Noah Gray named 2024 Fantasy Football “Sleeper TE” to consider

The 2024 NFL season is still a few months away, but it’s never too early to consider potential fantasy football options for the drafts taking place later this summer.

When it comes to top players, the Kansas City Chiefs duo of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce is tough to beat. Do the back-to-back defending champions have an underrated weapon on offense, though?

Following the retirement of Darren Waller, Kristopher Knox of Launderer’s Report took a look at the sleeper tight ends to consider around the league. As one of the handcuffs or late round drivers, Gray earned 45th place overall.

In point-per-reception (PPR) formats, Knox believes the fourth-year man could help make Kelce a premium backup pick.

“Kelce remains one of the most consistent tight ends in the NFL, and the Kansas City Chiefs star will likely be drafted again in 2024 – he is currently ranked second at his position,” Knox wrote. “However, he turns 35 in October and is coming off his first sub-1,000 yard season since 2015. Tight end Noah Gray is a must-have insurance policy for managers using a first or second pick turn on Kelce. The 25-year-old had 28 receptions, 305 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Since joining the Chiefs as a fifth-round pick in 2021, Gray has consistently improved. Last year, he recorded seven more targets than the previous season. This occurred on five fewer snaps than in 2022, although his 52% share remained the same. Gray was PPR’s 32nd leading scorer during his junior campaign.

The argument for Gray as a handcuff to Kelce is a double-edged sword. For one, Kelce struggled with injuries last season and, as Knox mentioned, he turns 35 later this year. It makes perfect sense for Kansas City to keep him fresh and available for the final stretch.

Additionally, Andy Reid’s offense is known for its recent commitment to heavier personnel sets. There’s plenty of reason to believe another tight end could once again accompany Kelce for many games. In a contract year, Gray will look to put together a career-best performance.

There are certainly arguments against Gray, however. With better wide receivers on the roster this year, there might be less reliance on the tight end spot to supplement production. Not only that, but the offseason pickups of Irv Smith Jr. (free agency) and Jared Wiley (draft) could eat into Gray’s reps in certain situations. For every clearly laid out path that Gray seems set to take, there may be equal elements working against him.

So, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In a vacuum, Gray absolutely deserves a handcuff-style insurance bet with Kelce. However, in the opinion of this writer, who is far from a fantasy expert, it does not offer much intrigue on its own. Knox dropping it in the level of flyer redesign seems appropriate.

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