Preliminary 2011 Re-Draft Ranks: TEs
Jermichael Finley is Silva's top-ranked fantasy tight end.
The 2011 fantasy tight end class is deeper than ever. There are as many as 7-10 locks for legitimate TE1 production, plus a number of breakout candidates such as Jimmy Graham, Jared Cook, and Jermaine Gresham. Tony Moeaki and Rob Housler are promising youngsters. Dustin Keller could make a big leap with free agent Braylon Edwards likely to depart New York.
The Patriots' Gronkowski-Hernandez duo presents a dilemma because their week-to-week value is dependent on game planning. One of them can be silent in a given game while the other dominates as the league's top tight end scorer for that week. At least one is likely to finish as a top-10 tight end, but I just barely left them out because they project to be maddeningly inconsistent and unpredictable. Who's going to be more productive? Your guess is as good as ours.
Ultimately, though, there are five elite tight ends unquestionably at the top. Let's have a look:
The Tight Ends
1. Jermichael Finley - Entering contract year, he is fully recovered from knee surgery.
2. Antonio Gates - Has been a top-four fantasy tight end in seven consecutive seasons.
3. Jason Witten - Last year's top fantasy TE is averaging 92 catches a year since '06.
4. Dallas Clark - Wrist good to go; could push aging Wayne to be Colts' No. 1 receiver.
5. Vernon Davis - QB issues are concern, but he's been at his best with Alex Smith.
6. Owen Daniels - Healthy and poised for bigger role after red-hot finish to 2010 season.
7. Zach Miller OAK - Still only 25 and already one of the best tight ends in the league.
8. Jimmy Graham - If Colston breaks down, could have monster, breakout season.
9. Marcedes Lewis - TD-catch ratio will be tough to repeat, but safely a top-ten option.
10. Chris Cooley - Has ranked in the top-eight TE scorers in five of the last six years.
Left Out (in ABC order) - Kevin Boss, Brent Celek, Jared Cook, Tony Gonzalez, Jermaine Gresham, Rob Gronkowski, Todd Heap, Aaron Hernandez, Dustin Keller, Heath Miller, Tony Moeaki, Greg Olsen, Brandon Pettigrew, Ben Watson, Kellen Winslow.
Comments
I agree with most of this. I don't think you can touch the upside of Finley, and the small sample we've seen had him as the #1 option in that offense before anyone else. Especially in the red zone. That was all I needed to see.
Jimmy Graham I really expect to explode. Same situation as Finley almost, they run a ton of plays specifically for him in the red zone and look to give him the ball there. He'll be money.
Posted by: Chris R. | June 13, 2011 12:36 PM
Great list. I'm glad you put Cooley in there, so many people forget about him. I get him every year in a very late round while everyone else is blowing big time early picks on Gates, Witten, etc.
Posted by: DocJ | June 13, 2011 12:55 PM
I would be a little concerned about Witten and Gates just because of age and injuries. Zach will be a stud this year.
Posted by: Greg | June 13, 2011 1:19 PM
Evan,
What do u feel about the STL TE's? Do u think Hoomanawanui and Kendricks can parallel what Gronk and A.Hernandez did last year? It seems everyone is billing them that way. Do u think McDaniels will really change his TE unfriendly offense? I guess these two could be majorly underrated if thats the case..
Posted by: Scott C | June 13, 2011 1:33 PM
Scott C -
The Rams will try to do things with their tight ends similar to what the Patriots did last year. But the drop-off in talent from New England's TEs to St. Louis' is major. Hernandez was being talked about as a late first-round pick in 2010. He fell to the fourth because of several failed drug tests and a torn back muscle. Gronkowski definitely would've been a first-round pick if not for a wiped-out season at Arizona. These guys are much, much better talents than Hoomanawanui and Kendricks. At No. 47, Kendricks was drafted significantly earlier than most expected. Hoomanawanui flashed as a rookie, but he's got serious durability issues and isn't a great athlete.
I think the idea is similar. The production won't be.
Also, I think it's less about McDaniels scrapping his tight end-unfriendly system and more about McDaniels copying something with which Belichick had success. McDaniels has been trying to emulate Belichick since he first took the job in Denver and it's a "copycat league," so yes I buy it.
Posted by: evan | June 13, 2011 1:44 PM
got it. Thanks
Posted by: Scott C | June 13, 2011 3:37 PM
I don't think you can be put off by the TE duo in NE, Hernandez will move to a more WR type role, infact he could move fulltime. Gronkowski will be an every down TE and probably the safer bet. Hernandez has the look of Vincent Jackson about him.
Posted by: Stephen | June 13, 2011 3:53 PM