Through four weeks, we’ve begun to figure out where our fantasy teams stand within our leagues. At this point, it’s time to look at potential trade targets based on team needs. With that, we’re looking at the top-5 tight end buys. Advanced stats and metrics such as Target Share, Air Yards, Air Yards Share, and Pace of Play stats will help us identify tight ends to acquire in trades.
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
Through three games, Jonnu Smith has smashed. He has recorded 13 (No. 13 among qualified tight ends) receptions for 181 (No. 9) receiving yards and averages 16.4 (No. 3) Fantasy Points per Game. Smith has drawn 20 (No. 12) targets, a 20.6-percent (No. 5) Target Share, 135 (No. 17) Air Yards, and a 17.2-percent (No. 12) Air Yards Share. Even with the low Air Yards total, Smith has racked up 100 (No. 6) Yards After Catch.
TE Target Share Leaders Through Week 4
The Titans average 35.7 (No. 24) Team Pass Plays Per Game, up from last year’s 31.5 (No. 30) mark. Smith continues to demonstrate efficiency with 13.9 (No. 4) Yards per Reception, 9.1 (No. 7) Yards per Target, and a +40.0 (No. 5) Production Premium. One concern surrounds the additional positive COVID-19 tests for the Titans, but Smith still presents the most explosive potential out of these top-5 fantasy football tight end buys, especially in dynasty leagues.
Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
Hunter Henry washed away the narrative and concern surrounding a new quarterback other than Philip Rivers targeting the tight end position. Amongst tight ends, Henry has earned a 19.5-percent (No. 9) Target Share with 225 (No. 8) Air Yards and a 20.1-percent (No. 8) Air Yards Share.
Check out Hunter Henry on PlayerProfiler’s Updated Weekly Rankings and Projections:
Henry has averaged 10.6 (No. 15) Fantasy Points per Game without even scoring a touchdown yet. He has recorded 18 (No. 6) receptions for 245 (No. 2) receiving yards, while also averaging 13.6 (No. 6) Yards per Reception and 9.4 (No. 6) Yards per Target. He’s a must-start player and should be targeted aggressively in trades.
Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins
After a strong finish to 2019, Mike Gesicki leads the tight end position in several advanced metrics. Through four weeks, he has earned a 15.6-percent (No. 13) Target Share, 292 (No. 1) Air Yards, and a 26.4-percent (No. 3) Air Yards Share while recording 13.3 (No. 2) yards of Average Target Distance. He currently averages 11.0 (No. 13) Fantasy Points per Game, 14.6 (No. 3) Yards per Reception, 8.6 (No. 11) Yards per Target, and 2.00 (No. 10) Fantasy Points per Target.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iaey818xYeg
With the quality Target Share, Mike Gesicki also displays efficiency with a +1.4 (No. 16) Production Premium. His 34.6-percent (No. 7) Dominator Rating means he accounts for 34.6-percent of the team’s receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. As long as Ryan Fitzpatrick starts at quarterback, trade for Gesicki with confidence. The Fantasy Football 2020 MUST HAVE List included both he and Jonnu Smith.
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
Dalton Schultz is having the breakout that Blake Jarwin was set to experience and should be acquired via trade. First, the Cowboys rank No. 1 in the NFL with 53.0 Team Pass Plays Per Game and a 2.94 Pace of Play, meaning they run 2.94 plays per minute of offensive possession. Schultz has earned 28 (No. 5) targets, a 14.1-percent (No. 20) Target Share, 188 (No. 11) Air Yards, and a 12.1-percent (No. 25) Air Yards Share.
TE Air Yards Leaders Through Week 4
With the high passing volume, Dalton Schultz received ten, six, and eight targets from Weeks 2 through 4. During those three weeks, Schultz averaged 15.9 PPR fantasy points. On the season, he averages 12.5 (No. 8) Fantasy Points per Game and has logged 113 (No. 4) Yards After Catch. Schultz is a buy high, but worth it due to the pass-happy nature of the Dallas offense.
Logan Thomas, Washington
As the saying goes, trust the process. It applies here with Logan Thomas because the underlying metrics display reasons for hope. First, let’s paint the positives. Through four weeks, Thomas has received 28 (No. 5) targets, a 19.6-percent (No. 8) Target Share, 217 (No. 9) Air Yards, and a 20.8-percent (No. 7) Air Yards Share. Since he earns the Target Share plus the Air Yards, that means the volume projects for more fantasy production moving forward.
Logan Thomas Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile w/ 2020 Game Logs
Now, onto the caution signs. The Washington Football Team ranks No. 9 with 39.8 Team Pass Plays Per Game, but the downside involves the lack of efficiency. With a -40.3 (No. 30) Production Premium, 7.8 (No. 32) Yards per Reception, and 3.6 (No. 36) Yards per Target, the efficiency metrics for Thomas all raise varying levels of concern. The team has also benched Dwayne Haskins for Kyle Allen, one of 2019’s worst quarterbacks with his 70.2 (No. 33) True Passer Rating. While Thomas ranks among the top-5 fantasy football tight end buys, he belongs stashed on the bench for now.
