Fannin is coming off a solid year in which he had 57 targets (with zero drops!), 44 receptions, 623 yards, and 6 touchdowns. He also had 14 rush attempts for 41 yards. In 2022, he wasn’t used as much in the passing game — only 19 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown — but he also had 4 rushing touchdowns. We don’t expect similar touchdown production, but it can be a nice bonus if they continue to use him in that role. Last season, among TEs, he was #2 in yards per route run, #2 in yards after catch with 406 (only behind Brock Bowers in both), and had the best YAC average out of tight ends last year. The quarterback play is questionable at best, but Fannin makes plays when the Falcons get the ball in his hands. He only lines up in the slot about 40% of the time, so he’s a true tight end. The more you look into Fannin and what he does, the more you like him. As long as they can get him the ball, he will make plays and be a valuable CFF TE.
After a preseason of being drafted as a top tight end in CFF, we got to see Oronde Gadsden for only 32 total snaps last season because of a Lisfranc injury. He also missed most of the spring for a second surgery, but just to remove the screws. It sounds as though he’ll be 100% ready to go for fall camp which is great news for new head coach Fran Brown. Gadsden has been the best weapon in this passing offense. In 2022, his last full season, he ended the year with 93 targets (!), hauling in 61 of those targets for 969 yards and six touchdowns. He will be in a new system this upcoming season but I expect him to continue to be a top receiving threat in this offense. The Orange brought in Kyle McCord, an upgrade at QB from what they had last season. They also brought in a handful of transfers at the receiver position, which should only help Gadsden by taking some of the attention off of him. If you’ve ever listened to Froton, then you’ll know Gadsden is a TEITO (tight end in title only) as he lines up in the slot 95% of the time and will occasionally go out wide. So, as long as he holds tight end eligibility, he should hold value as a top receiving option in this offense.
We haven’t seen Kuithe play since Week 4 (Sept 24th) in 2022 — he tore his ACL and meniscus, then had to have a Cyclops lesion removed from his knee, which is why he missed so much time. He did participate in the Utes’ Spring Game, albeit in a yellow non-contact jersey. He may have become a forgotten man, but this was one valuable tight end while healthy. In his last full season of play, he had 50 receptions for 611 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown that season. Then, back in 2019, he had 34 receptions for 602 yards and another 6 touchdowns. He also had 12 rushing attempts for 102 yards and 3 touchdowns! Oh, and this system gives us consistently valuable tight ends. He also has Cam Rising back from injury which could be a nice bump for him. So while there is definitely some concern with how well he can bounce back and be a difference-maker, the talent and system are there for Kuithe to be a top tight end. I also question the run game and how effective the running backs will be this year. If Kuithe is healthy and they can’t find much in the run game, we have seen they will turn to Kuithe at times to help out there.
With superstar TE Sam LaPorta off for the NFL last year, Lachey (6’6" /253 pounds) was ready to step into one of the most prolific starting tight-end position legacies in the country. He already flashed in 2022, securing 28-of-43 targets for 382 yards and four touchdowns despite handling TE2 snaps. In Lachey’s first two games last year, he caught 67% of his targets with a strong 11.5 ADOT and a 2.26 yards per route average that would have ranked third in FBS if he had played a full complement of snaps. Despite the unfortunate ankle injury that knocked him out for the season, he was out there practicing in the spring and should have no medical restrictions. Lachey should be a focal point of the Hawkeyes offense and has the premium talent to be an impact 12-15 PPG TE.
Loveland (6’5"/240 pounds) rode the wave of the Michigan Natty run and QB JJ McCarthy’s pinpoint accuracy to average 12 CFF PPG last season, despite receiving a pedestrian 4.1 targets per game. He made up for lack of volume with field-stretching explosiveness, averaging 14.6 YPC (6th in P5 with 40+ targets) and 2.38 yards per route (2nd in P5) in addition to catching all 7-of-7 deep targets for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns. Loveland recorded 92nd percentile PFF receiving grades in all of the short, intermediate, and deep target ranges. Despite all of his talent though, there are real concerns about the potency of Michigan’s offense, which ranks 129th in returning production and ranked 131st in pace last year. Projected QB Alex Orji is best known for his dual-threat capabilities, which could also limit Loveland’s overall upside if the target volume doesn’t increase.
Briningstool (6’6" /230 pounds) is a lean, athletic, move tight end (not a TEITO) who has logged 60% of his career snaps in the slot with a 6.5% wide rate last season. Clemson OC Garrett Riley heaped 75 targets on him in 2023, which led the Power 5, and Briningstool became one of only four tight ends to record 50 or more receptions. While Clemson ranked fourth in FBS in plays per second, they averaged a woeful 5.9 yards per pass attempt (122nd) and 5.0 yards per play (102nd), which are well below historical CU norms. If QB Cade Klubnik can take a step and improve upon his career 14-to-24 big-time-throw-to-turnover-worthy-play rate, then Briningstool could improve upon his stellar 13.8 PPG 2023 campaign.
Willis was one of the biggest breakout TEs in 2023, catching 46 balls for 697 yards and 5 TDs for 13.2 FPG. At 6’4" and 212 pounds, Willis plays much more like a jumbo slot receiver than a traditional TE. In fact, over 90% of his snaps were in the slot or out wide. While many fret over players like Willis, the reality is that as long as he is listed as a TE on the Middle Tennessee roster, he will keep that designation on Fantrax, making him a valuable CFF commodity. While the TE position is the deepest it has been in years, Willis is a solid option if you can draft him.
Justin Joly was quietly one of the best tight ends in the country last year at UConn. He led all TEs in two important categories: forced missed tackles and contested catches. Additionally, he led all UConn pass catchers last year with 56 receptions for 562 yards and 2 TDs for 10.4 FPG. In the offseason, Joly transferred to North Carolina State to link up with QB Grayson McCall in OC Robert Anae’s system. Anae is known for utilizing highly talented mismatch TEs, like Oronde Gadsden and Jelani Woods. While Joly is our TE7, it would not surprise us if he ends up much higher by season’s end.
Luke Hasz is our TE9 in the rankings, but it would not surprise us if he ends up as the TE1 in 2024. He played in only five games last year, but caught 16 balls for 253 yards and 3 TDs for 11.9 FPG. However, in the first two games, he played a meager 37 snaps. In the next two games — BYU and LSU — he saw his snaps and production increase dramatically, averaging 6 targets, 5 receptions, and 97 yards for 23.7.FPG. Those numbers are insane for any TE, let alone a true freshman. Unfortunately, he got hurt on the first catch of his fifth game. We are huge fans of Hasz, believing he will pick up where he left off last season.
RJ Maryland, the son of former NFL #1 overall pick Russell Maryland, is one of the best athletes at the TE position in college football. Despite a 6’4", 233-pound frame, he is so fluid with the ball in his hands. Of TEs with 40 or more targets in 2023, Maryland ranked 3rd in YPR (15.9), showing off his ability to stretch the field. The problem with Maryland is not talent but opportunity in an SMU offense with so many talented receiving options. Nonetheless, moving into his junior year, Maryland should be a top-three receiving option in the Mustangs’ offense, leading to even more production in 2024.
