Fantasy Football 2022: Sleeper Tight Ends to Target in Drafts
Adding a top talent at tight end can give you an advantage over your fantasy football leaguemates.
Finding a top-shelf contributor at the position without paying a premium price is like running laps around your league.
That's the objective here, as we're spotlighting three sleepers at the position primed to dramatically outperform their draft cost.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Hunter Henry is a favorite of Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.
The two had clear chemistry during their first season together, linking up 50 times for 603 yards and nine touchdowns. Among New England's pass-catchers, Henry ranked second in targets (75), third in receptions and first in touchdowns.
The one area Henry needs to improve is consistency. He had three games with 75-plus receiving yards and another three in which he didn't even reach 20.
Then again, he was catching passes from a rookie quarterback all season, so maybe that had something to do with it. With another season for Jones to improve and Henry to further establish his connection with his quarterback, the arrow is pointing up.
Irv Smith, Minnesota Vikings
New Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spent last season as offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams.
In L.A., O'Connell's offense dialed up 85 targets for Tyler Higbee. Irv Smith may have celebrated O'Connell's hiring more than the head coach himself.
Smith totaled 90 targets across the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He missed all of 2021 with a torn meniscus, derailing what many thought could be a breakout campaign.
Well, the breakout may have just been delayed by a year. Smith sits atop Minnesota's tight end position and has no obvious challengers for his spot. He should be involved early and often in a pass-happy offense that regularly looks toward the tight ends.
Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
Robert Tonyan carries almost a mythical status in the fantasy football world—among those who remember the name, at least.
His 11-touchdown emergence in 2020 came out of nowhere—he entered that season with 14 receptions and two scores the previous two years combined—and in 2021, it was back to anonymity. He played a quiet eight games (18 catches for 204 yards and two scores) and missed the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
It's not clear if he's fully healthy just yet, though he was recently activated off the physically unable to perform list, so he's at least trending that direction. If he can get healthy, he just might be ready for a re-emergence.
Aaron Rodgers is already lamenting his pass-catching options in this now Davante Adams-less offense, leaving the door wide open for Tonyan to once again become one of his quarterback's favorite targets. Don't be surprised if Tonyan...well, surprises us all again.