Ringo’s 2024 TE Busts


Jake Ferguson (Fantasy Pros Expert Consensus Ranking TE 9 / Ringo’s Ranking TE 10)
I like Jake Ferguson, but TE 10 is a little rich for me. I’d rather try for Kyle Pitts, Dalton Kincaid, or David Njoku earlier. After the elite TEs, it’s pretty much a crap shoot.

T.J. Hockenson (Fantasy Pros Expert Consensus Ranking TE 15 / Ringo’s Ranking TE 48)
I don’t know what my fellow analysts are thinking and drinking with their stratospheric current consensus ranking of T.J. Hockenson at TE 15, but pour me a glass because it must be really good, haha (see video below). Hockenson is coming off major reconstructive knee surgery, which was performed January 29, 2024. At the time of this writing (June 12, 2024) it hasn’t even been five months post-surgery! There is no way T.J. will be 100%, not just for week one, but for the entire season! Even if, by some act of God, Hockenson makes a miraculous Adrian Peterson type of recovery, which I highly doubt, the Vikings will still be without QB Kirk Cousins (who left in free agency) and could very well be eliminated from the playoffs by the time he comes back, lessening the odds T.J. plays much, if at all.

Drafters might think if they wait thirty minutes in their draft, they’ll get Hockenson for free, similar to what Minnesota State Screaming Eagles’ Assistant Coach Luther Van Damme thought about his pizza delivery in the second video below. (note- start playing the second video at 1:48. Also note, unfortunately the video is blurred out, it’s just audio).

Sam LaPorta (Fantasy Pros Expert Consensus Ranking TE 1 / Ringo’s Ranking TE 5) First things first. I don’t really consider LaPorta a complete bust in 2024. He’s more in the camp of being overvalued imo. But when you factor in the fact that his current consensus ranking for him is TE 1- that’s pretty expensive. Unlike some of the players I have ranked ahead of LaPorta (Pitts, Kelce, and Kincaid), LaPorta isn’t the go-to guy on his team like they are. Like many TEs, he was pretty much dependent on TDs. The Lions definitely have one of the more potent offenses in the league, so he’s probably safer than many players are, but it’s still a risk. LaPorta lacks the speed of other TEs I like {Pitts, Kelce, Kincaid, and Njoku) which results in less big plays.

Bottom line- LaPorta is a really good player. For me, this one just comes down to preference and price. I like the other TEs better and they’re also more affordable.

Juwan Johnson (Fantasy Pros Expert Consensus Ranking TE 23) Juwan Johnson suffered an injury to his foot in mid-June. He’s going to need surgery. Johnson is hoping to be back before the start of the season. I don’t like drafting guys with shaky health entering the season, especially when it comes to foot injuries. Football is a violent sport and it’s a long season. Let someone else draft him at his current consensus ranking of TE 23. That’s too risky a price even for renown riverboat gambler Mark Ringo. New Awlins’ might be The Big Easy, but if I draft Johnson at that price I just might be The Big Dummy. My readers are like, “what’s with this might be stuff?” Haha!

Dalton Schultz
Schultz isn’t really on my bust list. I’m actually close to his current consensus ranking which is at TE 14. This one is more for entertainment purposes. I had Dalton “Sergeant” Schultz ranked in my top ten TEs earlier this year. And then the Texans traded for Stefon Diggs, which forced me to lower him in my rankings. This is how it went down (see video below) haha! Remember, when it comes to sage fantasy advice and funny jokes, Mark Ringo knows nothing!!! Haha!