Who is better in a redraft, Sudfield, Ertz, or Kelce (PPR) ?
Unless you think Gronk will miss a ton of time, he shouldn't really be in the conversation with those two.
I kind of disagree with MR a little based on how little we know about what Belichick will do this year. In redraft Ertz has almost no value this year imho, even if he is the best TE that came out, he is on an alleged run first team with a solid TE already in place and they made Casey a FA priority so he will obviously be on the field some. Kelce is in a decent position, but is definitely starting out behind Fasano and maybe even Moeaki. So of the three, even if all are considered #2 TE's, who would you pick first based on the teams they are on and the QB throwing the ball? Personally I would take Sudfield just based on that info, not saying he is better than the other 2, but the team is far superior as is the QB and the team has a really good past history of using two TE's very effectively.
Also against Philly, even though Sudfield didn't have big number I saw him throw a couple really good blocks and he hustled downfield and made a nice block on Blount's long TD run.
I don't think the Pats have a really good history of using two tight ends. Or even of using one tight end (for fantasy purposes). I think the Pats have a good history of using Gronk and Hernandez. Prior to those two, there was a parade of tight ends the Pats had, that disappointed fantasy owners. They used WRs and backs, Branch and Faulk, Woodhead and Troy Brown.
I missed the boat, dynasty-wise, on Gronk/Hernandez because I had doubts about whether BB would ever throw to his TEs.
There are definitely balls to go around in New England this year, so I am not ignoring Sudfeld, especially for Gronk owners, but there's a lot of similar mouths to feed. Young, unproven pass catchers, in Thompkins, Dobson, Boyce. Vets like Vereen and Edelman. Gronk and Amendola. Plus, there are the vets Ballard and Fells there at TE. It is entirely possible all of those players get more targets. Not probably, but possible.
Kelce has an average player to beat out, as does Ertz. And they were both drafted, and drafted high. Fasano, Celek and Casey are all eminently average, thus far. There is talk that Casey can fit into the offense, and that's great, but so far, it's just talk. If Ertz or Kelce are the goods, they both have a much clearer path to fantasy relevance than Sudfeld.
Draft position isn't the final word, but it shouldn't be ignored. The Chiefs and Eagles invested in their guy, the Pats like what they have seen from a UDFA they signed.
Right now, I think Sudfeld is a decent pickup in deeper leagues, maybe a priority for a Gronk owner, and if Gronk comes back, I am not sure Sudfeld is worthy of a roster spot in thinner roster leagues. Kelce and Ertz and both dynasty picks, I am not sure any of the three is fantasy relevant this year.
Dynasty, I would rank them:
Ertz
Kelce
Sudfeld.
