NFL Playoffs Wild Card Round TE Rankings feat. Mark Andrews, Zach Ertz, Pat Freiermuth

Modified Jan 07, 2025 16:19 GMT

The 2024 NFL Playoffs will kick off with the wild-card round this weekend, featuring six games played across three days. All 12 teams in action will need a victory this week or they will officially be eliminated from the postseason. The most well-rounded teams often find the most success at this stage of the season, so all positions will need to elevate their performances.

The tight end position will be an interesting one to watch during this round as the best ones can place a ton of pressure on opposing defenses. Those who provide receiving contributions can add another layer to any offense and force the opposition to account for this in their schemes.

Of all of the wild card teams this year, the Baltimore Ravens have done the best job of utilizing their tight ends in the offensive game plans. Isaiah Likely has scored three touchdowns across his past five games, but Mark Andrews will be in the spotlight this week. He has scored a touchdown in each of his past six games and has recorded at least four receptions in four of them, including against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who he will face off against again this week.

Zach Ertz is another tight end to keep an eye on this week as he has been a consistent factor in the Washington Commanders' passing attack this year. His impressive season includes 66 receptions on 91 targets for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also scored three touchdowns across his past two games, so he has plenty of momentum entering the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Another tight end trending in the right direction is Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers tight end has been inconsistent this season, but he is on his most productive stretch of the year. He has set season-highs in receptions and yards in each of his past two games, so his break out comes just in time for the Steelers' matchup with the Ravens this week.

Here's where all of them fall in the tight-end rankings ahead of the first round of the playoffs this week.