Fantasy Football 2015: Tight End Rankings

My fantasy football positional rankings continue with the tight ends. Follow the links for my QB, RB, and WR ranks. As a reminder, these rankings are for standard, non-PPR scoring.

Rob Gronkowski (NE). So far ahead of the other tight ends I don’t feel I need to defend this position. Moving on.

Jimmy Graham (SEA). A departure from the pass heavy offense in New Orleans affects his value, but not enough to drop him from the #2 spot. Jimmy Graham immediately becomes the top red zone target on a team that had the ninth most red zone scoring attempts in the NFL last year.

Greg Olsen (CAR).

Coming off a 1,000 yard and 6 TD season, Olsen should remain in the top five among tight ends due to his talent and a lack of competition for receptions on this team. Other than Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin, who is Cam Newton going to throw to?

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Travis Kelce (KC). Either you’re a believer or you aren’t. Is Kelce ready to break out or not? He pulled in 67 catches on 87 targets last season for nearly 900 yards and 5 TDs. Unfortunately, his ceiling is capped by the fact that Alex Smith is his QB.

Martellus Bennett (CHI).

Racked up over 120 targets last year, but that was in the MarcTrestman offense. New offensive coordinator, AdamGase, did introduce Julius Thomas to the fantasy world so there is hope. The loss of Brandon Marshall may have the greatest impact on Bennett’s value this year as Cutler figures to look to Bennett andAlshon Jeffery more often.

Sep 21, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) catches the ball against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Emmanuel Lamur (59) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Delanie Walker (TEN). Almost 900 yards and 4 touchdowns on a terrible Titan’s offense last year. I think Marcus Mariota is going to be very good right from the start and Walker will benefit.

Jason Witten (DAL). He seems underrated now since he’s been around forever. He’s been a top 10 tight end every season since 2003! I’m expecting he’ll actually improve on the 700 yards and 5 TD’s he got last year based on the loss of DeMarco Murray.

Zach Ertz (PHI). Another player on the hype train last season that failed to deliver. Chip Kelly’s offense spreads the targets around and he’s got Brent Celek to contend with, but there is no denying his physical talent.

Owen Daniels (DEN). Peyton Manning makes fantasy relevant tight ends.

Larry Donnell (NYG). Other than that 3 TD game against Washington in week 4 he was pretty pedestrian last year. He has upside in the Giants rejuvenated offense, but I’m not expecting consistent TE1 production.

Julius Thomas (JAC). This will be a case study in what happens when you go from Peyton Manning to Blake Bortles. I’m guessing it won’t be good things.

Jordan Cameron (MIA). Can he catch passes from the training table?

Antonio Gates (SD).

Suspended the first 4 weeks. 35 years old and coming off a year where he scored a ton more TD’s than he has in any year since 2004 (regression to the mean, anyone?). Worth considering for a waiver wire flier later, but I’m not drafting and stashing him.

Dec 15, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (right) catches a touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Ryan Clark (25) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Eifert (CIN). Eifert missed almost all of last season to injury but became Cincinnati’s top tight end after they let Jermaine Gresham walk this offseason. He’s big, fast, and talented so he has the potential to move into TE1 territory.

Kyle Rudolph (MIN). Another health concern, Rudolph has loads of potential and an ascending QB. However, due to injuries, he was only on the field for 9 games last season and 8 games in 2013.

Coby Fleener (IND). When Dwayne Allen is healthy, Fleener puts up TE2 numbers. When he’s not, Fleener puts up TE1 numbers. Plan accordingly.

Jordan Reed (WAS). If he can stay healthy and if RG III plays anywhere close to where he did his rookie season, Reed has TE1 potential.

Heath Miller (PIT). He’s getting up their in age and is losing targets to Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell so his ceiling is a TE2.

Ladarius Green (SD). Maybe this is the year he breaks out???

Josh Hill (NO). He’ll start in NO after the trade of Jimmy Graham. That in and of itself makes him worth considering for a late flier.

Next up is defense.

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