Early Fantasy TE Rankings 2023: Tight end rankings for standard, PPR leagues
Now that the 2022 NFL season is officially over, it’s time to take a look at next season’s fantasy football tight end rankings. While TE can be one of the most frustrating positions throughout the course, we’ve compiled our list of the top 10 TEs for 2023 to help you plan ahead in goalkeeping leagues or just something to discuss while you wait for next season. Because the NFL draft, free agency, trades, and coaching changes inevitably impact these TEs, our far too early top 10 list is simply a post-Super Bowl snapshot.
At the top of our far-too-early fantasy football tight-end rankings is the reigning Super Bowl 57 champion, Travis Kelce. The 2022 PPR and standard scoring leader is in a league of his own in a position that has some weekly variances. Kelce’s monster campaign saw the 33-year-old lead all TEs in yards (1,338), receptions (110), goals (152), red-zone goals (30), touchdowns (12), expected extra points (+ 86.6) and fantasy points per game (18.6). Father time seems like the only thing that could hold him back, but the four-time All-Pro has shown no sign of slowing down in 2023. Kelce’s 316.3 PPR total points would have made him the WR5 overall winner, so drawing him in the first round is more than justified.
Next up is 2021 PPR and Standard Scoring Leader, Mark Andrews, who had a semi-disappointing 23 season compared to his preseason expectations. Not having Lamar Jackson for a good portion of the season threw a wrench in Andrews’ upward trend, but the Oklahoma product finished the regular season anyway, leading all TEs in goal percentage (29 percent) and air yards (1,109). , while it was second in yards per team pass attempt (2.01) and expected fantasy points per game (13.3). His consistent use should lead to a season 23 recovery, especially if he’s healthier.
In his first full season with the Vikings TJ Hockensons a Tier 2 tight end with a real shot to collect his first 1,000-yard season. Hockenson finished as an overall TE2 in PPR formats, and another PPR finish in the top three seems likely in a Vikings passing offense, which ended the season with the 10th-highest drop-back EPA (.069).
Dallas Goedert lands at No. 4 in our early rankings as the Eagles’ TE averaged the 5th highest PPR points per game (11.8) in a dynamic offense that is only trending upwards. George Kittle finishes at No. 5 as he had four otherworldly games to wrap up the regular season to give his full-season numbers a little more appeal. We don’t know who will take snaps below center for San Francisco in Week 1, and unless it’s Brock Purdy, Kittle is probably a good bet to finish the season and score fewer fantasy points than the four above TEs. Still, it’s hard not to be tempted by Kittle’s monster four-game streak from Weeks 15-18, where he averaged 21.6 points per game, almost seven points higher than the second-highest TE over the period.
At No. 6, Kyle Pitts. Pitts was such a frustrating last season and some might chuckle that he’s our No. 6 at the end, but all signs are pointing to a much more consistent season for the former No. 5 overall. Pitts led all TEs in target rate (targets per route run) with a target rate of 34.3 percent, while also leading all TEs in air yards percentage (32.9 percent) and deep targets (13). With a more consistent passer likely to lead the Falcons’ offense next season, Pitts has a chance to significantly exceed his ADP, but we understand why Fantasy owners are reluctant to buy back.
Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth, Dalton SchulzAnd Evan engram round out the top 10, and one could argue that one of these TEs should be ranked before the others. We like that Waller and Freiermuth have the most complete seasons (assuming they’re healthy), as Waller led all TEs in aDOT (13.6) with a target 21.3 percent percentage in the red, while Freiermuth has a strong relationship to Kenny Pickett showed a sophomore, averaging 6.4 goals per game in Pickett started. Schultz and Engram also happen to be free agents, adding to their uncertainty for the 2023 season. However, a new home in a program geared towards their abilities could result in a rise in the TE rankings.
There will be a lot happening between now and the start of the season that will result in this list being adjusted. Check back regularly with Sporting News Fantasy for news, updates and revised position rankings between now and the Fantasy Draft season!
Early 2023 Fantasy TE PPR Rankings
| rank | player | team |
| 1 | Travis Kelce | KC |
| 2 | Mark Andrews | BAL |
| 3 | TJ Hockenson | MINIMUM |
| 4 | Dallas Goedert | PHI |
| 5 | George Kittel | SF |
| 6 | Kyle Pitts | ATL |
| 7 | Darren Waller | LV |
| 8th | Pat Freiermuth | PIT |
| 9 | Dalton Schulz | FA |
| 10 | Evan engram | FA |
Early 2023 Fantasy TE rankings for standard leagues
| rank | player | team |
| 1 | Travis Kelce | KC |
| 2 | Mark Andrews | BAL |
| 3 | TJ Hockenson | MINIMUM |
| 4 | Dallas Goedert | PHI |
| 5 | George Kittle | SF |
| 6 | Kyle Pitts | ATL |
| 7 | Pat Freiermuth | PIT |
| 8th | Darren Waller | LV |
| 9 | Evan engram | FA |
| 10 | Dalton Schultz | FA |