DO'S AND DONT'S: TIGHT END

Khaled Zaher - NextPlay Sports

​The tight end position is much different than it was in your father’s NFL. It has involved from a block first position to a primary pass catching position. Every team is looking for that elite pass catching TE to incorporate into their offense, which creates so many mismatches for linebackers and defensive backs. Having this type of player at the TE spot on your fantasy football roster is valuable.

​In this article I am going to give you pointers to follow when looking at drafting a tight end during your fantasy draft. Just like we did with QB, RB, and WR I am going to focus on a couple strategies to follow when drafting and a couple specific players to attempt to select or not select during your upcoming fantasy football draft.   

Do Draft Gronk at end of 1st round

• Rob Gronkowski is at the top of the 1st TE tier by himself. Sense entering the league in 2010 Gronk has been in the top 5 of tight ends fantasy points 5 of 6 years, the number one tight end 4 times and is a safe bet for at least 10 TDs. Even with Tom Brady’s 4 game suspension and the potential of Martellus Bennett in the two tight end sets, he is an easy end of first round pick. He is a stud and you need players on your team that have the potential to put up 20 plus in any given week and Gronk is one of only a handful of players you can expect that from.

Don’t Overvalue TE in Fantasy

• Going to sound like a contradiction but having a solid tight end in fantasy is great but it is not a must to have on a good team. Gronk would have been the 7th in points per game at the wide receiver position last year. That’s why I would take 5-6 WRs and 4 RBs before I selected him in a fantasy draft. Average winning TEs on teams last year scored 7.5 points per game which was lowest for any positions started on a fantasy roster. Having a good TE is more of a luxury than a must have for fantasy football success.  

Do Draft Jordan Reed in 3rd round of PPR leagues

• Jordan Reed was a monster down the stretch last year. He averaged 7 or more targets with Kirk Cousins and had 23 red zone targets. He has always been a better PPR TE then Standard TE but last year he was arguably the best TE down the stretch in both scoring systems. He averaged 17.4 points per game in PPR leagues to lead ALL TEs in points per game. His TD rate was the biggest reason for his success last year in fantasy scoring 11 TDs and he will still be the best red zone option for Washington this year. Taking Reed two rounds after Gronk is the type of value you are looking for at the TE position in fantasy. 

Don’t Draft Jimmy Graham

• A patellar tendon injury is one of the worst injury for a football players. Victor Cruz has yet to be able to get back from the injury that happen 6 games into the 2014 season. Jimmy Graham had the injury 11 games into last season and is still rehabbing back from it. He was just deactivated off the PUP list this week but I wouldn’t be surprised if he began the season still unable to get on the field. Besides the patellar tendon injury Jimmy Graham wasn’t very good in the Seahawks offense last year. He averaged 6.6 fantasy points per game in standard leagues and only had 2 TDs. The Seahawks like to run the read option and throw to Doug Baldwin in the slot when they enter the red zone which isn’t great for Graham’s fantasy outlook. All these are reasons to take a different TE instead of Jimmy Graham this year in your drafts. 

Do look for TD Production

• When I start a TE I am looking for a touchdown and that’s about it. The average points for a winning TE last year was 7.5 points, which is one touchdown and 15 yards in a standard leagues. Touchdown rate is more important for the TE positon than any other position in fantasy football. They are usually the biggest target on teams, which helps greatly in the red zone. Four of the top 6 TEs at the end of the season where in the top 14 of receiving TDs last year. When drafting the TE position try to focus on TD production instead of yard production because it will be hard to find. 

Don’t Get Caught Up in the Run on TE's

• Avoiding the run at any position is a good idea but especially for the TE position is key. After the top 6 TEs at the position are taken off the board I don’t think there is much of a difference in the tier of 7th- through 20th at the position. At some point probably after the 5th round, people start to see they need a starting TE and there will be a run on the position which you much resist the urge to reach for one of the mid round tight ends and select more RBs and WRs or a starting QB.

​Do look for Value when Drafting TEs
The fantasy tight end position is the deepest it has been in a while because of the depth at the position the later you can wait for starting TE the better the rest of your roster will be. When I enter a draft I am looking for good value for my starting TE. Colby Fleener in the 7th round, Antonio Gates in the 10th round and Martellus Bennett in the 12th round all are great values and could have successful fantasy football production for your fantasy teams this year. 

Don’t Draft a Backup TE

• There is no need to draft a backup tight end. You can always find bye week or injury replacements. Finding a replacement level TE or upgrade at the position on the waiver wire is one of the easier things to find in fantasy football. Last year you could have picked up a Jordan Reed, Gary Barnidge or Tyler Eifert on your waiver wire during the season. You should maximize your roster spots with RBs and WRs and not draft a backup TE because you can find valuable players at the position on the waiver wire.