AtomicDogg97
Footballguy
What is everyone's strategy this year for drafting tight end? It seems like after Gronkowski and Graham there is a huge drop off and it would probably be best to address this position in the late rounds.
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What is your tight end strategy? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter AtomicDogg97
- Start date
AtomicDogg97
Footballguy
So if you are going to wait on a tight end.......who are you targeting in the late rounds?
Fantasysports1
Footballguy
5th/6th
Olsen
Bennett
7th-9th
Cameron
Delanie
Witten
Julius
9th/10th+
Ertz
Eifert
Rudolph
Olsen
Bennett
7th-9th
Cameron
Delanie
Witten
Julius
9th/10th+
Ertz
Eifert
Rudolph
dickey moe
Fingerpicker
Pick Gronk if he slips to the 2nd.
Pick Graham if he slips to the mid-4th or later.
Try to target Olsen or Bennett in the late-5th or later.
Pass on Kelce.
I consider it pretty much a crapshoot after this.
Pick Graham if he slips to the mid-4th or later.
Try to target Olsen or Bennett in the late-5th or later.
Pass on Kelce.
I consider it pretty much a crapshoot after this.
seahawk 17
Footballguy
I don't understand the guys drafting Graham, he is not going to be who you think he is.
Fantasysports1
Footballguy
It is more of a crapshoot when you pick Eifert, Rudolph and maybe Ertz vs. the guys you can get after Bennett. At least with Witten/Delanie you know they are going to have a floor.
i think eifert and ertz are excellent gambles late. kelce is going too high. olsen is going just about right so if you get sniped and dont like your options, olsen is a fine pick in the mid rounds. i think the rest of the guys just carry too much risk for where they are going. certainly a few of them will succeed and be worthwhile but i just cant differentiate.
Frank Black
Footballguy
That depends on what you believe people think he's going to be. I think most people believe he has as much chance as any to be the #2 TE by season end. That's a different than expecting him to produce his usual stats. Who else do you believe has a better chance besides Graham to be the #2 TE by season end?
If he ends up as TE #2 without his usual stats, you've completely pissed away your third round pick on a guy giving you a razor thin advantage over Heath Miller or Jared Cook, who you'll be able to walk up and scrounge out of FA after the draft.
KellysHeroes
Footballguy
Good posting, I'd like to expand on it.Fantasysports1 said:
I never have taken a TE in the 1st but if I had a back end 1st this is the yr I would be most tempted to take Gronk, hes just so far ahead of all the other TEs.
Graham is over-valued in the 3rd, I expect him to get a good amount of TDs but his yardage and Recs will be lower than most think. If he slipped into the early 4th I'd pull the trigger.
I love Olsen but I'm passing on him and Bennett at their current ADP; Olsen will be doubled and Bennett is a fluky to me.
Love to get one of Cameron / Witten / Ertz (hes starting creep up). I was on the Thomas band wagon until he broke his hand, I'll pass. I would grab Walker after those 3 or 4 are gone.
Eifert and Rudolph are 2 guys that could have high ceilings but been derailed by injuries, they make for high end back ups or if your going to roll the dice on them as a TE1 u better grab a back up quick.
Guys I'm looking at late
VDavis - 49ers are going to be in shoot outs and VD will have a load of targets atleast.
Cook - sadly Foles is the best QB hes had
Gates - I actually don't mind the 4 game suspension, he'll be a little fresher late in the season
Miller - just so consistent and undervalued
dickey moe
Fingerpicker
JFS171
Footballguy
This for me. In a snake draft Id be more likely to get Gronk. In auctions I tend to spend my money elsewhere and target Eifert, then back him up with an Ebron or Reed. Reed's a walking injury, but man the Skins need him. Also keeping an eye on Derek Carrier there. Some TE for Washington is probably going to be a pretty decent option.
SpruceGoose
Footballguy
I can never muster up the courage to draft a TE in the first few rounds.
Ill take whatever is left in the late rounds.
The Eifert/Rudolph/Gates/Walker/Davis guys
edit: just did a mock where I took Gronk #8...not bad, I can see it working.
I just wasnt raised to draft a TE in the first round.
Ill take whatever is left in the late rounds.
The Eifert/Rudolph/Gates/Walker/Davis guys
edit: just did a mock where I took Gronk #8...not bad, I can see it working.
I just wasnt raised to draft a TE in the first round.
Last edited by a moderator:
Baloney Sandwich
Footballguy
Earliest I'm looking at a TE is 7th round and most likely 2-3 rounds later. Also planning on taking a flyer on Scott Chandler late as Gronk being healthy all season seems like a crap shoot.
Any thoughts on Kelce? He actually seems to have the 3rd highest ADP. Can he move up into that top tier?
With Witten, I agree.
I actually prefer Delanie to him, but I won't delude myself into thinking he has any kind of knowable floor, what with all the new pieces floating around that offense. Mariota could wind up being a guy who just doesn't bother with the TE.
Still seems reckless to me.
Either he has one of the all-time great TE seasons, or he's a wasted pick. Too much to hang your hope hat on for me.
My later drafts have been almost exclusively Owen Daniels and Scott Chandler.
But hell, TE's so deep you could stream it in a 12 teamer this year.
BoltBacker
Footballguy
I dunno, if Mariota is a guy that only throws to open receivers(like an Alex Smith) I think that bodes well for Walker. Walker does a good job of getting open and finding the soft spot in a defense. His floor is very high but his ceiling is very low because I don't think he's much of a redzone threat. Mariota/Cobb likely bump rushing TD production and TEN has better goal line receivers than Walker.... but that is a tough stat to predict.With Witten, I agree.I actually prefer Delanie to him, but I won't delude myself into thinking he has any kind of knowable floor, what with all the new pieces floating around that offense. Mariota could wind up being a guy who just doesn't bother with the TE.
Personally I think Kelce is a clear cut #2. His physical talent is second only to Gronk. He's now finally fully healthy and Fasano is gone. He plays with a noodle armed QB in a ball control offense.
I have him in the neighborhood of 80 catches, 1000 yards, and 8 TD's.
Average Gronk that stays healthy is scoring 1.5x over any other tight end. If Gronk has a great season once Brady returns I could see him scoring 2x down the stretch.Still seems reckless to me.
Either he has one of the all-time great TE seasons, or he's a wasted pick. Too much to hang your hope hat on for me.
My later drafts have been almost exclusively Owen Daniels and Scott Chandler.
But hell, TE's so deep you could stream it in a 12 teamer this year.
BoltBacker
Footballguy
But Ebron is the only one of those guys going "late" (in the 150's and trending up). None of the three have much of a track record and you are blindly betting on potential with all three. Instead of Ertz/Eifert in the 103-113 range I'll take a WR with a proven, consistent track record(Wright, Floyd-ARZ, Garcon, Colston) or a guy with huge upside(Parker).
I think opposite as without Kelvin there is no one else to cover so Olsen will get doubled and game planned out of the game. Olson is not Gronk and I suspect a regression. I wouldn't touch him until the 10th and by then he is likely gone which is fine by me.
MAC_32
Footballguy
If my round 1 pick is going to fail it's going to be because they got injured and the only way Gronk fails is if he gets injured.I think the depth at the tightend position is misleading too. It's deep because the options are not good rather quickly.Still seems reckless to me.
Either he has one of the all-time great TE seasons, or he's a wasted pick. Too much to hang your hope hat on for me.
My later drafts have been almost exclusively Owen Daniels and Scott Chandler.
But hell, TE's so deep you could stream it in a 12 teamer this year.
BoltBacker
Footballguy
Agreed.If my round 1 pick is going to fail it's going to be because they got injured and the only way Gronk fails is if he gets injured.I think the depth at the tightend position is misleading too. It's deep because the options are not good rather quickly.Still seems reckless to me.
Either he has one of the all-time great TE seasons, or he's a wasted pick. Too much to hang your hope hat on for me.
My later drafts have been almost exclusively Owen Daniels and Scott Chandler.
But hell, TE's so deep you could stream it in a 12 teamer this year.
I think after my top 7 or so the TE position is like playing Russian roulette from 8 to 28. It will be maddening for a lot of people in DFS. Each week the best strategy will probably be bet on the guy in the offense with the highest over/under that hasn't "popped" yet.
Fantasysports1
Footballguy
In GPP maybe but not in cash games.Agreed.If my round 1 pick is going to fail it's going to be because they got injured and the only way Gronk fails is if he gets injured.I think the depth at the tightend position is misleading too. It's deep because the options are not good rather quickly.Still seems reckless to me.
Either he has one of the all-time great TE seasons, or he's a wasted pick. Too much to hang your hope hat on for me.
My later drafts have been almost exclusively Owen Daniels and Scott Chandler.
But hell, TE's so deep you could stream it in a 12 teamer this year.
I think after my top 7 or so the TE position is like playing Russian roulette from 8 to 28. It will be maddening for a lot of people in DFS. Each week the best strategy will probably be bet on the guy in the offense with the highest over/under that hasn't "popped" yet.
carverlee
Footballguy
My overall drafting strategy revolves around the TE spot.
Every season there will be a couple of sleeper TEs that can and will hang within around 100 overall pts of the ones that will be drafted in the high rounds. 100 pts over a 17 wk period equates to 5-6 pts a game. I am certain that with that high round pick, that my opponent no longer has, I can make up that point difference and more.
Last two seasons I have hit on Kelce and Julius in the late rounds, essentially giving me an extra high round pick against the "smart" owners that took the lock TE's early. For that reason I personally see zero value in taking any TE within the first 5-6 rounds.
Every season there will be a couple of sleeper TEs that can and will hang within around 100 overall pts of the ones that will be drafted in the high rounds. 100 pts over a 17 wk period equates to 5-6 pts a game. I am certain that with that high round pick, that my opponent no longer has, I can make up that point difference and more.
Last two seasons I have hit on Kelce and Julius in the late rounds, essentially giving me an extra high round pick against the "smart" owners that took the lock TE's early. For that reason I personally see zero value in taking any TE within the first 5-6 rounds.
dickey moe
Fingerpicker
Donnybrook
Footballguy
BoltBacker
Footballguy
He's definitely in the conversation, but does anyone else worry that Vereen and a healthy Cruz may cut into his production significantly?
Banger
Footballguy
ROYALWITCHEESE
Footballguy
Clay is the forgotten man. I like him at the tail end of the draft. They will feature the TE in that offense. You can get him low key and get just as much production as these mid round guys. Spend those picks on depth.
-jb-
Footballguy
Agree here. I love grabbing Cameron and pairing him with Eifert or Rudolph. All can be great when healthy but good chance one of them won't be. They are all so cheap who cares.
Jack White
Footballguy
Last year Kelce was the #6 TE in my league. The #17 TE was within 2 ppg of Kelce.
THIS is why savvy drafters like to wait a long time on a TE. You can't be strong at every position. TE is a position you can be strategically, relatively weak at and still be successful.
maybe there is something I am missing here, but why no mention of Owen Daniels? Isn't he the starting TE for Denver? And Kubiak's offensive schemes favor the X wr (thomas) and the TE along with the run game.
And Payton manning has a history of turning any TE that he plays with into a star.
And Daniels can be had in the double digit rounds even after guys like eifert (who I also love this year). And his qb is world's better.
I know Daniels is on the wrong side of 30 but he's still a sure handed good TE with a hall of fame qb.
Or am I missing something?
And Payton manning has a history of turning any TE that he plays with into a star.
And Daniels can be had in the double digit rounds even after guys like eifert (who I also love this year). And his qb is world's better.
I know Daniels is on the wrong side of 30 but he's still a sure handed good TE with a hall of fame qb.
Or am I missing something?
HAHAHAH!!! My bad man. I read through the thread quickly. Ok so my thinking is correct? You agree?If nothing else, you're missing those of us who said Daniels.
I'm only arguing his floor. Any TE's floor with a QB who's never played an NFL game isn't all that high and comfortable. There's just no data whatsoever to use to even imagine a worst-possible scenarioI dunno, if Mariota is a guy that only throws to open receivers(like an Alex Smith) I think that bodes well for Walker. Walker does a good job of getting open and finding the soft spot in a defense. His floor is very high but his ceiling is very low because I don't think he's much of a redzone threat. Mariota/Cobb likely bump rushing TD production and TEN has better goal line receivers than Walker.... but that is a tough stat to predict.With Witten, I agree.I actually prefer Delanie to him, but I won't delude myself into thinking he has any kind of knowable floor, what with all the new pieces floating around that offense. Mariota could wind up being a guy who just doesn't bother with the TE.
Well, your thinking is maybe a little overly rosy, but there's not really any instance of Peyton having a good, solid, pass-catching TE at his disposal and failing to use him well. And Kubiak loves the guy. There's plenty of reason for optimism, and no reason not to take a stab, given the price.HAHAHAH!!! My bad man. I read through the thread quickly. Ok so my thinking is correct? You agree?If nothing else, you're missing those of us who said Daniels.
seahawk 17
Footballguy
In all of the mocks I have done he is the 2nd TE taken off the board, I just don't see him finishing top two this season. (I could be wrong) Seattle doesn't throw the ball that much, and yes Graham is a huge red zone threat, but this year is going to be the Lynch show. I think Gronk,Bennett and Olsen have better value.
I aim for Olsen but if he's gone I am fine with Ertz, Witten, and Walker. I don't think their rankings are appropriate, maybe Ertz' is.
I almost always backup my TE with Rudolph. I don't like to draft backup TEs but he shouldn't be so low.
Recently, I watched someone take Rudolph and Gates in rounds 12 and 13 and have copied that in mocks. I don't know if I can predict which guy each week, but this my current hmmm idea in mocks.
I almost always backup my TE with Rudolph. I don't like to draft backup TEs but he shouldn't be so low.
Recently, I watched someone take Rudolph and Gates in rounds 12 and 13 and have copied that in mocks. I don't know if I can predict which guy each week, but this my current hmmm idea in mocks.
Donnybrook
Footballguy
Huge red zone target that teams will be forced to cover with a line backer because of the quality of other targets. Giants are often playing from behind.
