Where does Taysom Hill Rank Among Fantasy Tight Ends After a Career Day? Comparisons to Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, Dalton Kincaid and More
Checking in on Taysom Hill after a huge day and what we can expect the rest of the season.
Taysom Hill had the game of his life in Week 11: seven carries for 138 yards and three touchdowns, eight receptions for 50 yards. He even completed a pass for 18 yards, though he threw an interception on his other attempt.
He also lost a fumble, but the positives far out-did the negatives, as Hill powered the Saints to a 35-14 victory. Before Week 11, Hill had combined for 130 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. On top of doubling his rushing production, he also set season highs in receptions and receiving yards.
Hill is going to be a popular target on the waiver wire heading into Week 12. He was owned in about half of fantasy leagues heading into Week 11, and owners without a tight end option will surely be hoping this is the first of many big performances.
Hill isn’t always heavily involved. His usage varies along with his efficiency; it’s often related to the matchup. It’s not a surprise that Hill had his best game against the Browns, one of the worst defensive teams in the league.
Cleveland has allowed the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and seventh-most yards per rush attempt after Sunday. A lot of players are going to have big games against the Browns. It also wasn’t a surprise that Hill's previous best game was two weeks ago against the Panthers, another one of the worst teams on defense.
So, is Hill a good pickup and can he be a regular contributor? Let’s look at where the Saints’ roster stands, their remaining schedule, and where Hill fits in as a fantasy player. Stats are from NFL.com, and defensive fantasy performances against positions are from our FantasySP defensive fantasy rankings.
Will Hill Stay Involved?
In the four games since returning from an injury absence, Hill has averaged nine touches per game, never dropping below six. He has topped 40 total yards in each of those contests, showing a level of production most tight ends can’t sustain.
Chris Olave is out with a concussion; Rashid Shaheed is out for the season. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been leading the receiving corps the past few weeks. There is a need for someone to step up and take touches, and Hill is better equipped than most of the roster.
He gets some of the most valuable carries near the goal line, increasing his chances of scoring a touchdown. Hill also gets involved in trick and gadget plays, opening him up for chances at producing large chunk plays. There is a path for Hill to continue producing as a fantasy player.
Remaining Schedule
- vs. Los Angeles Rams
- @ New York Giants
- vs. Washington Commanders
- @ Green Bay Packers
- vs. Los Vegas Raiders
- @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Only the Raiders are better than average in yards per pass attempt allowed, and just the Raiders and Rams are better than average in yards per rush attempt. Specific to the run game, Hill’s best area, the Giants and Commanders are worst and second worst in terms of yards per rush attempt allowed, and the Bucs are sixth.
The rest of the season is set up well for New Orleans on offense, and Hill will be part of the game plan each week. He’s not always going to run for 140 yards or score three touchdowns, but there’s a path toward Hill performing well up to and through the fantasy playoffs.
Where does Hill Fit?
There are tight ends at the top who need to be started every week and rank above Hill. In no particular order:
A few others are treated as weekly starters due to name recognition and/or perform at a level close to that mark:
I could keep going with the latter list, and tight ends start becoming much the same after a while. Matchups mean more than the player eventually. That’s true at every position, but TE has less players than any other who play at an acceptable fantasy starter level most weeks.
Hill fits squarely within the second group. He is somewhat reliable mid-level player who will get touches. Guys who only catch the ball are reliant on their quarterback; Hill gets the ball directly into his hands through both run and pass attempts.
There aren’t a lot of tight ends with a higher fantasy potential, and Hill also keeps a good floor because of his rush attempts. It’s the same principle as the running quarterback: a position that gets most of its production from the passing game gets a boost when a player adds production on the ground.
Hill is involved in potentially three different ways, running, catching, and throwing the ball. That extra usage gives him an advantage that no other tight end will ever match.
Conclusion
Hill is worth a roster spot in every fantasy league. He’s currently TE3 in standard scoring and TE12 in PPR, and he has missed four games. Any owner without a weekly starter would do well to pick up Hill to either play matchups or even to fill your tight end spot the rest of the season.
There will be slower weeks; not everything he touches will turn to gold. The defensive matchups are right, though, and Hill has a path toward being involved every game. Consider adding Hill if you need a tight end or have an open roster spot.
