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The big question about tight ends in NFL drafts is who will be the second one taken after Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce. Someone who has put himself in that conversation of being the second tight end off the board is Minnesota Vikings big man T.J. Hockenson.
Below, we look at T.J. Hockenson‘s 2023 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.
A midseason trade in 2022 brought Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings and he made an immediate impact. He caught 60 passes for 519 yards and 3 touchdowns in 10 games, a number which would translate to more than 100 receptions over a full season.
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T.J. Hockenson’s ADP: 49.77
(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)
Tight ends are clumped together with wide receivers in most leagues. As a result, the demarcation line is very clearly drawn, and distinct is the distance between tight ends being drafted. Hockenson currently finds himself at the front of the 3rd wave — the first to have more than one player close in proximity.
Hockenson is four or five rounds behind Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (8.00) and almost two rounds behind Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews (31.98). He finds two other tight ends closing in on his bronze medal stand – San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle (49.93) and the New York Giants TE Darren Waller (55.60).
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T.J. Hockenson’s 2022 stats
Games: 17
Receptions | targets: 86 | 129
Receiving yards: 914
Receiving touchdowns: 6
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Where should you draft Hockenson?
Hockenson has quietly been battling a contract extension that sidelined him throughout training camp and the preseason, although Minnesota doesn’t play starters in meaningless games. Once the games mean something, Hockenson’s ailments will go away — with or without a long-term deal.
With no new deal, he will be playing for his 2nd contract. That is a ton of incentive. Minnesota’s offense may throw 40-45 times a game by design as head coach Kevin O’Connell installs the offense that made all cylinders click with the Rams. With WR Justin Jefferson demanding double coverage and rookie WR Jordan Addison using his route-running savvy to clear space, Hockenson will find a lot of single coverage with mismatch potential.
If he stays healthy, Hockenson could repeat his 10-game production with the Vikings and catch 100 passes. Where does that put him if he does? Kelce is clearly No. 1. You can make a case for Andrews, Hockenson and Kittle being clumped together as a 2nd tier of their own. In most drafts, Hockenson will be the 4th tight end taken. If he plays the full season, those who have him on their roster won’t be disappointed — especially because the drop-off after him is pronounced.
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