Tight ends are one of the trickiest positions to handle when it comes to the fantasy football world. Some of us like to spend early to solidify the position with the top tier guys but that often leaves us with a hole in other positions. Others like to wait mid to late rounds to find that diamond in the rough. We can argue for hours (and literally I could) what is right or wrong but that argument we can save for another day.
This blog is here to give you an early look at all of the tight ends who should at the least be drafted in your leagues. I will rank them in the order from the top guy at the position and work my way down. Without further ado lets get this shit….poppin.
1) Travis Kelce (KC)
This is the unanimous and obvious choice. Kelce has been one of the most dominant tight ends in the league for the past few years. When Mahomes stepped on the scene 2 years ago it made Kelce emerge as the top option at the position, resulting in being the #1 tight end. Kelce rarely has missed action in his career, missing just 1 game in 6 years. You are going to have to spend the handsome fella but the value will be there.
2) George Kittle (SF)
I drafted Kittle 2 years ago in one of my keeper leagues in the 10th round and I’ve been high-fiving myself ever since. Not only does Kittle have swag but he also backs it up. Kittle has 2 straight seasons of 85+ catches and 1,000+ yards. He is the clear-cut top receiving target for Jimmy G. Now if only Jimmy G was a half way decent QB Kittle could be looking at numbers similar to Kelce. Kittle
is about 4 years younger to Kelce so I wouldn’t be surprised in a few years from now if we are talking about it.
3) Mark Andrews (BAL)
The 24 year old had season to remember last year snagging a league leading 10 touchdowns from his position. Andrews plays in an offense that clearly has a run first approach but looking at the target shares from the tight end position, Baltimore ranked first in the NFL targeting tight ends a whopping 44%. With Hayden Hurst now in Atlanta, Andrews should certainly see his target share hit triple digits and should enjoy another career season. Also he has 2 first names, so theres that.
4) Zach Ertz (PHI)
We spoke above about Baltimore leading the NFL in target share percentage to Tight ends but the Eagles weren’t far behind ranking 2nd. The only difference is the Eagles began to lean on Dallas Goedert as well who enjoyed a solid season. Nonetheless Ertz is a staple in the Eagles offense and finished 5th for tight ends.I would not draft Ertz where he has gone in years past but he should finish once again as a top 5 option.
5) Darren Waller (LV)
Waller had a career resurgence after multiple violations of the substance abuse policy. He was 2nd in receptions and yards just behind the great Travis Kelce. He was the Raiders top receiving threat and will continue to make his presence felt. He had the 3rd highest snap rate at the Tight end position last year compared to all others at the position. He might find less targets due to multiple additions to the receiving corps (Ruggs, Agholor) but despite this Waller should continue to succeed in the fantasy world.
6) Evan Engram (NYG)
Engram is an interesting option because some have him ranked much higher while others have him much much lower. Engrams ceiling is with the top tier guys but his Achilles heel is injuries. The past 2 seasons Engram has missed a combined 13 games. Ouch. Engram plays in an offense that is on the rise but what he benefits is not having a true #1 WR on the field with him to steal more targets. Could be a steal depending on how far he can drop.
7) Tyler Higbee (LAR)
From weeks 13-17 who was the #1 Tight end in fantasy? No you are wrong because you would of never guessed Higbee. We knew all about his dominant stretch but he outscored Travis Kelce in that time by 20+ points in PPR leagues. Is there risk involved in this pick? Absolutely, but that small sample size combined with McVays tight end usage surge is enough to get my nipples stimulated.
8) Austin Hooper (CLE)
Initially I was ready to slaughter Hooper due to his inept new diva QB but after taking a further dive I figured I cant drop him farther then the 8th position. Hooper is a very good pass catcher. In his first 9 games last season, Hooper finished top 10 in 7 of them, which speaks to his consistency. He would of had more to add but he suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss time. This clearly effected his play when on the field. His numbers improved each of the last 4 seasons but that could come to an end as receivers careers begin to unfold when Baker throws them the ball ( I kid but you get the idea).
9) Hunter Henry (LAC)
It hurt me to put Henry this low and I could definitely be slapping myself around for this one but by all means this position does not speak to his talent level. Factor in the Chargers starting QB options (Taylor, Herbert), mixed in with his injury history and then sprinkle on top of that all the mouths to feed (Allen, M. Williams, Ekeler) and this spells out risk to me. He may be drafted as a top 5 tight end but I wont fall into that category.
10) Jared Cook (NO)
Call him what you want but I’m thinking of Ole Reliable as Cook stays put in Nola with the ageless Drew Brees. Ole Reliable gets his name because drum roll please….he is reliable. In his 11 year career Cook has had 7 seasons without missing a game and only missed more then 13 games once. Cook finished 2nd on the Saints in yards last year and had a career high 9 Tds. Regression may be in order this year with the addition in Emmanuel Sanders but he still should be considered a starting tight end in 12 team formats.
11) Rob Gronkowski (TB)
Yea yea yea Gronk is back but do not expect to see Gronk like numbers. A year away from football can do the body well from a healing standpoint but lets not forget the man is injury prone. Gronk also isn’t a young man at the old age of 31. He has star receivers around him which will certainly stunt his target share. While I do see Gronkowski as a red-zone threat for Tom Brady, do not count on a huge season. I will have 0 shares of Gronk as most idiots will overpay for him.
12) Hayden Hurst (ATL)
This may be one of my sleeper picks in deeper drafts or if you use the “wait on a tight end” strategy. The former 2018 first round pick was traded to one of the heaviest passing offenses in the NFL. We have seen in the past Matt Ryan target his Tight ends heavily and Hurst should enjoy success as Ryans #1 TE. With Hooper and Sanu not returning to Hotlanta, Hurst will find plenty of opportunity he needs to seize.
13) Noah Fant (DEN)
I’m on the Fant bandwagon after what I saw in his rookie campaign. Fant is not just another pass catching tight end. He is a man who knows what to do once the ball is in his hands, which speaks to his team leading 388 yards after the catch. While many are concerned due to the offensive game plan Vic Fangio continues to deploy (heavy running), I saw enough of the rookie to feel he will increase in all statistical categories.
14) Mike Gesicki (MIA)
Gesicki is a name being floated around the industry as the next break out player. Funny thing is Gesicki already broke out after finishing 12th in PPR from his position. It took some time to see the potential spoken of by Gesicki but by the final third portion of the season we got a nice glimpse. Which Gesicki can we expect this season? I feel a lot lies on whoever his starting QB may be. There is chance of a big season but also risk to draft him to high.
15) Dallas Goedert (PHI)
The man is the #2 tight end on his team but he certainly balls out like a #1. In just his 2nd season, Goedert finished as the 10th best Tight End in PPR leagues, doing this behind Zac Ertz. This is pretty impressive given the circumstances. In the situation of an Ertz serious injury, Goedert immediately jumps into the top 10 with upside into the top 5.
16) TJ Hockenson (DET)
The Lions 2019 first round picks season started off with a bang, immediately having fantasy owners running to the waiver wire. Unfortunately he never sniffed close to those numbers and his season, as well as the Lions fell apart. His starting QB Matthew Stafford went down to injury, missing his first game since 2010. About a month later Hockenson was lost for the season. With both healthy and ready to roll, Detroit’s 2019 first round pick will look to get the ball rolling and continue to develop chemistry with his veteran QB.
Honorable mentions;
Jonnu Smith, Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle, Ian Thomas, Chris Herndon, Kyle Rudolph