Tight End Thread

[flaccopoe]

I'm curious to know your thoughts on the tight end position this year.  

 

Rob Gronkowski, the most talented tight end the league has seen in a while, has had multiple arm fractures the past couple seasons.  He's had 4 forearm surgeries plus a back surgery, all by the tender age of 24.  I don't mean to jinx his career, but I fear his arm is a ticking time bomb.  His forearm is a lot more fragile than most  and football is a very intensive sport.  

 

Jimmy Graham should continue to be the quintessential spark at the TE position this year.  With his minor wrist surgery behind him and his reunion with Sean Payton, the kitchen should really heat up with delicious plays that will utilize Graham to the max.  He also has the benefit of lining up with one of the most consistent O-lines in the lague.

 

Vernon Davis should be an interesting case to watch this season.  Alex Smith's former golden boy  struggled to click with upstart QB Kaepernick.  Things improved in the playoffs, however.  They now have an entire offseason to practice together.  It helps Davis; cause that the # receiver, Crabtree, tore his Achilles'.

 

Tony Gonzalez should continue to be one of the more consistent TEs.  He should slow down at least a little bit though, as he enters his 17th and likely final season.

 

Jason Witten should likewise remain an anchor of stability in one of the most balanced receiving corps in the league.  It won't help that he plays on one of the most volatile teams in the NFL, though.

 

After the Big 4, there's a big drop-off in talent and consistency.  Greg Olsen is a very talented TE, but gets underutilized in a very unusual offense.  Gates, along with the rest of the Chargers' offense, slowed down last season and doesn't look to improve much this season.  Gresham and Finley should continue to have some decent looks and goal-line TD receptions.

 

Are there any rookie TE prospects you're excited about?  I'm fond of Vance McDonald, personally.

[SecretAgentMan]

Zach Ertz, if he gets some good QB play  is going to be  a  good TE. Eifert is also really good

[flaccopoe]

Zach Ertz, if he gets some good QB play  is going to be  a  good TE. Eifert is also really good

 

I don't think Eifert will be getting much play as the 2nd fiddle to Gresham.  Ertz will undoubtedly start in the chaotic vortex that is PHI's offense.

[SecretAgentMan]

I don't think Eifert will be getting much play as the 2nd fiddle to Gresham.  Ertz will undoubtedly start in the chaotic vortex that is PHI's offense.

Oh Eifert will. He has the look of a STUD.

 

I hate that the Bengals drafted him

[flaccopoe]

Oh Eifert will. He has the look of a STUD.

 

I hate that the Bengals drafted him

 

Why, because of the Pitta injury?

[SecretAgentMan]

Why, because of the Pitta injury?

Eifert, Brown and Elam were the guys I wanted in the first round.

 

Eifert would've given Flacco another STUD weapon to have in the red zone.

 

Pitta's injury makes it sting, but Eifert looks like a stud,

[hawkprey]

Kyle Rudolph will be among this group. He might need a better QB but he's up there.

[flaccopoe]

Kyle Rudolph will be among this group. He might need a better QB but he's up there.

 

He's talented for sure, but Ponder really holds him back.  There was a 3-week stretch where he had a total of 16 receiving yd.  How do you think Bennett will do in CHI?

[hawkprey]

He's talented for sure, but Ponder really holds him back.  There was a 3-week stretch where he had a total of 16 receiving yd.  How do you think Bennett will do in CHI?

Probably well, but I don't know what to expect of Trestman's offense. 

[flaccopoe]

Probably well, but I don't know what to expect of Trestman's offense. 

 

How about BRandon Myers in NYG?  He was undoubtedly the breakout TE of the year last season, on an atrocious team.

[hawkprey]

How about BRandon Myers in NYG?  He was undoubtedly the breakout TE of the year last season, on an atrocious team.

I really don't know about him. I don't think Eli targets his TE's enough though. Not with Cruz and Nicks.

[Gordo52]

I've been the biggest supporter of Gronk over Graham over the last few years, but I'm not feeling it this year. Too many injuries/surgeries for Gronk.

I would list them like this...
Graham
Gronk
Davis
Witten
Gonzalez
Rudolph
Miller
Pitta (even with a broken hip ;) ) lol
Myers
Cook Jr
Walker
Allen

Being a RG3 fantasy owner, I'm extremely excited to see what Fred Davis & Jordan Reed do next year. Has the potential to be great in a few years in the style of offense I expect them to run. (Less option, more throws in the middle).

[flaccopoe]

I've been the biggest supporter of Gronk over Graham over the last few years, but I'm not feeling it this year. Too many injuries/surgeries for Gronk.

I would list them like this...
Graham
Gronk
Davis
Witten
Gonzalez
Rudolph
Miller
Pitta (even with a broken hip ;) ) lol
Myers
Cook Jr
Walker
Allen

Being a RG3 fantasy owner, I'm extremely excited to see what Fred Davis & Jordan Reed do next year. Has the potential to be great in a few years in the style of offense I expect them to run. (Less option, more throws in the middle).

 

Miller's ranked too high, simply because of his PUP status.  You sure are confident in Davis under Kaepernick.

[Gordo52]

Miller's ranked too high, simply because of his PUP status. You sure are confident in Davis under Kaepernick.

You listed him 3 too, didn't you? Skillset wise he might be #1. I have Pitta high too even though he's out for the year, that's just how I see them all when fully heathy. Even though it pains me to put Graham infront of Gronk because I've had Gronk in fantasy since he was a rookie haha

[flaccopoe]

You listed him 3 too, didn't you? Skillset wise he might be #1. I have Pitta high too even though he's out for the year, that's just how I see them all when fully heathy. Even though it pains me to put Graham infront of Gronk because I've had Gronk in fantasy since he was a rookie haha

 

See the title post.

[easternshore97]

I don't think Eifert will be getting much play as the 2nd fiddle to Gresham.  Ertz will undoubtedly start in the chaotic vortex that is PHI's offense.

Oh man. How 'bout Gresham will be playing 2nd fiddle to Eiffert. Gresham came off the board before Gronk and Hernandez and Pitta and Dickson but has played similar to a UDFA.

 

I think Cincy goes in a different direction if they were getting first round play out of Gresham these last 3 yrs

[flaccopoe]

Oh man. How 'bout Gresham will be playing 2nd fiddle to Eiffert. Gresham came off the board before Gronk and Hernandez and Pitta and Dickson but has played similar to a UDFA.

 

I think Cincy goes in a different direction if they were getting first round play out of Gresham these last 3 yrs

 

You may be right.  CIN sure is stacked in the passing game.

[RavensAllTheWay]

I'm liking Myers with NYG because Eli has a knack for elevating receivers, and Myers could be a good security blanket underneath anyway.  

 

I'm not a fan of Bennett.  I'm not really a Cutler guy, and he doesn't have a knack for elevating receivers, plus while Bennett has always had the upside in the big frame and athleticism, for whatever reason he just hasn't put it together to be a consistent producer.  He had a real chance to do so last year with the Giants and Eli, but it just didn't happen.  I don't see that changing in an unfriendly offense like the Bears.

 

Does anyone else feel like Eifert will take the number 1 spot away from Gresham really soon?

[flaccopoe]

I'm liking Myers with NYG because Eli has a knack for elevating receivers, and Myers could be a good security blanket underneath anyway.  

 

I'm not a fan of Bennett.  I'm not really a Cutler guy, and he doesn't have a knack for elevating receivers, plus while Bennett has always had the upside in the big frame and athleticism, for whatever reason he just hasn't put it together to be a consistent producer.  He had a real chance to do so last year with the Giants and Eli, but it just didn't happen.  I don't see that changing in an unfriendly offense like the Bears.

 

Does anyone else feel like Eifert will take the number 1 spot away from Gresham really soon?

 

We'll have to wait and see.  Either way, the chunk of the receptions will go to Green, Hawkins and Sanu.

[SeaHawk]

I don't think Eifert will be getting much play as the 2nd fiddle to Gresham.  Ertz will undoubtedly start in the chaotic vortex that is PHI's offense.

 

I don't know about this one man. Two TE sets are becoming much, much more common in the league. I believe we'll see the Bengals offense look much like the Patriots offense looked when they had a healthy Gronk and Hernandez. Dalton doesn't have arm strength to chuck it downfield, but he does have solid smarts and accuracy, which would be highlighted in this type of offense. Also, with Green on the outside, there should be pretty good spacing underneath and in the middle for Eifert to operate in.