Tyler Conklin signs with the Chargers: The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact
It seems every year brings us some under the radar signings that end up having relatively major fantasy impact. One of the positions most susceptible to that happening is at tight end, where we typically have a few truly elite players in dynasty leagues, then a very valuable (but still relatively small) group of players you can start each week and not necessarily sell the farm for. Well, this week may have given us not one, but maybe even two of those players as the Jets and Chargers have re-shaped their respective tight end rooms. The final domino to fall in making that happen was the signing of now former Jet Tyler Conklin, who inked a $3 million deal to join the Los Angeles Chargers. The signing could mean nothing in dynasty leagues should the Chargers and Jets both continue to look elsewhere for tight end help, but it could also be significant if they don’t. Let’s take a look at the players who are currently in line for a nice value bump, pending the results of the NFL Draft.
Tyler Conklin, TE LAC
Conklin was originally drafted by Minnesota in 2018, but was also constantly behind more experienced options throughout his four-year tenure there. He finally broke out in 2021 when injuries ravaged the team and he performed well, posting 61 catches for 593 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It came at the right time as Conklin cashed in with the New York Jets in free agency, inking a three-year deal worth just over $20 million.
The results with the Jets were mixed throughout his three seasons there. However, one just has to remember these are the offensively-challenged Jets we’re talking about and the fact Conklin has able to post around 60 catches for 600 yards and a handful of touchdowns each season is worth noting. Last season, he caught 51 passes for 449 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in 16 games. It was his fourth-straight season with at least 50 receptions as he continued to show some reliability, especially for an offense that hasn’t exactly provided much of that to anyone. He was also one of only two tight ends with at least 50 targets to not drop a pass last season and only has four total fumbles on 263 career catches – those are impressive numbers most people just don’t know about and things Head Coach Jim Harbaugh covets.
Do the math here.
You have a tight end who is durable, doesn’t drop passes, doesn’t fumble, and has recorded numbers in an offense that has been putrid over the past few years. Now with the Chargers, Conklin could see a significant bump in targets and production. New Assistant General Manager Chad Alexander knows him well as he was with the Jets when Conklin was there as well, and that means something as well. Los Angeles needs weapons and is rebuilding their offense after losing long-time players like Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen last season. Conklin may not be the sexiest draft pick in dynasty start-ups, but he could also merit a real value.
The big question here is simple – will the Chargers add someone like Colston Loveland in the NFL Draft and make this whole signing more of a luxury or a necessity? If they choose to roll with Conklin, his ADP is going to rise significantly. As it stands, it’s already going to rise as we move towards the NFL Draft. In short, it’s time to move Conklin up your lists a touch and if the Chargers don’t add more to the room, he really could represent great value in dynasty leagues for teams not having an elite-level player at the position.
Will Dissly, TE LAC
Dissly held down the fort for the Chargers at tight end last season and was decent in the process, posting career highs with 50 catches and 481 yards, though he only caught two touchdown passes on the year. In the end, the long-time Seahawk was decent at the position, but far from a real difference-maker. It’s hard to see Dissly really beating out Conklin as the starter, but it’s possible. The more likely possibility would be the two essentially becoming a two-headed monster at the position and that would be something nobody wants to see. In the end, even if Dissly was somehow able to retain the starting job, his numbers just don’t inspire a lot of upside as last year really does look like his fantasy ceiling. His ADP is going to drop, no matter what happens in the next couple of months.
Justin Herbert, QB LAC
The Chargers somehow made things work last year and Herbert was unbelievable, throwing for 3,870 yards with 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions. The wheels fell off the cart in the playoffs as he threw four in one game against the Texans. However, it’s not hard to see how that happened – Herbert had to do everything and with the season on the line, he had no choice but to take some chances. Ladd McConkey showed some nice promise last year and Quentin Johnston took a nice step forward, The return of Mike Williams could help and adding Conklin won’t hurt, either. In the end, the Chargers need to add a lot more talent to that side of the ball, but Herbert’s floor really does seem like that touchdown total of 23 from last season and they should be better next season, despite Coach Harbaugh’s ball control philosophy. Herbert’s ADP represents a solid bargain in dynasty leagues at the moment.
Stone Smartt. TE NYJ
With just Jeremy Ruckert and his 18/105 line from last season on the depth chart, the now former Charger turned Jet could be a sleeper at the position. Smartt had 16 catches for 208 scoreless yards for the Chargers last year and has only recorded a 31/380/1 line over his three year career in Los Angeles (ironically). However, many really do believe there’s some untapped potential here and the Jets currently have a gaping hole at tight end. While dynasty managers aren’t exactly running to their computers to put in waiver claims on him or move them to the top of their draft boards, there could be some intrigue here should the Jets fail to further address the position and especially now that they’ve let Conklin sign elsewhere.
2025 NFL Draft Tight Ends
It seems more than reasonable to expect the Chargers and/or the Jets to target a premier tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft and the likes of Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, and Harold Fannin seem to be the most likely candidates there. Loveland has an obvious connection to Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh because of their time at Michigan together. However, any of the three would likely walk into a starting job in New York or Los Angeles should they go there.
The whole point of this exercise is to make sure you’re up-to-date on some different situations that may be flying under the radar. In the end, Conklin and Smartt may not be worth much of anything in dynasty leagues next season. However, there’s a decent chance one of them outplays their current ADP by a significant amount and that needs to be noted for sure as we approach the NFL Draft. If you have either on your team, you’ll breathe a serious sigh of relief if and when the Chargers or Jets pass on tight ends early in the NFL Draft. Dynasty managers just need to respond accordingly.
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
