You are on page 1of 4

The Fantasy Fool's Top 25 Tight Ends

Rankings are based on each player's projected position by the end of the 2014 season. This is a value ranking, NOT a recommended draft
order. Players may be drafted significantly higher or lower based upon their perceived value to other owners. Stats listed are from 2013. Visit
the Fantasy Fools blog at http://fantasy-fools.blogspot.com/ for daily fantasy advice.
CATEGORIES >>

ELITE

NEAR
ELITE

SOLID

MARGINAL

FLIER

Updated: 9/2/14
Fool's Take

Rank

Player

Team

Final '13
Rank

Rec

Rec
Yards

Rec TDs

Jimmy Graham

NO

86

1215

16

Julius Thomas

DEN

65

788

12

Rob Gronkowski

NE

17

39

592

Vernon Davis

SF

52

850

13

Jason Witten

DAL

73

851

Only a healthy Gronk is in his class. Life is good when


you're Drew Brees' BFF.
He came from out of nowhere and became a fantasy
sensation virtually overnight. If he can play all 16
games, he'll vie with Graham for top honors. And he
can be secured a round or two later.
Coming back from a serious knee injury, and with no
guarantees that he'll be available in Week 1, Gronk
comes with some risk but a very high reward.
2013 was his second year out of 8 in which he
amassed 13 TDs. While that's what you're hoping for
when you draft Davis, you know you're at least
getting a near-elite player. The 49ers don't ask him
to block anymore, freeing him up to be a full-time
receiver.
Especially valuable in PPR leagues, Witten is a
perennial fantasy stud. Again, though, his value
hinges on Romo's health; and that could be a
constant worry all season.

Jordan Cameron

CLE

80

917

Jordan Reed

WAS

22

45

499

Martellus Bennett

CHI

10

65

759

Greg Olsen

CAR

73

816

10

Zach Ertz

PHI

20

36

469

11

Antonio Gates

SD

77

872

12

Charles Clay

MIA

69

759

The primary concern with Cameron is that only 1 of


his 7 TDs came after Week 7. With Josh Gordon out,
he should be the most-targeted receiver in
Cleveland. How often the Browns reach the red zone
is another story.
Returning from a severe concussion that knocked
him out for the season in Week 11, Reed is a strong
candidate for a breakout season. If you wait to pick
a TE, he will reward you.
The main issue with Marty B is that he has to
compete with so many talented receivers for
targets. That said, he'll get his share.
Olsen was the Panthers' top receiver last year. Given
the WR corps now at Cam's disposal, could that
possibly change? Don't count on it.
He has supplanted Celek as Philly's starting TE, and
that should earn him plenty of looks in their high-
powered offense. Select him as your TE2, and he
could over-deliver.
His glory days are behind him, but he hasn't
surrendered his starting job to Ladarius Green yet.
Rivers still trusts Gates, which makes him a
borderline TE1/TE2.
A Top 10 performer in '13, he can be a solid, if not
spectacular, contributor again with another year of
experience with Tannehill. He appears to have
recovered quickly from a preseason knee injury.

13

Tyler Eifert

CIN

29

39

445

14

Ladarius Green

SD

30

17

376

15

Jared Cook

STL

11

51

671

16

Dwayne Allen

IND

73

20

17

Dennis Pitta

BAL

54

20

169

18

Kyle Rudolph

MIN

36

30

313

19

Eric Ebron

DET

--

--

--

--

Now that Marvin Jones (foot) is expected to miss at


least the first 5 games, Eifert should be Andy
Dalton's #2 receiving target. Though Jermaine
Gresham is still in the picture, the former starter is
now used mostly as a blocker. I'd feel better if Eifert
actually played this preseason rather than just
telling us his shoulder is "100 percent."
Clearly San Diego's future at TE, the only question is
when the future will begin. He will eventually move
past Gates; perhaps by mid-season.
The 6'6" 245 lb beast is an impressive physical
specimen, but he can't seem to break out from
mediocrity. That could change this year; but
probably not, especially with Sam Bradford out for
the duration.
A hip injury cost him all but Week 1 of the '13
season. He returns to his starting job, but Coby
Fleener is still in the picture. There's risk here, but
plenty of upside, too.
He was knocked out for the '13 season in Week 4 by
a hip injury. Flacco loves him, though; so if he can
avoid a setback, he could deliver TE1 value.
Another big TE returning from a season-ending
injury (foot), Rudolph should see plenty of targets
given the scarcity of receiving weapons in
Minnesota.
The Lions didn't invest the 10th overall pick in
someone they don't intend to use. But his
development will take time, especially given that
Brandon Pettigrew is still the starter.

20

Heath Miller

PIT

24

58

593

21

Delanie Walker

TEN

12

60

571

22

Coby Fleener

IND

15

52

608

23

Garrett Graham

HOU

16

49

545

He's not the producer he once was, and he may


never be again. He's a bye-week sub at best now.
Needs to develop a closer bond with Locker to
emerge from mediocrity.
With Dwayne Allen back, Fleener's role will be
diminished. He obviously didn't do enough in '13 to
win a starting job in '14.
Will compete with fellow TE Ryan Griffin for
touches, and spotty QB play makes his outlook even
cloudier.

24

Travis Kelce

KC

--

--

--

--

KC's third-round pick in '13 missed his rookie season


with a knee injury. He's had an impressive preseason
and should supplant Anthony Fasano quickly.
Blessed with great size and athleticism, Kelce has
huge upside if Alex Smith takes a shine to him.

25

Scott Chandler

BUF

18

53

655

After just 2 TDs in '13, this "red zone threat" isn't so


threatening anymore.

You might also like