If you were able to win your league’s fantasy football championship, chances are you landed a few surprise players in your league’s draft or auction, or via a trade with another team.
Getting good value with your draft picks or auction dollars is what it’s all about, and what separates the winners from the losers.
Here’s a look at 5 fantasy football tight ends from the 2024 season who provided surprise value.
How many of them did you have on a fantasy roster?
Brock Bowers, TE/Las Vegas Raiders
It goes without saying that Bowers outperformed even the most optimistic expectations for his rookie season. But if you were a savvy fantasy football owner, you knew what was coming to some degree. Bowers’ rookie season was highly anticipated, and he delivered a spectacular performance. He quickly established himself as a reliable target in the Raiders’ offense, showcasing his versatility as a receiver. His athleticism and ability to create after the catch made him a valuable asset, especially in PPR leagues. He was the legitimate TE1, and showed a lot of promise for future seasons. He seems to be quarterback proof on top of it.
Jonnu Smith, TE/Miami Dolphins
I still remember when some in the fantasy football community thought Jonnu Smith was the better pick up for the Patriots several seasons ago over Hunter Henry and I laughed at it back then, knowing Henry would be the guy. Well, those fantasy analysts probably finally feel some vindication after Smith’s 2024 season. While I don’t think it’s repeatable, Smith had a solid TE1 season thanks in large part to his string of touchdown catches down the stretch of the season. His ability to create yards after the catch made him a valuable asset. He was a very good option for those fantasy owners who waited to draft a tight end.
Zach Ertz, TE/Washington Commanders
I had Ertz as a fantasy sleeper last year, mostly because I didn’t believe in the Commanders’ receiving corps and so many other owners feared his age. Ertz certainly surprised a lot of people with his heavy usage in the Commanders’ offense, largely because a tight end can be a rookie quarterback’s best friend. He remained a reliable target in the short passing game, particularly in PPR formats. Needless to say, if you waited til late in the draft to select him, or picked him up off the Waiver Wire, you got incredible value.
Pat Freiermuth, TE/Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth was being ranked and drafted as a mid-TE2 last offseason and he quickly made fantasy owners feel foolish when paired with new quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Although he began the season slowly, he picked up steam by midseason and finished the year as a low-end TE1. In the team’s final nine games after the bye week, he had five Top 8 finishes and seven Top 16 finishes.
Tucker Kraft, TE/Green Bay Packers
Tucker Kraft’s 2024 season was a step forward, as he established himself as a valuable part of the Packers’ offense. He showcased his athleticism and ability to make plays in the passing game, particularly in the red zone. Fellow tight end Luke Musgrave missed the majority of the season, which opened things up for Kraft to take that step forward. But many feel the top job is Kraft’s regardless. With the surplus in pass catchers in the Green Bay offense, however, it might be a good time to sell Kraft.
