With the 2024 season in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead. Before we get to the draft, we start a new league year and a free-agent frenzy. Ahead of that, I’ll be looking at five impact free agents—and a couple of honorable mentions—at each of the four big fantasy positions. Today, it’s a wrap as we look at tight ends.
No. 1: Zach Ertz
2024 Team: Washington Commanders
About: Ertz was the veteran who signed a one-year deal last off-season. We didn’t think much of it then, with Ertz getting older and having washed out with the Eagles and Cardinals. But Ertz was the magic tonic for Jayden Daniels and an ascending Commanders team. He finished as TE7, catching 66 passes for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. He was fantasy gold at a discount price. He’s a free agent who isn’t likely back in Washington. Still, he’s the best of the free-agent tight ends on the market this year. I’ll be watching where Ertz lands, hoping for one more magic year. But he’s a mid-TE2 for the time being.
No. 2: Mike Gesicki
2024 Team: Cincinnati Bengals
About: The third time was the charm for Gesicki, who finally found a place to maximize his talents and make him fantasy relevant. After a fallow year to end his time in Miami and a lost year in New England, 2024 saw Gesicki again show his talent as a receiver for a Bengals team in need of weapons. He caught 65 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns. He was a big part of the Bengals’ passing offense, particularly with Tee Higgins out of the lineup. Now, he’s a free agent again. My hope is he will be back in Cincinnati, and Higgins will not be. That could leave Gesicki as a part of the plan to fill the void. He’s a low-end TE2 with some upside in the right situation.
No. 3: Juwan Johnson
2024 Team: New Orleans Saints
About: Johnson has been fantasy frustration for the past few years. In 2022, he seemed to break out with 508 yards and seven touchdowns on 42 receptions. In the two seasons since, he’s had just seven touchdowns combined. His role and target share has been inconsistent, especially with Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau taking more playing time. But he had a strong 2024, catching a career-high 50 passes for 548 yards. Despite the lack of touchdowns, he was a decent streaming option. But what happens next? He’s not likely back in New Orleans, but he could be a producer for a tight end-needy team. For now, he’s a TE3.
No. 4: Tyler Conklin
2024 Team: New York Jets
About: Conklin has been a great veteran option for tight-end streamers in fantasy the past three seasons. During his time with the Jets, Conklin has been reliable no matter who played quarterback. He caught 170 passes during that time, never less than 51 in a season. He didn’t put up big yardage or touchdown numbers, but he was steady enough to be an appealing floor option. Now, he hits free agency. Will he be back in New York? That might be ideal, but plenty of teams could use a reliable target at tight end. He’s a TE3 with upside in the right situation.
No. 5: Harrison Bryant
2024 Team: Las Vegas Raiders
About: Bryant is the ultimate upside play. He enters his sixth NFL season, having never been a featured piece in a passing offense. He had some flashes with the Browns, catching 10 touchdowns in four seasons. But someone else was always at the position, be it Austin Hooper, David Njoku, or both. In 2024, he signed a one-year deal with the Raiders, a team with Michael Mayer already. When they drafted Brock Bowers in the NFL Draft, that left Bryant as the No. 3 tight end, fighting for scraps. He saw just 12 targets all season. Now, he’s a free agent again. There is no production history here, but we’ve seen flashes of potential. I remain committed to the idea in the right situation, he could be gold. But he’s not without risk. He’s a high-end TE4 with upside.
Honorable Mention: Mo Alie-Cox
About: Alie-Cox was often the lead tight end in a committee that often ran four or five deep for the Colts. That’s why in seven seasons, he caught just 114 passes and 15 touchdowns. He’s likely not rostered in your league, and that’s OK. But if he lands in a tight end needy spot, he might be worth a speculative add if your tight end options are grim.
Honorable Mention: Lucas Krull
About: Krull has three professional seasons but has never been a featured player. He was a non-factor in his first year with the Saints but has been a role player and part of a committee approach at tight end for the Broncos under Sean Payton the past two seasons. The Broncos liked him enough that they moved on from Greg Dulcich during the 2024 season. Still, he caught just 27 passes in two seasons. But at a thin position, he’s a guy I’m keeping an eye on this off-season, especially if he returns to Denver and they don’t grab any other tight ends.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
