Fantasy analysts have a tendency to copy and paste results from the previous year into their rankings the following season. But we have to be mindful of players who are candidates for bounce-back seasons.
Finding the right players who are primed for bounce-back seasons but who are still being ranked based on the previous year’s results can make all the difference in your fantasy fortunes.
Here are 5 bounce-back tight end candidates for the 2024 season.
Kyle Pitts, WR/Atlanta Falcons
Pitts is the poster boy of the bounce-back tight end candidate. Although, he’s working on a two-year bounce-back campaign now. Following an outstanding rookie season, he’s battled two seasons of injury and pedestrian quarterback play. Now, he finally has a legitimate quarterback throwing him the ball in Kirk Cousins, along with a new offensive system that doesn’t ignore a weapon of his caliber, and Pitts is back in the mid-TE1 conversation.
Dallas Goedert, TE/Philadelphia Eagles
Once upon a time, Goedert had high-end TE1 ability and just needed a chance to start with a good quarterback. Once Zach Ertz left the Eagles and Jalen Hurts joined the fray, Goedert began to show his worth. Unfortunately, injuries plus a lethal duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have pretty much nullified Goedert’s once high ceiling. Now, he still has high-end talent, but his fantasy prospects appear to be as a low-end TE1, which would make him a bounce-back player and a good buy at the right price.
Mark Andrews, TE/Baltimore Ravens
A leg injury ended his 2023 regular season prematurely, thus he immediately becomes a candidate for a bounce-back season. When you pair that with the fawning of the fantasy community over young players like Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride and Dalton Kincaid, suddenly Andrews becomes the afterthought and his value increases. If you play with smart fantasy owners, they aren’t going to let Andrews slide too far. But if not, prepare to snag him on the rebound.
Hunter Henry, TE/New England Patriots
Henry’s best days are definitely behind him, but he is certainly a candidate for a rebound season after missing a handful of games last year and playing for a terrible team. He signed an extension with the Patriots and thus still fits into their plans. Whether they’ll be any good or not remains to be seen but I expect their quarterback situation to improve after a disaster under Mac Jones.
Pat Freiermuth, TE/Pittsburgh Steelers
Freiermuth is one of those borderline TE1/TE2 players who has been languishing working with subpar quarterback play on a disappointing offense. He had a hamstring injury that put him on the IR last year and with a new quarterback (or two) in the steel city, things are looking up for Freiermuth. There have been trade rumors tying the Steelers to 49ers receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, and if one of those players comes on board, it’s going to negatively affect Freiermuth’s value. However, as it stands now, that Steelers receiver room is not anything to fear if you have stock in their tight end.
