A good way to describe fantasy football’s tight end market the last several years is “Feast or Famine”.
Slowly but surely more names have broken into the league to ease everyone’s concerns at the position. Like quarterbacks, it’s the list of usual suspects at the top of the rankings, but be aware of younger names poised to enter the conversation.
| Rank | Player | Team | Bye |
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | 9 |
| 2 | Travis Kelce | KC | 10 |
| 3 | Jordan Reed | WAS | 5 |
| 4 | Greg Olsen | CAR | 11 |
| 5 | Jimmy Graham | SEA | 6 |
| 6 | Tyler Eifert | CIN | 6 |
| 7 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | 9 |
| 8 | Delanie Walker | TEN | 8 |
| 9 | Martellus Bennett | GB | 8 |
| 10 | Jack Doyle | IND | 11 |
| 11 | Hunter Henry | LAC | 9 |
| 12 | Jason Witten | DAL | 6 |
| 13 | Zach Ertz | PHI | 10 |
| 14 | Eric Ebron | DET | 7 |
| 15 | Coby Fleener | NO | 5 |
There’s no such thing as a steal at tight end between the production you receive and the round you have to select a productive player.
We see you, thinking that this might be the year you spend an early pick on Gronk. The last four years that he’s played at least 11 games, he’s been a top four player at the position. Meanwhile in Kansas City, who does Kelce have to contend with for targets? Might as well sign the high schooler from down the street.
Doyle and Henry are two guys I’m very high on this year. If you miss on the top five, think about waiting around for them.
| 16 | Cameron Brate | TB | 11 |
| 17 | Julius Thomas | MIA | 11 |
| 18 | O.J. Howard | TB | 11 |
| 19 | C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | 7 |
| 20 | Austin Hooper | ATL | 5 |
| 21 | Antonio Gates | LAC | 9 |
| 22 | Jared Cook | OAK | 10 |
| 23 | David Njoku | CLE | 9 |
| 24 | Benjamin Watson | BAL | 10 |
| 25 | Dwayne Allen | NE | 9 |
| 26 | Evan Engram | NYG | 8 |
| 27 | Jesse James | PIT | 9 |
| 28 | Charles Clay | BUF | 6 |
| 29 | Tyler Higbee | LAR | 8 |
| 30 | Zach Miller | CHI | 9 |
The most intriguing battle in the preseason will be Brate vs Howard in Tampa.
The athleticism of the latter can make you drool thinking about what kind of numbers he can put up, but rookie tight ends aren’t exactly a hot bed of fantasy football success. Thomas may see a bump with Cutler in Miami, meanwhile look for the never aging Watson to snag a respectable amount of targets in Baltimore.
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