What a long, strange journey it’s been for the tight end position over the years. Not too long ago, the position was mostly devalued in fantasy football. Sure, there was always a handful drafted earlier than others, but you could usually get your target in the mid-rounds.

That has changed as people realize the positional advantage of drafting an elite-level tight end. You could argue all day whether Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews are worthy of late first-round selections this season, but you can’t argue with the peace of mind of being set at the tight end position.

Unfortunately, once you get past the top three-five tight ends, the position becomes an absolute crapshoot. Avoiding landmines is one of the greatest challenges in fantasy football. That’s heightened to max volume at the top-heavy tight end position. Here are some to avoid in 2022:

Mike Gesicki (TE – MIA)

If you need any more proof that points-per-game (with a minimum game threshold) is the superior way to look at the prior season’s results, just look at Mike Gesicki’s career. Despite never averaging more than 8.9 points per game in Half-PPR formats, the Miami Dolphins tight end has finished as a TE1 (TE11, TE7, TE11) in total points for three consecutive seasons.

While Gesicki is a gifted pass-catcher that could excel in the red zone, it’s hard to imagine his fantasy numbers rising this season. Instead, Gesicki’s volume could take a massive dip under new Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Barring something unforeseen, the days of Gesicki receiving an 18.5% target share in Miami are over.

Thus far in his career, Gesicki has been treated like a big slot receiver. That likely changes this season. Gesicki is being asked to block more, which is a lose-lose for fantasy managers. If Gesicki succeeds as a blocker, that takes away from his receptions. If he fails, he could lose significant snaps to Durham Smythe.

Even if McDaniel realizes Gesicki is best used as a glorified wide receiver, the target competition in Miami is at an all-time high. Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are sure to gobble up the majority of targets. That leaves Gesicki, Cedrick Wilson and Miami’s stable of running backs to fight for the scraps. With a lower floor and ceiling than other tight ends drafted around him, Gesicki is my No. 1 tight end to avoid in fantasy football this season.

Dalton Schultz (TE – DAL)

As a long-time Dalton Schultz truther, I will need a moment to collect myself before finishing. Alright, let me explain myself.

It’s not even that I hate Schultz this year. His ECR positional ranking of TE6 is in line with my own. It’s just that I don’t see Schultz as that much of an upgrade over a handful of tight ends drafted after him.

If you miss out on the big five (Andrews, Kelce, Kyle Pitts, George Kittle, Darren Waller), you’re probably better served to wait on your TE1. Players like Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz offer similar upside, but they’re typically drafted a round or two after the Cowboys’ tight end.

T.J. Hockenson (TE – DET)

Drafted in the same tier as Schultz, Lions’ tight end T.J. Hockenson is another tight end to avoid this season. With more target competition and a much worse quarterback situation in Detroit, the case against drafting Hockenson is even stronger.

The presence of running back D’Andre Swift and 2021 league-winning wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown would be a thorn in any tight end’s target share. With D.J. Chark and (eventually) Jameson Williams also added to the mix, Hockenson’s upside might be non-existent by the end of the year.

While Schultz could benefit from Amari Cooper‘s vacated targets and Michael Gallup‘s trip to PUP to begin the season, Hockenson is facing more target competition than ever. By the end of the season, Hockenson could be the fourth option on a Jared Goff-led offense. No thanks.