-2023 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
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Ask the Commish.Com 2023 Draft Kit
Fourth-round draft pick Isaiah Likely turned heads in training camp and the preseason last summer and then had a solid if erratic rookie season for the Ravens, finishing with 36 catches for 373 yards and three touchdowns. The question is whether Likely can become a consistent fantasy contributor as the No. 2 tight end in Baltimore behind prolific pass catcher Mark Andrews.
A fourth-round draft pick from Maryland, Chigoziem "Chig" Okonkwo was a pleasant surprise for the Titans in his rookie season, catching 32 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 14.1 yards per catch and 9.8 yards per target, flashing impressive speed and tackle-breaking ability after the catch. Okonkwo is an exciting addition to the TE pool, although the Titans' grim QB situation might force us to temper our enthusiasm for this up-and-comer.
Savvy dynasty coaches who recognized Ferguson as the likely starter in the Cowboys tight end friendly system following the departure of Dalton Schultz have been rewarded with a young player with plenty of production runway remaining. The second-year player hasn't been dominant nor consistent enough yet to reach the upper echelon of tight end rankings just yet, but currently ranks as the TE7 with his week-13 in the books. Found as a value-on TE19, Ferguson is yet another example of the production potential available from lower ranked tight ends over more highly drafted and social network hyped rookies.
Fourth-round draft pick Daniel Bellinger showed promise in 2022 but missed four midseason games after an eye injury that included a fractured orbital bone. The 6-6, 255-pound Bellinger finished with 30 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. The Giants' offseason signing of Darren Waller renders Bellinger undraftable in most fantasy leagues, but considering Waller's recent injury history, Bellinger could become a worthy waiver target at some point during the 2023 season.
Fourth-round draft pick Cade Otton turned in a solid rookie season for the Buccaneers, finishing with 42 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns. Otton tended to be more productive in games that fellow TE Cameron Brate missed die to injury. The Buccaneers have an unsettled QB situation following Tom Brady's retirement, so Otton has a difficult path to fantasy relevance in 2023.
The blocking tight end saw Baker Mayfield throw in his direction on three occasions without success in Week 1 against the Vikings, and he's subsequently failed to draw a target over the next two games. Kieft didn't even officially run any routes Monday night, as his blocking presence was needed versus an aggressive Eagles defense. Kieft's fantasy value figures to remain non-existent as long as complementary pass-catching options at tight end like David Wells and Payne Durham are healthy behind Cade Otton.
The first tight end taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, second-rounder Trey McBride played sparingly early in the season but took on a larger role after Zach Ertz sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 10. Over Arizona's final seven games, McBride was targeted 35 times and had 25-234-1. McBride finished his college career at Colorado State with a 90-catch, 1,121-yard season, but he's not likely to get that sort of usage anytime soon. It's possible McBride could get additional snaps and targets early in the season if Ertz isn't able to play in September, but even if that's the case, McBride might not be playing early-season games with QB Kyler Murray, who also tore his ACL late last season.
A 6-foot-7, 265-pound behemoth, Jelani Woods had some impressive flashes in his rookie season, including a two-TD game against the Chiefs in Week 3 and an eight-catch, 98-yard game against the Steelers in Week 12. With 4.61 speed and a 98th percentile catch radius (per PlayerProfiler.com), Woods has tools to dream on and figures to become an even bigger part of the Colts' offense in 2023.
Greg Dulcich missed the first five games of his rookie season with a hamstring injury, but the third-round draft pick was productive upon his return, scoring a touchdown in his NFL debut and finishing the season with 33-411-2 in 10 games. Dulcich averaged 5.5 targets per game and drew eight or more targets in four of his 10 games. He's an intriguing growth stock for 2023.