Not strictly true—many elite tight ends (TEs) have historically shared the field with one or more strong/elite wide receivers (WRs), but success often came with manageable competition rather than overwhelming target hogs.  sharpfootballanalysis.com +1

Elite TEs (e.g., Pro Bowl/All-Pro level production, high yards/TDs, fantasy relevance) frequently operate as top or near-top targets in pass-heavy or balanced offenses. "Only one elite WR" oversimplifies it—many had a clear #1 WR but still thrived due to scheme, quarterback play, red-zone usage, or overall volume. Multiple high-end WRs were rarer but not impossible.

Key Historical Examples

• Travis Kelce (Chiefs, prime 2018–2023): Often paired with Tyreek Hill (elite deep threat; multiple 1,000-yard/10+ TD seasons together). Later with Hollywood Brown, Rashee Rice, etc. Kelce still led or co-led in targets many years thanks to Mahomes' trust and slot work. He posted monster numbers despite strong WR talent.
  chiefs.com

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• Rob Gronkowski (Patriots): Shared with Wes Welker (slot machine, high-volume) and later Julian Edelman/Randy Moss/others. Gronk's size, red-zone dominance, and blocking allowed him to excel as a complementary elite option. He set TE records even with talented WR rooms.
  en.wikipedia.org

• Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs/Falcons): Led Chiefs receiving multiple times despite WRs like Otis Taylor (earlier), Priest Holmes (RB/WR hybrid), and later additions. In Atlanta, with Roddy White/Julio Jones. Longevity and consistency let him dominate as the primary target often.
  en.wikipedia.org

• Antonio Gates (Chargers): Thrived with Philip Rivers alongside WRs like Keenan Allen (later), but prime years featured supporting casts with talent like Vincent Jackson or Malcom Floyd. Gates was a red-zone monster and often the #1 or #2 option.  chargers.com

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Other notables (Shannon Sharpe with Elway/Davis; Ozzie Newsome; modern George Kittle with strong 49ers WR groups) show similar patterns.

Broader Context and Data Points

• Target competition: Elite TEs rarely face "zero" elite WR competition in good offenses—volume comes from scheme fit (e.g., mismatches, seams, red zone) more than being the lone star. Historical data shows teams supporting 1,000-yard trios (WR/WR/TE or similar) exist, but rare for sustained elite TE output with multiple 1,000-yard WRs.
  en.wikipedia.org

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• Fantasy/recent trends: Analyses note avoiding TEs with heavy elite WR competition unless the TE has high target share (e.g., via route-running or usage). Many top TEs are #1–2 options overall.
  sharpfootballanalysis.com

• Exceptions with lighter WR rooms helped some TEs (e.g., certain Witten or Olsen stretches), but the all-time greats usually elevated good offenses with talent around them.

Bottom line: Elite TEs have often dealt with one strong/elite WR (or solid supporting cast) and still produced at high levels—it's more about overall passing volume, QB, and role than isolation. Pure "only one elite WR and nothing else" is too narrow; many succeeded with competition by being matchup nightmares. For fantasy prioritize TEs with clear target priority over raw "weak WR room" narratives.