In fantasy football, TE1 refers to a tight end who ranks between 1st and 12th at his position. There are generally twelve teams in a fantasy football league.
A TE2 is a tight end who ranks between 13th and 24th at their position and is ranked lower in the rankings.
A tight end who ranks 25th to 36th would be considered a TE3.
In fantasy football, these terms refer to a player’s ranking over the next week or season.
Alternative Meanings for TE1 in Fantasy
In fantasy football, TE1 refers to a tight end ranked in the top twelve positions, but it can also refer to other tight ends.
To describe the ranking of players on a football roster, some fans use terms like TE1.
An example would be a TE1, which would indicate the number one tight end on the depth chart. In other words, one signifies a starter.
It is especially common at the quarterback position where the starter is often referred to as QB1.
In fantasy football, TE2 refers to the second-string tight end.
The term is generally used for positions with one starter. One designates a starter and the other two designate a backup.
Wide receivers, for example, may still be starters even if they are WR3.
As a result, it is helpful to remember that TE1 refers to a player’s fantasy ranking rather than their position on the depth chart when discussing fantasy football.
Traits You Want in a TE1
You may be wondering what kind of traits you should look for in tight ends in this tier now that you know what a TE1 is in football.
High involvement in the offense
In fantasy football, you want your TE1 to be heavily involved in the offense.
The tight end can become the quarterback’s fourth or even fifth option on many teams.
To find a tight end who can produce consistently in fantasy football you want them to play a significant role in the offense.
Red Zone Target
Tight ends are incredibly dependent on touchdowns for their fantasy football productivity. More so than any other position, tight ends are incredibly dependent on touchdowns.
The main way these players score points is by scoring touchdowns, since they won’t accumulate many yards throughout a game.
In order to do this effectively, tight ends need to be red-zone targets for their offense. If their offense can game plan their tight end getting the ball in the red zone, it will increase his chance of scoring a touchdown.
Yards After the Catch Ability
One key characteristic fantasy managers look for in TE1s is yards after the catch. Yards after the catch can greatly increase a receiver’s production, as well as their touchdown totals.
The majority of tight ends are elusive when they have the ball in their hands, but modern-day tight ends have become much more athletic due to football’s increased emphasis on passing.
With these players on your fantasy team, you can turn a routine catch into a big catch.
To learn more about TE1s in fantasy football, see our guides on what is a RB1 in fantasy football or what is an RB2.