Who is Jake Ferguson? Jake Ferguson is a tight end that was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round 129th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ferguson was drafted as a Dalton Schultz replacement, and with Schultz now gone Ferguson is next in line to start for the Dallas Cowboys. Talent and opportunity matter in fantasy football and Ferguson has a big opportunity this season. What is his fantasy football outlook for the 2023 season?
Jake Ferguson Fantasy Football Outlook 2023
Jake Ferguson 2022 Fantasy Football Season Review
Ferguson spent the 2022 season as the backup tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Ferguson finished with 174 yards on 22 targets, 19 catches, and two touchdowns which made him TE48, Jake Ferguson also had zero drops on the season. All were second in the tight end position for the Cowboys behind Dalton Schultz. Ferguson’s best game came in week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, with 40 yards on six targets and one touchdown. His 42% snap percentage was second among the Cowboys tight ends behind Schultz.
Jake Ferguson 2023 Preview
Jake Ferguson is expected to take over as the starting tight end for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, Dalton Schultz signed with the Houston Texans in free agency. Between Schultz and other former pass catchers, there are 196 available targets in Dallas this season. The current tight end room for the Cowboys is Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, and Luke Schoonmaker. Schoonmaker was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and was expected to take over as the starting tight end in Dallas. Schoonmaker hasn’t recovered from off-season surgery and is yet to participate in training camp. Rookie tight ends usually struggle in the NFL anyways, but the injury certainly doesn’t help his chances.
Based on training camp practices Ferguson is the favorite to receive the tight end targets in Dallas this season. Being the lead tight-end target-getter in Dallas has been a good opportunity with Dak Prescott. The leading tight end on the Cowboys has finished as a TE1 in six of seven seasons since Dak has taken over as the starter. This also includes a TE3 overall finish by Schultz in 2021. The leading tight end for the Cowboys averages around 83 targets per season, which would’ve been 10th best in 2022. Ferguson had zero drops as a rookie, he and Prescott developed chemistry together and that should improve in 2023.
Every pass Cowboys QB Dak Prescott threw to rookie TE Jake Ferguson last year, including in postseason. All were completed. pic.twitter.com/BawnzKLJoY
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) July 27, 2023
ADP
Jake Ferguson is currently going as TE30 in the 20th round! Depending on how big your league is Ferguson will be a free pickup after drafts. Your draft strategy will dictate if you are interested in someone like Ferguson or not. “Great or late” is a draft strategy where you either decide to take Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews in rounds 1-3 or wait until the end of drafts for cheap options like Mike Gesicki, Sam Laporta, or Jake Ferguson. The tight end position doesn’t require much production to be considered a weekly starter. Given the Cowboys history with tight ends and Ferguson’s opportunity, TE30 is an ADP that he will easily beat in 2023.
Main Photo: Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
