 talent in New York. His ADP is 49.9. I would take him in the mid-fifth round.

5. Kyle Pitts

He's never been the fantasy TE we all expected him to be after being drafted fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, it's a new season and he's got a new QB throwing to him in Desmond Ridder. If he doesn't miss 7 games (as he did last season), he should perform at a much higher caliber. His ADP is 69.9. I would take him earlier in the seventh round.

6. George Kittle

The issue with Kittle is less his ability and more his availability. In six seasons, he has only completed one. That, combined with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, Kittle's target count will likely decrease. He's still a fine option for your team's TE1, but he won't get the points that players like Kelce, Hockenson, and Andrews will get. His ADP is 53.6. I would take him in the seventh or eighth.

7. Dallas Goedert

On a team such as the Eagles, tight ends don't get the attention they should. But, that doesn't mean that Goedert isn't one of the better in the league. He finished as TE12 last season regardless of missing three games. With the Eagles set to be a great team yet again, don't be surprised if Goedert finishes in the top 10 fantasy tight ends in 2023. His ADP is 70.3, so it's possible he falls to the eighth round. If he does, scoop him up.

8. Pat Freiermuth

Despite missing two games and scoring 0 points in Week 18 last season, Freiermuth finished as TE7. While QB Kenny Pickett is still a massive question mark, Freiermuth is one of the top weapons on the Steelers. However, whether or not he performs is entirely up to QB play. For that reason, I would not take him until the ninth round.

9. Cole Kmet

We've reached the point where TEs are just flyer picks. In fact, the only reason why Kmet is on this list is because he finished as TE8 last season. I don't really have a reason as to why he'll repeat except that the NFC North and NFC in general aren't strong. I'd take him at his ADP, which is 117.7.

10. Dalton Schultz

I think fantasy managers are underrating Dalton Schultz. Sure, he's regressing at QB, going from Dak Prescott to C.J. Stroud. But look at the weapons Stroud has. Schultz is the veteran presence of the skill position players, ignoring Robert Woods. A few of the Texans' receivers could make some noise, but don't rule out Schultz as a threat. Take him above his ADP of 121.5. Maybe closer to the 11th round.

11. Dawson Knox
12. Evan Engram
13. Greg Dulcich
14. Logan Thomas
15. Noah Fant
16. Tyler Conklin
17. Gerald Everett
18. Irv Smith Jr.
19. David Njoku
20. Zach Ertz