5 NFL Tight Ends to Watch: Touchdowns are Coming for Kyle Pitts

The often overlooked position continues to evolve, as the best receiving tight ends are often leaned on as go-to options capable of creating mismatches down the seam and inside the red zone.  

Others in the series

5 NFL Quarterbacks to watch this season5 NFL Running Backs to watch this season5 NFL Wide receivers to watch this season

Here's a peek at five tight ends to watch alongside their best prop totals from Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbooks.

Check out the latest comprehensive and most trusted Sportsbook Reviews by SBR.

5 Tight Ends to Watch

Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Billed as a generational talent and matchup nightmare for opposing defenses entering the league last season, Pitts was the first rookie tight end to top 1,000 receiving yards since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka in 1961. On the down side, he only found paydirt once.

Additionally, this season, the Falcons have all but emptied the cupboards, and Pitts will be catching passes from quarterback Marcus Mariota – and potentially rookie signal caller Desmond Ridder – instead of Matt Ryan. A potentially considerable downgrade.

Still, expect second-year head coach Arthur Smith to be even more committed to involving Pitts in the red zone this season with a likely uptick over last season’s 15 red-zone targets. 

Top Pitts Props

Over 4.5 Receiving Touchdowns (-112 FanDuel)

Over 900.5 Receiving Yards (-115 DraftKings)

Over 950.5 Receiving Yards (-112 FanDuel)

Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos

Denver acquiring nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson during the offseason has the Broncos faithful giddy, and the optimism is brimming for the entire supporting cast. Tight end Okwuegbunam sits atop the depth chart in Mile High after the same deal sent 2021 starter Noah Fant to the Seattle Seahawks.

The pass-catching group lost wide receiver Tim Patrick already this summer to a torn ACL in his right knee, so extra targets are available for Okwuegbunam to gobble up. Wilson has also thrown 41 touchdown passes to tight ends over the past five seasons, despite a ho-hum cast of characters to target since Jimmy Graham departed Seattle in 2018.

All said, Okwuegbunam enters his third season in the league in a promising situation after catching 33 of 40 targets for 330 yards, two touchdowns and 8.3 yards per target last year.

Top Okwuegbunam Props

Over 4.5 Receiving Touchdowns (+100 DraftKings)

Over 525.5 Receiving Yards (-115 DraftKings)

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Penn State Nittany Lions product quickly acclimatized to the highest level and turned in a strong statistical debut with 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven scores. Only five tight ends found the end zone more than Freiermuth.

Freiermuth also tied the league lead with 20 red-zone targets and hauled in 13 of them, which illustrates he’s already able to win where it counts as a pro.

While Pittsburgh has uncertainty in the quarterback room, it could quickly prove shortsighted to assume Mitchell Trubisky and/or Kenny Pickett represent a downgrade from Ben Roethlisberger. The 18-year veteran tied for the fourth lowest yard per attempt among qualified quarterbacks, after all.

Top Freiermuth Props

Over 4.5 Receiving Touchdowns (-115 Caesars)

Over 525.5 Receiving Yards (-115 Caesars)

Over 555.5 Receiving Yards (-115 DraftKings)

Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders

A slew of injuries took a toll on Waller in 2021, as he failed to top 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in two years. Additionally, after finding the end zone nine times in 2020, he only scored twice last season.

The Raiders also brought in five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams during the offseason to bolster quarterback Derek Carr’s vertical options, so Waller’s target share could take a hit.

Here’s the fun part, though. Waller is already nursing an undisclosed injury in training camp, and while he’s not holding out, the 30-year-old tight end has a base salary of just $6.25 million for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He’s going to want a raise, which is a potential off-field distraction.

Top Waller Props

Over 5.5 Receiving Touchdowns (-112 FanDuel)

Over 870.5 Receiving Yards (-115 Caesars)

Over 850.5 Receiving Yards (-135 DraftKings)

Over 875.5 Receiving Yards (-112 FanDuel)

Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals

While the 10-year veteran’s best seasons are probably behind him, Ertz hit the ground running in Arizona after a midseason trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. The production earned him a three-year contract, and he stands to be a key cog in the Arizona offense again this season.

There are probably going to be a few more opportunities early in the year with No. 1 wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins suspended for the first six games of the campaign. Additionally, wideout Marquise Brown is in his first season with the organization and could take time to develop the necessary chemistry to be an immediate go-to option for quarterback Kyler Murray.

Durability is also a huge plus with Ertz. He’s only missed 11 games during his career – a true rarity.

Top Ertz Props

Over 4.5 Receiving Touchdowns (-105 DraftKings)

Over 600.5 Receiving Yards (-115 Caesars)

Over 625.5 Receiving Yards (-130 DraftKings)

Odds as of 9 a.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 4.

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