Despite missing most of or all of seven games last season, Patriots Aaron Hernandez still ranked sixth among tight ends in targets with 106. Photo Credit: MultiMediaImpre
The 2013 Fantasy Tight End Rankings are full of questions and potential and possible disappointment. You have incredible amounts of talent near the top, mixed with plenty of pitfalls and opportunities for busts.
NFL offenses have become more prolific in the air than ever before, with 16 different quarterbacks throwing 500 or more pass attempts in 2011, to an NFL record 18 quarterbacks throwing over 500 passes.
And while the wide receivers position felt a small bump in production, tight ends are actually the ones that have really taken off in recent years.
Obviously, much of this is due to the success of the Patriots’ two-tight end offense, with Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.
One year previous, in 2011, the tight end position saw Gronkowski score a record-high 241 Fantasy points in his breakout season. Jimmy Graham finished that year with the second-highest Fantasy season by a tight end, with 197 points.
The crazy 2011 outbreak in Fantasy tight ends caused both Graham and Gronk to become early round picks, with some even taking Gronkowski in the first round. Some are even doing the same now, in spite of Gronk’s multiple injuries, including a forearm he broke twice last season, requiring four surgeries, and then back surgery in June. Looking atMyFantasyLeague.com’s ADP history, there hasn’t even been ONE tight end regularly taken in the first two rounds over the past 12 years, and now two are being considered.
There are just too many good tight ends this season to waste an early pick that could be a top 15 RB or a top five WR. In the wide receiver rankings, I discussed how the passing game explosion is actually benefitting tight ends more than wide receivers. And since you only need ONE tight end in your starting lineup, there’s no reason to reach early for one of the BEST ones – just get a very good one.
Did you know that in the 2000s, there was an average of 5.2 tight ends to score 100 or more Fantasy points each season, which was nearly double the average of 2.7 tight ends that scored 100 points in seasons in the ‘90s.
In 2011, 11 different tight ends scored at least 100 Fantasy points, compared to the eight TEs that scored 100 in 2010.
In 2012, in spite of all the injuries mentioned, 11 tight ends scored 100 or more points once again.
It’s important to remember, however, that there are several other very good tight ends.
Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez exploded for his best season in five years, and after flirting with retirement, he chose to return to Atlanta’s prolific offense. For those thinking of gambling on Gronk in the second or third rounds, understand that Gonzo has started in every game since 2006. As a matter of fact – he has missed just two games in his entire 17-year career. He is quality and quantity.
Heath Miller had a career year with the Steelers before suffering a torn ACL injury in the second-to-last game of the season. He has the makings of an excellent midseason pickup.
Cowboys TE Jason Witten caught a career-high 110 passes in 2012 to lead the position, although he still only caught three touchdowns. Like Gonzalez, he’s an Iron Man, playing in 159 of 160 career games in his 11-year career.
Even the Patriots’ second tight end, Aaron Hernandez, is a solid starter in Fantasy. (Another first in Fantasy — having two tight ends in the top five in scoring in 2011. He was dealing with his own injury issues in 2012,missing several games with an ankle injury. In spite of his injury issues, he’ll serve you well as a top-five consolation prize when you pass on Graham and Gronk – and you can get him a couple rounds later.
And there are even more promising tight ends coming up in the ranks. There are several very good young tight ends that have potential to be in the top 10 by season’s end. Guys like Coby Fleener and/or his Colts teammate Dwayne Allen, along with new Giants TE Brandon Myers, and rookie TE Tyler Eifert, who will be playing alongside Jermaine Gresham.
These 2013 Fantasy Football rankings are for standard non-PPR leagues, scoring four points for a touchdown pass, starting 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K and 1 DST. These rankings are powered by the fine folks at FantasyPros.com.
The 2013 Fantasy Tight End rankings are going to be adjusted throughout the summer, training camps and preseason, so check back frequently.
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