Each year, at least a couple tight ends inchcloser towardthe top portions of the draft that was once staunchly reserved for only running backs and wide receivers.Last year, Rob Gronkowski was a late first-round draft pick in many leagues. This year, even after another injury-plagued campaign, he projects as a second rounder.Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen are getting some love in the third round of 2017 drafts, too.
Many teams in theNFL havedeveloped their tight ends to not only be blockers, but also dominant pass-catchers and touchdown machines.They’ve become bigger and more athletic with better hands and better footwork.As much as the tight end position has grown, not every fantasy team is able to get Gronkowski or another top tight end.In fact, after the first couple tiers, the tight end position has a major drop-off.
2017FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: Quarterback| Running back| Wide receiver| Tight end| D/ST| Kicker| Top 200
To navigate the different strategies of drafting a tight end, we’ve written about the six different tiers and five different draft strategies that will best suit you and make you aware of what you should be looking for. Will you follow the trend and grab a tight end early, or is it better to wait and find a breakout sleeper? The choice is yours, and we’re here to help.
Where should Rob Gronkowskibe drafted?
To Gronk or not to Gronk? That is the question.
If he’s on your team, it’s almost a sure-fire bet that he’llgive youa stronghold on the tight end position,and you really don’t need to consider ever taking him out the lineup. However, there’s always a catch with him – his health.
Outside of his dominating size and ability, the story of Gronkowski’s career has been his durability.After two years of relative healthiness (15 games each year with a healthy scratch in 2014 and sprained knee in 2015), he ended up injuring his pectoral muscle, hurting hishamstring, getting apulmonary contusion, and finally aback injury in 2016. He started only six games, but he enters the ‘17 seasonwith a clean bill of health.
When he plays a full season, he’s pretty much a lock to be the best tight end and eclipse 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns – often going wellbeyond that. Last year, only two tight ends reached 1,000 yards (Kelce and Olsen) and the TD leaders hadeight touchdowns (Cameron Brate and Hunter Henry).
Gronk’s average draft position is late second round (21st), but it would not be a shock to see him taken closer to the first round if someone in your draft really wants him.It’s not an outrageous pick in the early-to-mid second round since Gronkowski has potential to score first-round level points and elevate you far above the rest of your league at this tough position.
If you believe that Gronk will be able to play a majority of his games this year, then going the Tier-1 route definitely won’t disappoint you.If he becomes injury-plagued again, this route will definitelydisappoint you.
- Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2017 fantasy football cheat sheet
For many teams, the tight end position is a key partof their offense; for some teams, it’s a focal point.That’s the case for ourTier-2 guys, who’s average draft position is around the late-third to late-fourth round. Kelce is probablythe safest bet to produce similar stats to last year when he was the top fantasy TE, and that’s why he’s costing athird-round pick. If he falls to the fourth, he’s worth the gamble.
But after Gronk, therest of the tight ends are really just fighting for second place. Olsen has been consistently “elite” for several years, but even when he was one of two TEs to top 1,000 yards last year, hestill didn’t finish secondat the position. That wasJimmy Graham, who raked in three more touchdowns. Jordan Reed, who’s developed a strong rapport with Kirk Cousins, can also push Kelce for the No. 2spots…if he can stay healthy (four missed games in 2016).
There really isn’t much of a difference between these four guys aside from health concerns for Reed. Last year, the difference came out to less than a point a week between Kelce, Reed, Olsen, and Graham.
- Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs 3. Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins 4. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers 5. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks
2017FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: Quarterback| Running back| Wide receiver| Tight end| D/ST| Kicker| Top 200
2017 Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Waitfor TEs
Barring injuries, the top two tiers feel like a safe bet to stay where they are by the end of the season. The same can’t be said for Tier 3.In all likelihood, these guys have the potential to be really really good or really really bad for you. Obviously, that means there’s risk involved since these players will likely start going off the board around the seventh or eighthround.
Tyler Eifert has shown that he can put up numbers similar to Gronk with 18 touchdowns in the 21 games he’s played the past two years.If healthy, expect big numbers and a jump to the second tier. If bothered by the back injury that required surgery this offseason, you better have a good backup on standby.
In PPR leagues, Kyle Ruduloph’s value skyrockets after leading all TEs in targets last year (132), but throughout his career, he has never really put up the second-tiernumbers he didin 2016. In fact, he was merely a fourth-tier guy the past couple years.Delanie Walker has beenold reliable, and out of all the ones in this group, he might be the most likely to stay hereby the end of the season, but a revamped Titans passing attack makes his role a little more uncertain.Hunter Henry’s numbers were inflated last season thanks toeight touchdowns, but if Antonio Gates steals back his red-zone thunder this year, Henry might fall back. Either that or old man Father Time finally arrives and Henry becomes the breakout TE many people are proclaiming he willbe.
So in this tier, expect the unexpected. You’ll either be riding high off success or riding low in failure. Word to the wise –the longer you can wait to draft these guys, the better. If someone reaches and grabs them before you can, that’s OK. There’s another tier of similar (and much cheaper) TEs that will be available.
- Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals 7. Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans 8. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings 9. Hunter Henry, Los AngelesChargers
SLEEPERS:5 QBs|14 RBs|8TEs|11WRs| 5 D/STs |One from each team
In a 12-team league, some of you will have to dip into this level for your starting tight end, but it’s not all for loss.
In standard leagues (and even PPR), even if all you get out of your tight end is a touchdown, it’s a successful day. So, when you enter this level of the draft,it’s time to grab what’s left, but keep in mind that you’ll be doing some research on other potential TE matchups as the season goes on.
The waiver wire willbe your friend, and it’s best to start looking atmatchups each week. Sleepers will emerge from this group (we predict Eric Ebron, Coby Fleener and Jack Doyle), so you could easilyget good value out of Tier 4if a couple things go your way.
- EricEbron, Detroit Lions 11. ZachErtz, Philadelphia Eagles 12. Martellus Bennett, Green Bay Packers 13. Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14. Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints 15. Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Should you draft a backup TE?
Unless you drafted your “TE1” from Tier 3, don’t waste your resources on a backup tight end. These late-round picks are meant for drafting important depth at RB and WR (maybe even QB), plus starters at D/ST and K.
More than likely, a TE from Tier 5won’t put up huge numbers and be a consistent contributor.In short, you can arguably say that the ceiling is the roof for these guys.
In a league of 12 teams, there are only 12 starting spots for tight ends and most likely only half, maybe even less, will even draft a backup TE.It’s still worth keeping an eye on these guys and picking them up when needed throughout the season. They might belong on your team for a week, maybe two or more, but they’re not really worthdraft pick.
- Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills 17. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Houston Texans 18. Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars 19. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys 20. O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
The Tier-6 guysare even riskier. A sleeper or two might appear (Ben Watson in PPR leagues?), but these guys should be an extension of your bench while on the waiver wire.
- Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers 23. Benjamin Watson, Baltimore Ravens 24. Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons 25. Zach Miller, Chicago Bears 26. Jared Cook, Oakland Raiders 27. Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers 28. Dwayne Allen, New England Patriots 29. Evan Engram, New York Giants 30. Jermaine Gresham, Arizona Cardinals
