So the question must be asked: when is the right time to pick a tight end? The answer: it depends. Tight end, much like quart backs, depend on the flow of the draft. Usually at some point the “Tight End Run” will start. I find it generally starts when it becomes apparent that the receiving corps available are suspect to say the least. So far this season, tight ends start to come off the board after receivers like Roy Williams and Bernard Berrian are the available options. So it comes to this decision: who would you rather have, Eddie Royal or Jason Witten? It may get to the point where the options then become Royal vs. Daniels and a few more receivers come off the board and the run starts again. I tend to choose the viable tight end in these situations solely based on the fact that if you’re paying attention there will probably a receiver or two that can fill this role somewhere a long the line from the wavier wire. This is far less common at tight end. The tight end position is one where the becomes just a drop off from the elite few that you can constantly out perform your opponent each week. If you have this advantage every week, you can build around a weaker WR2 or WR3 position on a wider pool.
Tier One: The guy you want
1. J. Witten
Witten become the main target on a team that going to want to run but need to pass. With Owens going to the “Big Market” in Buffalo Witten will absorb not all but a significant amount of those targets, especially in the red zone. There’s not a reason to think that Witten can’t get up to 9-12 TDs this season with him being more of a feature player in a place where he already was one. Romo will be spreading the ball around between Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton and the enigmatic Roy Williams. Witten caught four touchdowns last season so there is room for improvement from the guy who most consider to be the most solid option at the position.
Tier Two:
2. T. Gonzalez
3. O. Daniels
4. A. Gates
5. G. Olsen
6. D. Clark
7. C. Cooley
Greg Olsen has the best break out potential of any tight end. Cutler loved passing to the “Iron Schef” in Denver and Olsen is about 10 times the player he is. Olsen is the best receiver on this team that will end up checking down to Forte and Olsen all season. Daniels may seem high but this is more of an endorsement of how good I think the Texans are going to be this year. He’s legendary in the PPR game but u think the touchdowns will come. If he can have a slight improvement from his 862 yards and 2 touchdowns he will worth where he’s ranked. Gonzalez is a true wild card here. If he develops into Matt Ryan’s favorite option business will be booming. He posted an incredible 96-1058-10 line last year on pretty lousy KC team. He’s now on an offence that can move the ball, with a running back who will make defences respect the run giving him free reign to expose all NFL linebackers. Even at an advanced age he can still add a Hall of Fame season to a Hall of Fame career. Gates is health again and is very dangerous in the Rivers’ led passing attack which grew by leaps and bounds last season. Cooley was crippled by a lack of touchdowns last season and can propel himself into this group with even 5 TDs from 1. Not much to say about Dallas Clark expect that if he says healthy he’ll be worth it.
Tier Three: Some new options
8. D. Keller
9. Z. Miller
10. J. Carlson
11. V. Shiancoe
12. K. Boss
Forgoing much more established names for some new blood. Keller looks to break out with a quarterback who’s looking to manage games and make easy passes. I’m all in for a Seattle rebound year with Carlson helping rebuild that offence. Zach Miller is the best target for a team that, regardless if they want to, has to throw at some point. Players on this team will accumulate receiving yards and touchdowns somewhere down the line, seriously. All three are youthful, full of vigor and most importantly, create match up problems with their freak like athleticism. Farve loves attention. Farve loves tight ends. If he can put his ego aside and used some of that attention on “Mr. Sex Boat” Visanthe Shiancoe, he could become a monster. There’s going to be nobody left on the field to cover the guy with deep safeties covering Berrian, extra linebackers stuffing the box in an effort to temporarily halt the forward momentum of Adrian Peterson, and a corner getting a seizure watching Percy Havrin zig and zag around the field like an ADD riddled cheetah. Shiancoe will probably find himself open quite a bit and while throwing to receivers that are open may be a new concept to Farve, I mean where’s the fun of that, It could come cheap and with good value. I just like Boss as a consistent option in an offence that has no stand out receivers.
Tier Four: Name Value
13. K. Winslow
14. V. Davis
15. J. Shockey
16. B. Scafie
17. H. Miller
We know the names and only remember the stats of yesteryears. You are going to give up a ton of points at tight end every week if one of these guys is your starter. People like Winslow a lot this year. I don’t. He goes to a worse situation from one where he couldn’t really get it done. The only saving grace is that he is unlikely to contract so many staph inflections in Tampa.
Tier Five: Some interesting names
18. B. Celek
19. A. Fasano
20. J. Finley
Celek and Fasano are two that were somewhat intriguing last year and one assumes that with another year of experience under their respective belts that they will progress forward. Fasano was touchdown reliant last season but could see himself worked more into Miami’s “strategic” or “20 yards max” passing game. Celek had a few large games last year but is going to prove some more consistency to be relied upon in any fantasy league. Finley I included solely because he’s a super pre-season sleeper and I want to have mentioned him just in case he breaks out . If there’s a Donald Lee injury, keep an eye out for this guy.
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