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Can we talk TE? (1 Viewer)

joseywales

Footballguy
Witten is clearly in a class by himself at TE. But after him, I think it's really close among a large group. Close enough that ranking them is tough. Ranked in order of who I'd want on my team (PPR league), I'd go with:

Witten - Needs no explanation

Cooley - Second in catches, third in yards per game. If TDs catch up to where they've been the last four years, he could close the gap on Witten a little bit.

Winslow - Assuming he's healthy.

Gates - Good offense, but the hip seems to still be bothering him. Plus, they have better WRs than they've had recently.

Daniels - A lot of people probably haven't noticed, but he's second in yards per game (61.6) and third in catches.

Gonzalez - Tons of targets, but only catching about half of them because of terrible QB play.

Scheffler and Shockey would be next if they were healthy.

Thoughts, opinions, rankings?

 
I have held onto Shockey, largely because there isn't much production from the te position this year.

Others I would add to your list of "startable" tight ends are;

Scheffler

Heath Miller

Vernon Davis

LJ Smith

Dallas Clark

 
Witten is clearly in a class by himself at TE. But after him, I think it's really close among a large group. Close enough that ranking them is tough. Ranked in order of who I'd want on my team (PPR league), I'd go with:

Witten - Needs no explanation

Cooley - Second in catches, third in yards per game. If TDs catch up to where they've been the last four years, he could close the gap on Witten a little bit.

Winslow - Assuming he's healthy.

Gates - Good offense, but the hip seems to still be bothering him. Plus, they have better WRs than they've had recently.

Daniels - A lot of people probably haven't noticed, but he's second in yards per game (61.6) and third in catches.

Gonzalez - Tons of targets, but only catching about half of them because of terrible QB play.

Scheffler and Shockey would be next if they were healthy.

Thoughts, opinions, rankings?
I would be tempted to move Daniels up a notch If/when they call his number over the goal line. With his number of targets, receptions and yards, a few touchdowns here or there would make hima high end TE in rapid fashion, especially in this year of deadly TE play around the league. My main $$$ is SERIOUSLY thinking of abandoning the roster position starting next season, based on so many owners getting gooseggs on the scoresheet through the first six weeks. This is one year where the dropoff from number one is huge, and the dropoff to unuseable comes up pretty quick on the list. Ugh.

 
I would be tempted to move Daniels up a notch If/when they call his number over the goal line. With his number of targets, receptions and yards, a few touchdowns here or there would make him

a high end TE in rapid fashion, especially in this year of deadly TE play around the league. My main $$$ is SERIOUSLY thinking of abandoning the roster position starting next season, based on so many owners getting gooseggs on the scoresheet through the first six weeks. This is one year where the dropoff from number one is huge, and the dropoff to unuseable comes up pretty quick on the list. Ugh.
I agree with that, but until they start targeting him in the red zone it's hard to put him any higher.
 
At one time it was Gonzo then the rest

Then it was a group including Gonzo, Heap, Shockey

Then it was Gates and a bunch

Then it was Witten and Gates, then a bunch

Now it's Witten and a bunch

Witten is gold, it's like walking into the matchup with a 10 point lead.

I agree with your rankings, you aren't getting a lot of feedback because this is the year of the anti-TE. Aside from Witten, there just isn't a big difference in the next 5-8 or so.

 
I think John Carlson may get more love on these lists, especially in the 2nd half of the season. Seattle has few offensive weapons, and they're targeting this kid more and more. What you want (and never get) in TE is consistent production, and maybe Carlson will give you that.

 
Witten is clearly in a class by himself at TE. But after him, I think it's really close among a large group. Close enough that ranking them is tough. Ranked in order of who I'd want on my team (PPR league), I'd go with:

Witten - Needs no explanation

Cooley - Second in catches, third in yards per game. If TDs catch up to where they've been the last four years, he could close the gap on Witten a little bit.

Winslow - Assuming he's healthy.

Gates - Good offense, but the hip seems to still be bothering him. Plus, they have better WRs than they've had recently.

Daniels - A lot of people probably haven't noticed, but he's second in yards per game (61.6) and third in catches.

Gonzalez - Tons of targets, but only catching about half of them because of terrible QB play.

Scheffler and Shockey would be next if they were healthy.

Thoughts, opinions, rankings?
I would be tempted to move Daniels up a notch If/when they call his number over the goal line. With his number of targets, receptions and yards, a few touchdowns here or there would make hima high end TE in rapid fashion, especially in this year of deadly TE play around the league. My main $$$ is SERIOUSLY thinking of abandoning the roster position starting next season, based on so many owners getting gooseggs on the scoresheet through the first six weeks. This is one year where the dropoff from number one is huge, and the dropoff to unuseable comes up pretty quick on the list. Ugh.
Then I don't understand why you would want to support that move? The advantage you should have gained by understanding the importance of the TE position in the draft should be helping you put some distance between yourself and the others in your league.
 
I think John Carlson may get more love on these lists, especially in the 2nd half of the season. Seattle has few offensive weapons, and they're targeting this kid more and more. What you want (and never get) in TE is consistent production, and maybe Carlson will give you that.
I have man love for Daniels (7) in almost every league I couldnt get Witten (2) (Gates-1,Winslow-1. In hindsight I should have spent these picks elsewhere and dropped down for Daniels here too). He is the poster child for consistent ypg/rpg, and like others here have already indicated with red zone looks he would be the most likely to finish 2nd behind Witten for the season.
 
Daniels - A lot of people probably haven't noticed, but he's second in yards per game (61.6) and third in catches.

Thoughts, opinions, rankings?
I would be tempted to move Daniels up a notch If/when they call his number over the goal line. With his number of targets, receptions and yards, a few touchdowns here or there would make him a high end TE in rapid fashion, especially in this year of deadly TE play around the league.
A year ago Daniels was 6th among TEs for yardage (768).It's interesting that whenever his name comes up, the caveat "if only he got more RZ looks/TDs" always follows. Every single time, like you have to rationalize ranking the guy highly.

OK, think about this one:

Kellen Winslow - 9 TDs in 38 career games

Owen Daniels - 8 TDs in 35 career games

 
Witten is clearly in a class by himself at TE. But after him, I think it's really close among a large group. Close enough that ranking them is tough. Ranked in order of who I'd want on my team (PPR league), I'd go with:

Witten - Needs no explanation

Cooley - Second in catches, third in yards per game. If TDs catch up to where they've been the last four years, he could close the gap on Witten a little bit.

Winslow - Assuming he's healthy.

Gates - Good offense, but the hip seems to still be bothering him. Plus, they have better WRs than they've had recently.

Daniels - A lot of people probably haven't noticed, but he's second in yards per game (61.6) and third in catches.

Gonzalez - Tons of targets, but only catching about half of them because of terrible QB play.

Scheffler and Shockey would be next if they were healthy.

Thoughts, opinions, rankings?
I would be tempted to move Daniels up a notch If/when they call his number over the goal line. With his number of targets, receptions and yards, a few touchdowns here or there would make hima high end TE in rapid fashion, especially in this year of deadly TE play around the league. My main $$$ is SERIOUSLY thinking of abandoning the roster position starting next season, based on so many owners getting gooseggs on the scoresheet through the first six weeks. This is one year where the dropoff from number one is huge, and the dropoff to unuseable comes up pretty quick on the list. Ugh.
Then I don't understand why you would want to support that move? The advantage you should have gained by understanding the importance of the TE position in the draft should be helping you put some distance between yourself and the others in your league.
My support would be irrelevant. Keeping a TE position is unpopular right now, but we don't vote for quite awhile, so you never know.
 
Daniels - A lot of people probably haven't noticed, but he's second in yards per game (61.6) and third in catches.

Thoughts, opinions, rankings?
I would be tempted to move Daniels up a notch If/when they call his number over the goal line. With his number of targets, receptions and yards, a few touchdowns here or there would make him a high end TE in rapid fashion, especially in this year of deadly TE play around the league.
A year ago Daniels was 6th among TEs for yardage (768).It's interesting that whenever his name comes up, the caveat "if only he got more RZ looks/TDs" always follows. Every single time, like you have to rationalize ranking the guy highly.

OK, think about this one:

Kellen Winslow - 9 TDs in 38 career games

Owen Daniels - 8 TDs in 35 career games
What exactly is your point? I have Winslow and Daniels -- one in each of the two leagues I'm in. They have one TD, I believe, between the two of them. It's driving me crazy.
 
I think John Carlson may get more love on these lists, especially in the 2nd half of the season. Seattle has few offensive weapons, and they're targeting this kid more and more. What you want (and never get) in TE is consistent production, and maybe Carlson will give you that.
2 weeks ago Carlson got 0 points on 0 targets. I'd hardly call his production consistent at this point.
 
Daniels - A lot of people probably haven't noticed, but he's second in yards per game (61.6) and third in catches.

Thoughts, opinions, rankings?
I would be tempted to move Daniels up a notch If/when they call his number over the goal line. With his number of targets, receptions and yards, a few touchdowns here or there would make him a high end TE in rapid fashion, especially in this year of deadly TE play around the league.
A year ago Daniels was 6th among TEs for yardage (768).It's interesting that whenever his name comes up, the caveat "if only he got more RZ looks/TDs" always follows. Every single time, like you have to rationalize ranking the guy highly.

OK, think about this one:

Kellen Winslow - 9 TDs in 38 career games

Owen Daniels - 8 TDs in 35 career games
The same has been said about Winslow though...that he needed to score more.Did better last year with 5 TDs.

He also leads Daniels by 70 receptions and almost 800 yards.

 
1. Witten2. The rest.
And I received quite a bit of scoffing when I said this in week 2 or 3.I would qualify this as:1.Witten2. TE 2 = TE 83. The rest.
Since Witten is clearly the best of breed, what have Witten owners been offered in trade scenarios? If you needed help at Wr who would be a player you could get for Witten straight up right now? I was offered Boldin straight up before the Jets game.
 
Dallas Clark will move up the list soon enough. Not above the second tier, but he could land somewhere in there now that both he and Peyton are healthy.

 
1. Witten2. The rest.
And I received quite a bit of scoffing when I said this in week 2 or 3.I would qualify this as:1.Witten2. TE 2 = TE 83. The rest.
Since Witten is clearly the best of breed, what have Witten owners been offered in trade scenarios? If you needed help at Wr who would be a player you could get for Witten straight up right now? I was offered Boldin straight up before the Jets game.
Obviously depends on the scoring, but to give you an idea, in a league that is notoriously hard to trade in, is PPR, 6/all TDs, big bonuses for hitting milestones (3 for hitting 100/300, 2 more for hitting 150/400, 3 more for hitting 200/500):I offered his choice of Warner/Rodgers plus his choice of SJax/Slaton plus Winslow (pre-injury) for Witten and a lesser RB (can't recall who I asked for - maybe Ryan Grant or Kevin Smith - but it was his choice of the RB, too). His QBs? Trent Edwards and Chad Pennington. His RBs? Marshawn Lynch, Felix Jones, Kevin Smith, Ryan Grant. His record was 1-3. The trade clearly benefited his team greatly.He not only rejected it - he laughed at me and stated "You must be crazy You aint gettin' Witten" So, maybe this guy prefers to lose the season with Witten rather than win a trade as well as win more games, but I think you will run into folks who consider Witten virtually untradable. (FWIW - I beat him the next week with Winslow on a bye, and he is now at 2-4)ETA: to answer your query, you'd likely have to offer Jennings or higher for Witten straight up. That means a Marshall, Wayne, Fitz, Jennings, SSmith, etc type one on one for Witten.
 
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Honestly, I wouldn't buy high on Witten right now. A couple things to think about...

Romo may or may not play - If he doesn't play it could hurt Wittens value as he is a deep threat type of TE like Gates/Winslow. If he does play he may be a liability by playing injured

Roy Williams WILL get targets - You better believe they brought Roy in to catch balls. Wittens targets will go down because of this and with a better option to run the middle of the field possession routes, Witten may stay back and protect on the line a little more.

I'd sooner target Gates who's been solid (apart from one down week).

Flame away! :thumbup:

 
No - I think that's right. You are better off targeting Gates. Actually, I think a good buy low target right now would be Daniels or Gonzo. I see both TEs improving over the rest of the season.

Also, as a Winslow owner, I would consider ANY reasonable offer right now. If the risk regarding his health doesn't scare you, you can probably buy him very cheap from a worried Winslow owner.

 
Don't overlook Zach Miller of the Raiders.

His last two games were 5-95-1 and 3-46-0 with 8 and 5 targets repectively. For the TE position this year that's not bad.

Head Coach, Tom Cable, and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp say they're going to let Russel throw the ball more so that's good news for Miller.

 
Don't overlook Zach Miller of the Raiders.
7th best TE over the last three weeks = Zach Miller on only 2 games versus 3 for all other TEs ranked 1-8. He's also the 2nd best in PPG after Witten over that stretch. You make a great point.
 
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A healthy Shockey deserves a mention. Sure he's not quite healthy yet, but in that offense he can easily put up top 5 numbers from here on out.

 

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