Running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers, in that order, have been the biggest stories of the start of free agency. But there have been some tight end contracts handed out too. Which -- if any -- have gained enough value to be fantasy relevant?
Some people play in leagues that don't even require tight ends, while others are in TE-premium formats that give a point and a half per reception. So your results may vary. But here are a few of the guys I think have become more (or less) interesting the past few days.
Colby Parkinson, Rams. Tyler Higbee tore his ACL in the playoffs, which makes him seem unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. Los Angeles has last year's fifth-round pick Davis Allen, who I wrote about once before, but Allen has 10 career catches and can best be described as an unknown. The team gave Parkinson a three-year, $22.5 million deal, which suggests some kind of offensive role, perhaps a primary pass catcher at the position working with Matthew Stafford. Higbee averaged just 3 catches per game last year so I'm not ready to get too excited, and I still have hopes for Allen. But freed of Seattle's ridiculous three-headed committee at tight end, maybe Parkinson will emerge as the primary receiver at the position for the Rams.
Noah Fant, Seahawks. People have been waiting for Fant to do something forever. The Broncos gave up on him, and Seattle stuck him in the aforementioned committee. But now Seattle has said goodbye to both Parkinson and Will Dissly, and it's a new sheriff in town; maybe they'll finally feature Fant. (Signing Pharaoh Brown yesterday is a non-issue.) Seattle could proceed to draft Brock Bowers, of course, rendering Fant a quick afterthought, but for now he seems like a reasonable late flier.
Harrison Bryant, Raiders. As Cleveland's No. 2 the last four years, Bryant averages just 22 receptions. But he's caught 10 touchdowns, showing some ability to make plays in the red zone; his measurements (6-5, 230) suggest more receiver than inline blocker. The Raiders have Michael Mayer, of course, but he averaged just 2 catches per week as a rookie and it remains to be seen if the team wants to make him a big part of the passing game.
Mike Gesicki, Bengals. A week or two back we were kicking around the idea of Tanner Hudson becoming Cincinnati's primary receiving tight end. So much for that, with the Bengals bringing in Gesicki, who's a similar kind of player; a big wideout who won't be doing much blocking (that will be Drew Sample). Bengals tight end hasn't exactly been a fantasy goldmine, but the Bengals might be losing two of their top three wideouts via free agency or the trade market, so maybe Gesicki gets a little more run than the team's last foray into free agency, Irv Smith. Speaking of...
Irv Smith, Kansas City. Smith flopped with the Vikings and flopped even harder with the Bengals. But Kansas City has seemingly been indifferent to bringing in players who disappointed elsewhere, confident they can either tap into their potential or make everyone forget about their free agent gaffes by winning Super Bowls. Smith might not be any better than Noah Gray as Kansas City's No. 2 tight end, and that's a not a spot that's been particularly productive regardless. But with Travis Kelce 34 years old, perhaps it comes into some value in the next year or two, giving Smith at least some potential to make a career for himself.
Gerald Everett, Bears. Everett signing with the Bears doesn't intrigue me too much. It actually seems like a plus for those of us who like Cole Kmet, perhaps making him a little cheaper in drafts. Kmet will remain the main player at the position, with Everett probably not a viable fantasy option.
Will Dissly, Chargers. Everett is gone from LA and Dissly is in, so he must be considered; potentially he's a starter. Colston Loveland averaged 3 catches per game for Jim Harbaugh's Michigan team last year. So maybe. But Dissly got hurt whenever the Seahawks tried him in a heavy-duty role early in his career, opting to leave him in a minimal role more recently (he averaged a catch per game last year). The Chargers aren't necessarily done adding to the position, and they have Donald Parham and Stone Smartt, too.
Laid out like this, I'm not sure there is a huge bounty to be derived from any of these players in fantasy leagues. The top-performing tight end from last season who won't be returning to his 2023 team is 16th-ranked Logan Thomas, and nobody is too interested in where he's going to end up. But I'll call Parkinson, Fant and Bryant the best candidates to maybe do something, barring further transactions.
--Andy Richardson