2018 Bloggin Hood Fantasy Football Preview – TE Position, Tiers, and Rankings

The 2018 Bloggin Hood Positional Previews is our second series of the NFL preseason and sets itself up like a Summer Blockbuster. It features overpaid celebrities, gaping logic holes and little to no satisfactory conclusions. If you expected more than a fluff piece that rehashes on the team previews, you’ve clearly come to the wrong blog.

After reviewing all 32 rosters, and yes, we are counting the Bills as a roster, this merges all the opinions and research into 4 compact lists of players, tiered off from where I see a moderate to severe talent and opportunity gap. Ultimately, this series will end with a complete set of ranks, based on the top 200 or so players. Defenses and kickers are excluded from this exercise. I can barely review and judge a running back… Do you really want me to predict defensive rankings based in interior lineman play? So no, we’ll be sticking with the positions featured in fantasy football, thank you very much.

Yuck. I mean, do we really have to talk about tight ends? Nobody really likes them. In fact, the only tight ends people are into…

You know what, let me not make that joke. You can piece it together from there. You have google if you need help.

Actually, I take back my initial question – of course you love tight ends. I know this because every year, millions of fantasy players mismanage the position like millienals mismanage their credit. I think most players have gotten down the idea of waiting on a QB, and knowing where the value is. There’s been real progress (almost too much progress there), but there’s no evolution on our thinking of the position. Instead, people press on, drafting mediocre, borderline unplayable options at the position just because of their eligibility. And they aren’t doing this is the 13th round. Oh no. They draft these lugs in the 6th. I don’t know why I’m complaining. It gives me a semi free pick at a RB. But alas, if I’m going to be a preview, I’m going to do it right, so I suppose I’ll have to lecture you all on how to draft the TE position.

Just know this write up is going to be less free flowing and more telling you what not to do. It’s like growing up in the Catholic School system. Now save some room for Jesus and let’s go.

The main issue with Tight Ends is their involvement in the passing game. Not every tight end is running routes every time on the field. Some of the best TEs are called in for blocking and don’t have an opportunity to score points on those plays. Now, the ones we care about in fantasy are basically WRs that couldn’t block a wall from getting to the QB. In fact, one of the things I recommend looking for is a TE that spends time in the slot. You don’t really want a TE, despite every inkling in your body telling you that you do, you want a WR who happened to be listed as a TE. God bless score book errors.

The next issue with TE is their targets. There are a few players that can stretch the field. Those are the 3-4 good ones. After that, every other tight end is a hulking brute. This makes sense – if you’re going to block, you need some meat on your bones. Foot speed is rarely a hallmark of the TE position. Most of their targets are short, safe passes that play decently in PPR leagues, but not really anywhere else. The Elite TEs are threats for 900-1,100 yards, but your average fantasy starter is more likely finishing in the 600 range. And that’s the average starter. Again, why are we burning earlish picks here?

My final, biggest issue is the red zone. Most Tight Ends pick up their value by scoring TDs. Since TDs are the highest scoring plays in fantasy, we should value this right? I mean, those slow behemoths can at least box out at the goal line, right?

This is true and false at the same time. Yes, many tight ends are valuable goal line assets in real life, but few cross the pylons more than 6 times a season. When you factor in the low yardage totals, there’s not a lot to love here. Let’s say, in your best case scenario, your TE scores. Great right? Well, not really if he’s not a focal point in the passing game. A touchdown itself is worth 6 points. Then you sprinkle in stats for the yards and catch (depending on your league). If you are using a red zone only weapon, aka the majority of tight ends, that might be all you get. Why in the world are we using prime draft capital on players who could score 8 points on a good week, or about 1.2 on a bad one? Why?

Here’s the dirty truth about tight ends – after the first 6 or so, they are all the same, with various levels of upside. The way to play the position is to go for one early, wait for a value, or grab someone between the 8th-18th option at the end of your draft. Don’t worry, they’re all the same player.

This year, there’s actually 3 good options I ranked in the first three rounds. Shocking, I know. Joining Gronk’s annual exception status is Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce. The reason you can draft these players is they’re the focal points of their teams’ passing attacks. I know, a novel concept. Even if these players don’t score TDs, they are useful, though Gronkowski is a TD magnet. Ertz should lead his team in targets and Kelce can stretch the defense. You shouldn’t have qualms about taking those guys.

For your middle round te targets, seek the best value. Never, ever reach on a TE. Let your league do so for you and load up elsewhere. Usually a good TE will fall. Nobody will want Delanie Walker, who’s also the focal point of the Titans passing attack. He won’t be elite, but he doesn’t provide regular 1 and 2 point games. If somebody drops, snag them and move on. If not, go into your late round option.

When you wait on TE, you’ll find a less cluttered roster and depth you could hardly imagine. It’s beautiful really. At this point shoot for the moon and draft whoever you believe has the potential to burst out. Go with a TE with a young QB. Hell, shoot darts at your draft sheet. Honestly, they’re all the same. Sure, I do like guys more than others, but I’m not doing backflips for Eric Ebron. Nor am I singing the praises of OJ Howard. I know my team will have the advantage at most spots and if I lose the TE battle, it’s not the end of the world.

Whatever you do, do not draft a Backup TE. If you thought I hated backup QBs, you’ve seen nothing. Two TEs is like begging your commissioner to have one less roster spot than the rest of the league. It’s such a waste of resources. Sure, chase that 7 point week with 2 roster spots. Dream big!

So remember, chase usage, not TDs and you might not hate the position as much as I do.

Nah, just kidding. You will. The position sucks.

The good TE tier

Rob Gronkowski

Zach Ertz

Travis Kelce

 

I didn’t quite realize that Gronkowski was so dominant last year until I started this preview. I don’t need to talk about his greatness, but the question, as always, is where to draft him. I think this year it’s the back of the 2nd half. I’ll be honest, I don’t really want him. He contemplated retirement last season and has a bad back. It’s not assuring. I can’t pass up on the late 2nd value, but I’ll squint making the pick.

Ertz seems locked in at about 110 targets, 800+ yards, and, well, I have no idea on the TDs. He was never a red zone threat till last year. I don’t know if it repeats, but I’m fine with the yards. If he has a big TD year, look out.

Kelce worries me a tad because of the acquisition of Sammy Watkins. Is he going to see decreases usage? Maybe a bit but I think he’s still the team’s target of choice. He’s not a big TD threat but the yards and catches are second to none at the position.

Used in the 20s tier.

Evan Engram

Greg Olson

Delanie Walker

 

Engram enjoyed a great rookie season, but he’s really a WR who happens to play TE. That’s great for fantasy. I don’t foresee a full repeat of 2017 due to the return of the Giants weapons. But he should still be useful. You know, for a TE.

Olsen should return to the focus of the Panthers offense, but he’s also aging and recovering from a foot injury. I don’t think there’s any guarantee here, but he looked like his old self in the playoffs. I think he’s got one more good year in him.

Nobody wants Walker, who I can admit is also aging, but seems like such a safe choice. He’s still a focal point of the offense and he’s a mortal lock for 800 yards. Even if Corey Davis emerges, there’s enough targets and a (hopefully) face paced offense. That should also lead to an uptick of TDs.

Only at the Red zone tier

Kyle Rudolph

Jimmy Graham

 

Rudolph is not a big play guy but he is a giant and Kirk Cousins loves throwing to a TE. Don’t expect big plays, but he should move the chains occasionally and lead a good offense in TDs.

Graham cannot run and I want no part in him but he does get Aaron Rodgers. He could score 10 TDs, but it might be on 300 yards. I really don’t know what to think about this but please, don’t draft Graham like you’re getting the Saints version. He’s just the premium TD dependent option at the position and nothing more until he catches a real seam route.

 

The upside tier

Trey Burton

George Kittle

Eric Ebron

 

Burton has been hyped beyond believe this offseason, and it sounds like he’s secretly playing slot receiver. This is great news. With a young QB and an imaginative offense, Burton is a legit TE to target in drafts. Just not till like the 8th-9th round.

Kittle should be good with Garropolo, especially when he came from the pats system. The 49ers have decent, but not amazing WR so Kittle should be available for cheap and has a good chance at reaping some value.

Am I crazy about Ebron? He was a former top 10 pick who never put it together going to a system that heavily targets the TE. I feel like I’m missing something here. Is Jack Doyle stopping me from getting a value? I doubt it. I think Ebron is legit useful this season.

 

They Get Used. We Swear Tier.

Charles Clay

Jared Cook

David Njoku

Jordan Reed

 

Clay might be the most consistent receiver on the team not named McCoy. With the QB options available, he should be targeted regularly. He could be a value that nobody is excited about.

Everybody hates Jared Cook, and with good reason, but he does ends up with decent yard totals and the Raiders might only have 1 real receiver. I don’t like it, but there’s a narrative here.

Njoku has competition all over the field for targets, but the pedigree is there and he was decent as a rookie. He’s a pure upside play, but he shouldn’t cost anything.

If you want to bank on a healthy season from Reed, go for it and reap the benefits. But I can’t possible recommend a player who can’t stay on the field beyond a late round flier.

 

Timeshare tier

OJ Howard

Tyler Eifert

Jack Doyle

Cameron Brate

 

Howard is my preferred TE target, but I struggle to justify the pick with Cameron Brate on the roster. If you play in some league with Team TE for some Godless reason, here’s a value selection. Otherwise stay clear.

Eifert is similar to Reed, except he doesn’t get work outside of the red zone. When healthy, he’s a TD monster, but otherwise he hasn’t contributed much. I don’t mind the gamble but know he hasn’t really played in several years.

There’s an argument for Doyle being the main TE. In fact, most experts think that Doyle is the choice. But I mean Doyle isn’t good. Talent should win out but the Colts have made plenty of worse decisions.

Brate is the second best TE on his team, but he’s still pretty good. Without Howard, he’d be a top ten option for sure. As he stands, he’s an emergency option and no more.

 

Late round flier tier

Ricky Seals-Jones

Mike Gesicki

Austin Hooper

Vance McDonald

Virgil Green

 

Seals Jones is a true athlete and the type of TE I like – built like a former basketball player. There’s not a lot of competition for targets so I can see it but he’s a popular sleeper. People who draft in the Blogging Hood manner will be targeting him.

Gesicki is a rookie so I don’t really buy the hype. I won’t pretend there’s a ton of competition here, but it’s not the worst group of weapons. Expect a lot of learning and not a lot of production from Gesicki this year.

Last year, Hooper was a big sleeper, but now with the addition of Calvin Ridley, that’s all but gone. He’s like the 6th option on the team.

Remember the dominant playoff performance from Vance McDonald? If you buy in on that, don’t consider taking a TE until the 3rd to last round. I consider it more of a blip on the radar, but he’s a decent flier if you avoided the position.

Green is holding the position warm for Antonio Gates. If Gates decides he doesn’t want to come back, Green may get sparing use, like he’s enjoyed his whole career. The Chargers use the TE so there’s hope, but it’s fleeting.

Much like this awful, awful position. Thank god it’s over