The game of fantasy football has evolved over the years. We’ve gone from non-PPR scoring and single quarterback leagues being the “default” settings to a wide range of scoring and lineup options. Fantasy football leagues have replaced team defenses/special teams for individual defensive players (IDP), kickers for an extra flex spot, and even a second matchup against the median score every week.
One of the more popular scoring changes has been the introduction of tight end premium scoring leagues. This scoring change is more popular in dynasty leagues than in home redraft leagues. However, it has grown in popularity over the years, especially thanks to the Scott Fish Bowl.
So, how much does the scoring bump for tight ends impact your fantasy football draft plans? More than you would expect.
- Fantasy Football Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- 2025 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Guide to Tight End Premium Fantasy Football Drafts
What are TE Premium Fantasy Football Leagues?
Tight end premium scoring leagues give a bonus to players listed at tight end. However, there isn’t a consensus scoring bump for these leagues. In the Scott Fish Bowl, tight ends receive an extra half-point fantasy point per reception and an extra half-point fantasy point per first down. While the Scott Fish Bowl is one of the best experiences in fantasy football, its scoring system is more complex than typical home redraft leagues.
You should always know the ins and outs of your league’s scoring system before your draft. How you approach the draft will depend on the scoring system. Most tight end premium leagues reward an extra half-point fantasy point per reception for tight ends if the base scoring is PPR.
If you play in a half-point PPR scoring system, your league might only reward 0.25 extra fantasy points per reception for tight ends. Other leagues might have a heavy bonus for tight ends, giving an extra full point per reception. There are no consensus scoring rules for tight end premium leagues, so read the rules before your draft.
Does Size Matter?
The answer to this question is yes and no. The more teams in your league, the sooner you want to consider drafting a tight end. However, it is not like superflex leagues. Not every team in your league will draft two or more tight ends like they would quarterbacks in a superflex league.
Typically, tight end premium leagues only have one starting tight end slot. Therefore, you don’t need to draft multiple tight ends if you have a plug-and-play superstar. However, keep in mind your league’s scoring and lineup requirements. Some crazier tight end premium leagues have two starting tight end spots. Others will give a massive scoring bump to tight ends, making it a smart move to start one in your flex position some weeks.
Usually, fantasy football experts recommend waiting till the later rounds to draft a tight end and stream the position. That is still an option in tight end premium leagues. However, it isn’t ideal. Depending on the league size and scoring boost for tight ends, you could struggle to stream the position off the waiver wire. Even with the tight end premium scoring boost, players like Noah Gray and Foster Moreau aren’t guys you want in your fantasy lineup.
Different TE Premium Fantasy Football Draft Strategies
Pay the Price for a Superstar
While streaming the tight end position is a popular move in redraft leagues, it’s not the only option. Spending an early pick on a tight end might not feel great during the draft. However, it is often one of the safer moves you can make in fantasy football, especially in tight end premium leagues.
Three years ago, Travis Kelce was the top tight end for most fantasy analysts heading into the season. He ended the year as the TE1, averaging 15.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. His 15.4 fantasy points per game average would have made him the WR7 and the RB8 on a per-game basis in 2022.
However, with a tight end premium scoring of 0.5 per reception boost, Kelce averaged 18.6 fantasy points per game and would have finished as the WR1 and the RB2 in half-point PPR scoring that year. Grabbing a stud in the first few rounds will give you a weekly advantage over your opponent. It will also help you avoid the waiver wire competition at tight end.
Fantasy players will want to avoid an early-round investment in Kelce after showing significant signs of decline in back-to-back seasons. However, fantasy players can follow the same logic by selecting Brock Bowers or Trey McBride early in their fantasy drafts this year.
The Yin & Yang Pair
This strategy is somewhat like hedging. You can use this strategy in the middle or later rounds. However, you ideally want to use it in both. With this strategy, you want to grab a “safe” tight end with a solid floor but limited upside (Yin). Then, you take a “risky” tight end with a low floor but top-five upside (Yang).
Another way to approach this strategy is to grab a safe floor tight end in the middle rounds and then draft a pair of late-round upside options. Potential safe floor options include Travis Kelce and Evan Engram.
Meanwhile, late-round upside targets include Dalton Kincaid and Isaiah Likely. This strategy might be the best option, depending on how many bench spots you get in your league. Last year, Brock Bowers was consistently drafted outside the top 10 tight ends but finished his rookie season as the TE1.
Load Up Late
Traditionally, fantasy experts recommend waiting until the later rounds to draft a tight end or stream the position. While that strategy is typically for non-tight end premium scoring leagues, you can still use that approach in tight end premium leagues.
The only difference is that you should load up on dart throws or high-upside tight ends late in your draft. Instead of drafting one tight end for their Week 1 matchup, use your last two or three picks (depending on your bench size) on the position. Grab tight ends with upside for Week 1 and the entire season.
However, don’t be shy about cutting the tight ends you drafted early in the season with this strategy. According to FantasyPros ADP, Jonnu Smith, Zach Ertz, and Tucker Kraft were drafted outside the top 20 tight ends last year.
Yet, all three finished as top 10 tight ends in half-point PPR scoring, outscoring multiple big-name guys, including David Njoku and Kyle Pitts. A few late-round tight ends to target this season include Pat Freiermuth, Brenton Strange, and Mason Taylor.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
