Drafting one of the top tight ends for your fantasy football team can be one of the best decisions of the draft, as this position’s value tends to stumble in a hurry.
The good news is that Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride and Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews appear to be just that — a consistent starter at the position that you don’t need to worry much about. Both are going inside the top four at the position.
Below, I’ll examine the outlook for each player and offer up a fantasy football strategy as to who you should draft.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Mark Andrews
Andrews played in 10 games in 2023 before missing the remainder of the season with a cracked fibula. He did return in the playoffs, however, but played a minimal role.
According to TruMedia, Andrews caught 45 passes on 61 targets for 544 yards and six touchdowns. He was the TE3 over that stretch.
The Ravens no longer have Odell Beckham Jr. on the roster, who was second on the team in targets. They did draft Tez Walker out of North Carolina, but he was a fourth-round pick.
The most notable addition was running back Derrick Henry. He has some pass-catching ability, catching 28 passes in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans.
The Ravens already averaged the most rushing yards and rush attempts per game last season, and Andrews was still able to have that kind of production.
Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson will continue to run, but I expect Zay Flowers and Andrews to continue being the top two options in this passing attack.
The Ravens have a Week 14 bye week.
2024 Fantasy Outlook for Trey McBride
In some ways, the Flowers/Andrews situation is similar to McBride and rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in Arizona.
The Cardinals do have some other weapons, like Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson, but they are pretty similar to other Ravens receivers, like Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor.
The Cardinals also have a mobile quarterback with Kyler Murray and have a backfield consisting of James Conner and Trey Benson.
Last season, McBride saw 106 targets and caught 81 passes for 825 yards and three touchdowns.
Murray returned from injury in Week 10, and that’s when McBride really started to take off.
Before Week 10, McBride had 28 catches. From Week 10 on, he averaged more than eight targets per game.
Of course, Harrison is in town now, and while the Cardinals had Hollywood Brown last year, he was only active from Week 10 to 14 with Murray under center.
The Cardinals have a Week 11 bye week.
Who Should I Draft in 2024?
I’m rolling with Andrews here.
Yes, he’s coming off the injury and also was in a car accident this offseason, but everything appears to be in order. He’s been a consistent producer in this offense, while McBride was productive without many other options around him for about half of the time he had Murray as his quarterback.
Harrison Jr. will get plenty of targets, and McBride will be excellent, but when comparing these tight ends side by side, I’d prefer Andrews.
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