Fantasy Football

Tyler Conklin

TE - NYJ

Height: 6-3

Weight: 254 lbs

Age: 28

College: Central Michigan

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2023 Season Outlooks

It might be time to consider Conklin a low-end starter in all leagues. His first season with the Jets featured 58 catches for 552 yards and three touchdowns on 87 targets, looking a lot like his final season in Minnesota when he had 61 catches for 593 yards and three touchdowns on 87 targets. That gives us a pretty good idea of what to expect in 2023, but the biggest difference is the addition of Aaron Rodgers in New York, and hopefully the quarterback upgrade can take Conklin to new heights. Now, the Jets do have a crowded receiving corps with Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Corey Davis, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb, and Conklin also has to compete with fellow tight end C.J. Uzomah for targets. But Conklin is worth drafting as a low-end starter in deeper leagues with a late-round pick and is definitely someone to consider in tight-end premium formats.

Give Conklin credit for entering the streaming radar in 2022. After all, he caught passes from Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White.
His QB situation improved tenfold with the addition of Aaron Rodgers. That’ll raise the TD ceiling here, although fantasy managers would be wise to continue treating Conklin as a spot starter.
What We Learned Last YearConklin's 87 targets, 58 catches, 552 yards, and three TDs nearly matched his totals from 2021 (in Minnesota).He saw a decent 15% target share – second on the team behind emerging star Garrett Wilson.Conklin posted eight top-15 fantasy weeks. He was a risky streamer, though, finishing TE30 or worse seven times.He caught passes from Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Joe Flacco. (Yuck.)Among 27 TEs with 50+ targets, Conklin ranked:24th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade22nd in yards per catch22nd in yards per route runThe 28-year-old played all 17 games and hasn’t missed a game due to injury since 2019.What to Expect in 2023Conklin should retain the lead TE role. He’ll be pushed by veteran C.J. Uzomah and second-year Round 3 pick Jeremy Ruckert, who barely played as a rookie.The real target competition is at WR, where the Jets feature Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Corey Davis.QB Aaron Rodgers joins the club after 18 seasons in Green Bay.Rodgers’ play declined last year, but we expect a rebound given the talent upgrade.Conklin will have to deliver in the TD department to become a fantasy asset. And for his career, he’s tallied just a 4.6% TD rate.Rodgers tallied huge TD rates of 9.1% and 7.0% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Another 35+ TD season is unlikely but possible.

Despite changing teams along the way, Conklin put together almost identical seasons in 2021 and 2022. The 2018 fifth-round pick posted a 61-593-3 receiving line in 17 games with Minnesota in 2021 and followed with a 58-552-3 line in 17 games with the Jets last season. He was fantasy's No. 16-scoring TE both years. Conklin handled a respectable 15% target share both seasons, though we suspect that may dip in 2023 with Aaron Rodgers under center and New York in better shape at wide receiver. Conklin, who produced three weekly finishes better than 10th last season, lacks a high ceiling and is a fringe TE2.