Best Ball Guy noted that Hunter Henry could open 2024 as the Patriots’ de-facto target leader. Stefon Diggs is "coming on slow," rookie Kyle Williams is still learning the playbook, and Demario Douglas is the only other established pass catcher. In that context Henry’s red-zone chemistry with whoever wins the quarterback job should give him consistent spike-week potential at a bargain TE2 price in best-ball drafts.

Jakob Sanderson urged Best-Ball drafters to stop burning late-round picks on Hunter Henry. Sanderson conceded that Henry’s median projection looks fine— roughly 60 catches, 650 yards and half-a-dozen touchdowns— but stressed that the range of outcomes is almost comically narrow. Unlike the young, athletic wide-outs and contingent-value running backs available in Rounds 10-18, Henry cannot post the 25- to 30-point spike weeks required to win the weekly-weighted BBM playoff structure. With no path to sudden volume (he rarely tops 5 targets even when healthy) and virtually no yards-after-catch juice, Sanderson called Henry a “482-dad-running tight end” who wastes roster spots that should be allocated to players capable of season-altering ceilings. In his portfolio he is fading Henry entirely and using those picks on upside bets such as Keon Coleman or backup running backs one injury away from 20 touches.

Davis Mattek said Hunter Henry is one of only two tight ends he deliberately starred when he worked through the back half of Underdog’s rankings. Henry regularly hangs around pick 170, giving drafters a proven red-zone threat with an every-down role after the Patriots let Mike Gesicki walk. Because Mattek sees so few appealing tight-end names after round 15, he recommends punting the position and scooping Henry late so earlier pockets of the draft can be used on scarce wide receivers. In his words, knowing Henry is waiting at 170 "influences the front half of your draft," allowing you to load up elsewhere and still exit with startable weekly upside at tight end.

Erickson flagged Hunter Henry as a perfect TE2 who could finish inside the top-10 if things break right. With Stefon Diggs’ return timetable cloudy and only raw first- and second-year wideouts behind him, Henry could legitimately lead the Patriots in targets. He was top-10 in red-zone looks last season but converted just two of them, a textbook case for touchdown regression. Erickson expects rookie QB Drake Maye to lean on his veteran tight end—especially near the goal line—similar to how rookie Justin Herbert turbo-charged Henry’s 2020 fantasy value. Pairing Henry with a higher-ceiling option like Evan Engram lets drafters stick to a two-TE build and spend the extra roster spot elsewhere.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound called Hunter Henry the perfect "adult in the room" for 18-round BBM6 rosters. Because drafters are chasing unproven rookies like Colson Loveland, Henry routinely lasts into the final two rounds despite finishing 2023 top-10 among tight ends in touchdowns and now benefiting from an upgraded Patriots offensive line. Pat likes pairing the veteran with high-variance rookie TEs, noting Henry’s dependable route share and red-zone usage make him an ideal floor play who can bail out a rookie bust. He expects Henry’s ADP to inch up once projection systems refresh and recommended scooping shares while he’s still almost free.