The offensive position that’s undergone the most evolution in the NFL in the last 25 years is probably the Tight End. Long the man who held the outside block on a run, he might slink off his block and run a hitch route, or every so often be open for a shallow cross.
Back at the turn of the century, Tony Gonzales led all Tight Ends with 849 yards receiving. Our boy Poncho Glover was more about the league average, catching 28 balls for 327 yards.
Last season, Mark Andrews led the way with 1,361 yards on 107 receptions, and 28 Tight Ends put up more yards than Poncho did in ’99, with the average being almost double at 583 yards.
That said, 1,361 is a lot bigger than 583, so getting an elite Tight End might be the difference in your fantasy outcome, but you’re going to have to go early to get one.
Here are 4 Tight Ends that you’ll find in later rounds that could have a season to match the elite, or at least back them up on their bye!
Dr. Dye — Austin Hooper
There’s two things the Tennessee Titans like to do that plays into their old school football mentality. One of them is run the ball with King Henry, and the other is to get the Tight End killed over the middle for some big yards.
From their first days in Nashville, Frank Wycheck was the hero who threw the Music City Miracle. From there, they’ve housed greats like Delanie Walker and drafted more than a few still playing for other teams, like Jared Cook and Jonnu Smith.
Now, with Anthony Firkser leaving to play tandem to Kyle Pitts in Atlanta, the Titans were looking to fill that much beloved hole at Tight End, and they did it with Hooper.
Austin Hooper is coming off two down seasons in Cleveland, but that’s usual for players stuck in the Brownsverse. He now not only joins a Titans team that values the Tight End, but also is in desperate need of another reliable pass catcher having lost Corey Davis and A.J. Brown in subsequent seasons. The Titans have added rookie Treylon Burks and vet Robert Woods, but there’s no guarantee on either of them with one being unproven and the other coming off an ACL injury.
Hooper should be Tannehill’s most reliable target, and in a season that Tannehill will look to prove himself after a disastrous playoff performance and the drafting of his successor (?), that target should get the rock often.
The Kid — Zach Ertz
Things got messy for Ertz in his ugly divorce from Philly, but he has found himself in a position to truly thrive with Kyler Murray. Many only remember the downfall of Ertz in Philly, but taking a deeper dive into his stats will show that he still has an opportunity to be elite in this league.
After a dismal year for Ertz in an Eagles uni, it was evident he wanted out, and we found that to be true when he requested a trade. Oddly enough, he rescinded the request. Unfortunately, it was too late. During the 2020 season, Ertz played 11 games and made 36 receptions for 335 yards and one TD-all career lows. Philly decided that Goedert was their new guy and Ertz was shipped off to Arizona. A new era was beginning for Ertz, who was once considered an elite TE in the NFL, and he had to make the best of it.
2020 was rough for the TE, but 2021 proved to be a bit of a bounce back season. Before the trade happened, Ertz played 6 more games in 2021 for Philly while bringing in 18 receptions for 189 yards and two TDs. After his shift to the west coast, he finished the season by playing the remaining 11 games on the Cardinals’ schedule and made 56 catches for 574 yards and three TDs. In 11 games as a Cardinal, he surpassed his yardage total and tied his touchdown total from his previous 17 games in Philly.
I get you might still be skeptical. If you haven’t done the math yet, his 2021 campaign puts him at a total of 74 receptions for 763 yards and five TDs. In fantasy value that translates to TE5 in points, and TE9 in TDs and receiving yards. Oh, that was all while having the highest contested catch rate at 29.2.
Now imagine. A year under his belt in this offense, and with Hopkins missing six games, the uncertainty of Hollywood Brown’s arrest, and only Rondale Moore likely to step up in D. Hop’s absence, Ertz has a chance to shine and be an elite fantasy TE once more.
Johnny B. — Robert Tonyan
I really feel like I’m sitting on an island when I talk about this guy because everyone completely forgot he existed, which only gets me more fired up to talk about him!
I’m going to make this statement right here and right now. Robert Tonyan WILL be a Top 5 Tight End by the end of the season.
Now let me tell you why.
To begin this story, let me take you back to the beginning of Robert Tonyan. Tonyan began to show off his athleticism with the help of his dual sport background coming out of high school. In fact, Tonyan led his high school to both basketball and football championships as small forward and quarterback. At Indiana State University, he started out as a QB, but after one season, the coaching staff realized that Tonyan was an athletic freak of nature, so they decided to move him to wide receiver. That’s when he began to shine. Within three seasons, he became Top 10 in receiving yards and touchdowns, and he broke the school record for yards after catch.
He originally landed with the Detroit Lions as a undrafted free agent in 2017. Tonyan went through camp and was offered a contract with the practice squad, but on the day he was supposed to sign, the Lions decided to not go through with it and cut him.
Tonyan took this as hard as anyone would, but after a season of self reflection and hard work in the gym, he finally got a call from the Green Bay Packers to join their practice squad. Tonyan, who is now clocking in at 6′ 5″, 240 gets told he will be playing at tight end, another new position to learn.
After seeing his potential, his brief tenure with the practice squad came to an end and he signed with the team. He got six targets and four receptions in 2018, playing behind Jimmy Graham. In 2019, Tonyan saw his targets and receptions increase while playing behind Graham. And as Graham’s star faded, Tonyan’s began to rise.
His first year starting in 2020 was finally the breakout year everyone had been waiting for. With 52 receptions on 59 targets, Tonyan easily became a new favorite target for Rodgers. Tonyan ended the season with 586 yards and tied, yes TIED, Travis Kelce with the most touchdowns at the tight end position. Green Bay found their guy at the Tight End position. Unfortunately Tonyan missed the Pro Bowl, which I feel is one of the main reasons he isn’t being talked about right now.
Entering the 2021 season, the offense scheme of the Packers has changed a little, with more emphasis placed on Aaron Jones running the ball, but Tonyan is still a threat. In Week 7, the Packers let it be known against the Commanders, with Tonyan catching 63 yards and a touchdown on only 4 receptions. It looks like his stride is back. The next week against the Cardinals, he and Rodgers look to keep the good times rolling, as Tonyan starts with 3 receptions for 50 yards, but then tragedy, as he tears his ACL in the fourth quarter, ending his 2021 season.
This injury has made the league and the fans completely forget about Tonyan. It’s like he doesn’t even exist. Well, get ready people because he’s still here and he’s looking better than ever. When Robert Tonyan trots on to that field this fall, he’s going to make everyone remember exactly who he is. I have him making a SECOND breakout season this year because I guess that’s what he needs to do to earn some respect. Watch out members of the Tailgate Kingdom because Robert Tonyan is THE Tight End you want on your fantasy team this season.
Chef Chad — Cole Kmet
The tight end position has become exciting to draft in fantasy over the last five years. Now, I’m certain when you think exciting TE draft choices in the upcoming week, your mind immediately goes to Cole Kmet. After all, the Golden Domer does own two total TDs over his first two years. Yet the rest of the metrics tell a different story.
His targets, catches, and yards doubled from 2020 to 2021, and that’s with Jimmy Graham hanging around. He started his career as a blocking end, even after being ranked the overall #1 TE in his draft class. If there is any concern with Kmet, it’s that the Bears O-line is so bad he may be blocking more than catching. Fields is for real as long as he isn’t headless by Week Six.
It’s hard to pick Kmet with so many questions surrounding the Bears offensive unit. Young QBs do lean on their TEs, and I like his trajectory. The real question is where the break for you is when it comes to evaluating this year’s available TEs. A shallow pool for sure. Or is it?
Load up on WRs and RBs unless you are playing a solid hunch on Waller, Kittle or Pitts and are gonna reach early. Otherwise, TE and QB can wait while you stockpile the guys most likely to get injured, and in the back half of the draft, Kmet is one guy that could shine.
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