Last up on our Fantasy Football Preview (That is correct, we are not doing Defenses and Kickers) will be Tight ends! Tight ends may not be the focal points of Fantasy team, but some of the top guys can be significant contributors and can help build a team for a title. As always, we use standard scoring and will include projections with our rankings!
1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (111 receptions, 1454 yards 9 TDs)
- No surprise here, Kelce finished 2nd in total receiving yards for All NFL players. He has also proven to be Mahomes Favorite target. He’s shown he is a reliable and healthy and has thrived in the pass happy Andy Reid offense. I would expect much of the same as Travis has shown no sign of slowing down.
2. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders (107 receptions, 1279 yards 7 TDs)
- This may be the first surprise on the list, but if you dive into the numbers, it shouldn’t surprise anyone. Waller over Kittle makes sense when you look at his target share (Kittle was 7.7/game, vs Waller at 8.4 over the last two years). The cupboard is extremely bare in Las Vegas where Waller will be the clear cut #1 option, ahead of Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards, and Hunter Renfrow. Derek Carr is still a capable passer when needed as well. I expect Waller to continue throwing up wild numbers, as Vegas continually plays from behind.
3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (102 receptions, 1314 yards 5 TDs)
- Spoiler alert, this should come as no surprise that the Niners all around Tight End is next up. Kittle, while not as clear cut as Waller, comes into 2021 as San Fran’s #1 pass catcher. Kittle only played in 8 games last year due to injury but should post top 5 TE numbers if healthy. He continues to be a YAC machine when healthy (finished 3rd in 2019), and in the Shanahan offense I do not see him slowing down anytime soon. The former Iowa Hawkeye returns to prominence in 2021.
4. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (71 receptions, 906 yards 10 TDs)
- The former Oklahoma Sooner makes his mark as a top fantasy tight end, coming in at number four. He has been a mainstay on the Raven offense since drafted in 20__. He is also proven to be a favorite target of Lamar Jackson, with his skillset able to attack the seams of the opposing defense. Ravens have added some weapons in Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman, but Andrews’ rapport and ability to attack the middle should keep his targets high and value in the offense trending upward.
5. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers (57 receptions, 652 yards 11 TDs)
- As with all Green Bay Packers, this ranking is highly contingent on Rodgers returning in 2021. Either way, we see a bit of a drop at this point where the second tier starts. Tonyan only dropped 7 of his targets this past season, while also posting the highest number of TDs for a Tight end (10). With a better grasp on the offense, and his role within it, I expect an upward trend and a top 5 fantasy season for Big Bob.
6. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (62 receptions, 814 yards 7 TDs)
- I understand that Pitts is a rookie, and everyone is sick of the “generational” talent conversation. However, after looking at the former Gator’s college numbers and Arthur Smith’s tight end room in Tennessee, I believe our projection is a conservative estimate. The departure of Julio Jones definitely raises his stock, and his ability to play throughout the formation (split, in-line, slot) raises his ceiling as well. He is much more athletically gifted (42” vertical, 4.42 40yd dash) than any other option behind Calvin Ridley and Arthur Smith will be able to help him use his physical gifts (6’6, 83” wingspan!) against smaller defenders.
7. Adam Trautman, New Orleans (59 receptions, 677 yards 9 TDs)
- This pick is a big-time projection, but one that I think can come to fruition. Jared Cook has been a security blanket with Josh Hill stealing some targets as well in the past. Originally tabbed a third round, developmental prospect, the departures in his position group have open the door to a Golden Opportunity. With Drew Brees leaving town, his new QB will presumably be able to push the ball further down the seams, and the field in general. In addition, Emmanuel Sanders is out of town opening up additional 3rd down, mid field, and redzone targets.
8. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (5; receptions, 597 yards 10 TDs)
- Henry has been a consistent target for the chargers the last few years but switching gears and signing with the Patriots makes this another big-time projection. He and the other big-time addition of Jonnu Smith, undoubtedly will have large roles in the passing game reminiscent of the Gronk/Hernandez days. When taking a look at the offense in 2014 (The final year of the previous tandem) Henry would look to fill more of the Gronk role, albeit at a lesser clip. Even at smaller target share, Henry is looking at a top ten Tight End season.
9. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (64 receptions, 707 yards 8 TDs)
- It has been widely broadcast that Zach Ertz has played his last game as an Eagle. That creates quite the opportunity for the former Jack Rabbit. Goedert has always been second fiddle, but when thrust into the spotlight he has excelled. In Ertz absence last year, he averaged 5.75 targets/game, in which one game he only had 1. If you remove the outlier, that puts him closer to 7/game. Those are solid numbers and combining that with production seen in Indy last year (Coach Sirianni’s former team), Goedert could be in line for a top 10 fantasy year.
10. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (75 receptions, 841 yards 5 TDs)
- The departure of Gerald Everett makes Higbee a very intriguing fantasy tight end. He still remains firmly behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp in the pecking order, and possibly still behind Van Jefferson and newly acquired Tutu Atwell. Yet his stature will always make him a redzone threat (6’6 255lbs). I am betting on the upside of Higbee supplanting any of the latter mentioned receivers and establishing himself as Stafford’s 3rd option. Which in the McVay offense has serious potential.
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