T.J. Hockenson Has a Chance at Blowing Up in Fantasy Football (and Real Life)
K. Joudry
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Apparently, those around the NFL don’t see T.J. Hockenson as being truly elite, but the consensus appears to be that he’s very good. Jeremy Fowler’s poll of coaches, scouts, players, and executives ended with Hockenson coming in at 6th overall, a pretty solid placement within the NFL’s tight end pecking order.
That’s real life, but what about fantasy football? The game that’s enjoyed by millions is often played with teams that have an underwhelming option at tight end, truly one of the game’s best positions (great balance of grit and glory, snarl and style). In that realm, Hockenson has a claim on being much higher than 6th.
T.J. Hockenson and The Fantasy Football Appeal
Missing on one of the true top-tier tight ends means fantasy owners head into their season with at least some uncertainty.
Truth be told, there may only be one fantastic option at tight end: Travis Kelce. The next best options — George Kittle and Mark Andrews — have both had some injury concerns. Even Kelce, though, is someone to be a touch cautious with since he’s going to be 34 in October. He’s obviously the TE1, but I’d be cautious about choosing him over a tremendous RB or WR.
Coming in at a youthful 26, T.J. Hockenson could finish the season as fantasy football’s top PPR tight end. Yes, there are several mouths to feed in Minnesota’s offense, but the former Lion is going to get featured. Surpassing 100 catches and 1,000 yards won’t be surprising at all.
Last year, Hockenson finished with a hearty 86 catches, 914 yards, and 6 TDs. During the playoffs, he exploded for 10 catches and 129 yards while offering a good reminder that he’s an excellent option in the intermediate area of the field.
Too often, the Vikings leaned on him to catch shorter passes. Might we see his yards-per-reception average climb a bit in the upcoming season? Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being a safety net for Kirk Cousins, a big body who can help get the QB out of trouble when the pocket is collapsing (which happened far too much last season).
A major part of Hockenson’s job description rests in alleviating the pressure on Justin Jefferson. As #18 exercises his gravitational pull on the secondary, #87 works into open space. Can Kevin O’Connell scheme up ways for more of those catches to happen a bit further down the field?
Before being traded from Detroit, Hockenson had a healthy 15.2 yards-per-reception average (in fairness, a number that was likely too high to sustain for the full season). In Minnesota, the average was considerably more modest: just 8.7 yards. Over a full season, 8.7 yards per catch would easily be Hockenson’s career low. The man is capable of moving well, so leveraging that ability into plays down the field seems like a wise approach.
Back to fantasy.
Previously, Mr. Matthew Berry tossed Hockenson down at 43rd as the TE3 (PPR). Over at ESPN, Field Yates puts Hockenson at 45th as the TE3 (PPR). Honestly, folks, that sounds about right, and I wouldn’t fault someone for being tempted by Hockenson toward the end of the 4th round.
Despite the lack of extension, T.J. Hockenson has been attending the Vikings’ offseason program. A full spring and summer to get acclimated to the Vikings offense will result in good things for the tight end. Alongside Alexander Mattison, Hockenson appears to be a strong value add for fantasy football fans.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
