Gone are the days of every daily fantasy player vying for one of two to three tight ends every week. Gone are the stereotypes that Tight Ends are heavy blockers and infrequent reception targets. The game is full of freakish athletes and Tight Ends have been having a resurgence in the recent NFL seasons. Some TE’s are first-target options on their teams and you can expect some huge fantasy points out of them.
Our best Tight Ends picks for the 2021 Season
Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs
It comes with no surprise Kelce tops the list of tight ends. Entering his 8th NFL season (7th as a starter) he has thrown up 5 straight 1,000+ yard seasons and looks to continue the trend.
In 2020 he racked up 11 touchdowns, 145 targets with 105 receptions, and a 13.5 yards per reception average. The Chiefs are going into 2021 hungry after getting dominated in the SuperBowl. Expect that chip on their shoulder to motivate the whole team as they look to dethrone the Bucs.
Darren Waller – Las Vegas Raiders
Waller, for lack of a better term, came out with his hair on fire in 2019. In 2015 he broke into the league but it wasn’t until 2019 where he was somebody worth noting. Prior to that ‘19 season his best year he had only notched 85 total yards.
Over the past two seasons however, he has rattled off two separate 1,100+ yard seasons and double-digit yards per carry. He’s looking to extend that streak to 3 seasons in 2021 and it does look promising. Carr and Waller have developed quite a connection with the Raiders tight end being the number 1 receiving option for the newest NFL franchise and we can expect that connection to strengthen in 2021.
George Kittle – San Francisco 49’ers
After an injury-plagued 2020, Kittle is eyeing a return to greatness in 2021. Entering his 5th season, Kittle has been known to throw up monster numbers at the tight end position. In 2018 and 2019 he had 5 touchdowns, 1,000+ yards, and double-digit yards per reception averages. He was on pace for similar numbers in 2020, however, he missed 8 games due to injuries.
It’s unclear whether it will be veteran QB Jimmy Garrapolo or the rookie sensation Trey Lance starting at quarterback week 1 for the 49’ers, however, either option recognizes the value that Kittle brings to their offense. Expect a return to greatness this season from this 2x Pro Bowl tight end in 2021.
Mark Andrews – Baltimore Ravens
Andrews is a favorite target of the Ravens’ elite quarterback, Lamar Jackson. Over the past 2 seasons, he has averaged 93 targets with 61 receptions, and 8 touchdowns. The Ravens’ offense has an average of 31.2 points per game since 2019. During the offseason, they picked up a few players, included former Chief, Sammy Watkins.
Watkins provides a great pass option for QB Lamar Jackson and will impact Andrews production. Despite this, it is likely that Andrews will again have a big role in the Ravens’ offense again this year.
Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons
At 6ft6in, this 245-pound behemoth of a rookie tight end enters his 2021 season after registering an elite speed of 4.44 seconds in his 40-yard dash. If that oddity alone doesn’t sway you, allow us to elaborate.
The 20-year-old is widely considered one of the best tight-end prospects in history due, in part, to the fact that he did not have a single drop in his 2020 season. In his 3rd season at the University of Florida, Pitts average 17.9 yards per reception, 12 touchdowns, and 770 yards in just 8 games. Admittedly, the NFL game is faster, more explosive, and more dynamic than college, however, we can expect this rookie to absolutely hammer defenses across the league.
Pitts will not be a #1 target, but that shouldn’t dissuade you. The Falcons do not have an overpowering running back option, meaning Pitts and Ridley will likely both be receiving plenty of targets. This rookie is one you can bet on week in and week out.
Our Verdict
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