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TE T.J. Hockenson, MIN (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
Chicago Hooligan
Footballguy
He seems legit and if the Packers take him I'd be pleased... but that's mostly based on all the hype I've read. Like O.J. Howard is a nice player too but hard to argue he should have been a Top 10 pick.
Faust
MVP
T.J. Hockenson could finish as a top-10 fantasy TE
I currently have only David Njoku on my dynasty roster and I have the 1.09 and 1.11 rookie picks. Hockenson and/or Fant could be potential targets for those picks.
I currently have only David Njoku on my dynasty roster and I have the 1.09 and 1.11 rookie picks. Hockenson and/or Fant could be potential targets for those picks.
You’d better hope that quite a few WRs and RBs get drafted into plus situations today, then. As of this moment, I think both Fant and Hock are gone by 1.08 in just about every draft.
Raptors409
Footballguy
I like T.J. Hockenson. Unfortunately, you probably like him a lot more than I do. I've been seeing drafts where he's going ahead of Kyler Murray, which is absolutely insane. I mean, besides stacking up RZ touchdowns there isn't exactly a precedent of Matthew Stafford lighting up passes to his TE. I mean, Eric Ebron leaves Detroit and puts up a career year in Indianapolis.
Early 2nd round, I'd be all over this guy. It just doesn't seem like rookie TEs have a knack of stepping in and producing right away. It's all very confusing. On paper, Austin Hooper should be a stud in Atlanta. Medicore at best. Delanie Walker is a nobody in San Francisco and then becomes a stud in Tennessee.
I'm no good with TEs. I'd honestly rather take Murray or Haskins over this guy, knowing that they're at least going to have relevant fantasy production and could be flipped for a quick gain if need be. Rookie TEs has trouble blocking, show glimpses, and sit on your roster for years while guys drafted around them produce from Day 1.
Early 2nd round, I'd be all over this guy. It just doesn't seem like rookie TEs have a knack of stepping in and producing right away. It's all very confusing. On paper, Austin Hooper should be a stud in Atlanta. Medicore at best. Delanie Walker is a nobody in San Francisco and then becomes a stud in Tennessee.
I'm no good with TEs. I'd honestly rather take Murray or Haskins over this guy, knowing that they're at least going to have relevant fantasy production and could be flipped for a quick gain if need be. Rookie TEs has trouble blocking, show glimpses, and sit on your roster for years while guys drafted around them produce from Day 1.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Biggest issue is that rookie TEs rarely ever so much more than 400/4 so it could be a bit before he’s really a difference maker. It wasn’t until Kelce’s 4th year that he really registered for fantasy when he finished 8th in TE scoring. It also took Ertz 4 years before he had a low end TE1 season as. It was Ebron’s 5th year where he finally had a breakout season. Eiffert was unplayable for his first 2 years. Olsen took 7 years.
Ofcourse every once in awhile you get a Kittle or Gronk or Engram who quickly return value but that’s rare. Investing in a rookie TE seems silly to me.
Ofcourse every once in awhile you get a Kittle or Gronk or Engram who quickly return value but that’s rare. Investing in a rookie TE seems silly to me.
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
Just took Hockenstein at 1.04 in a TE premium league.
With his lack of any real weakness as a TE, he’s going to be on the field in every situation. He’s a complete mismatch for ILBs and Ss in the middle of the field - he’s too fast for the ILBs and too big to manage for the Ss. His hands are sure things. DET’s line isn’t awesome but it is capable, so he won’t be in max protect regularly. IMO this guy is the surest FF asset in this year’s draft, and since we can start 2 TEs in our flex, I can run him alongside Kittle.
That also keeps him off someone else’s roster and his VBD value ought to be high in mandatory TE leagues.
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With his lack of any real weakness as a TE, he’s going to be on the field in every situation. He’s a complete mismatch for ILBs and Ss in the middle of the field - he’s too fast for the ILBs and too big to manage for the Ss. His hands are sure things. DET’s line isn’t awesome but it is capable, so he won’t be in max protect regularly. IMO this guy is the surest FF asset in this year’s draft, and since we can start 2 TEs in our flex, I can run him alongside Kittle.
That also keeps him off someone else’s roster and his VBD value ought to be high in mandatory TE leagues.
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Interseptopus
Footballguy
Interseptopus
Footballguy
I share this opinion. However, you have to draft a TE at some point... If you wait until you need one then you're waiting 3 years.
I do think there are a lot of really good talents that can be had in late round 2 or 3 that will turn out pretty good.
Hock and Fant seem to be very very talented TEs, but there are great TEs behind them that donf cost a premium.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Obviously lots of it depends on league size and roster size but I prefer to draft TEs later than Hock or Fant will go or trade for veterans, guys who haven’t quite hit and have frustrated the person that drafted them.
Rodrigo Duterte
Footballguy
What are the chances, if any, that Fant ends up better? 10%? 30%??
Snorkelson
Footballguy
What’s that offense going to look like? Sanders may start on pup, so you aren’t wrong but it’s the same as a lot of other spots- run based attack, lower pass attempts. Will he be the full time te in a run based scheme? Do they have the RBs for a run based scheme? They may want a better blocker, and he’d lose some 1-2 down targets perhaps. Or he could be lead the team in targets as Flacco looks to check down. Hard to say what that offense will look like imo.
That said, lots of people look at Hockensons situation and staffords history of tes, and don’t like what they see. So you might put it at 50-50 which one turns out better for fantasy. I will mention that when Patricia took over he mentioned that te is really important for what he wants to do (then they cut ebron, but perhaps thought they had a gronk deal in place.)
ffmail4me
Footballguy
I agree Snorkleson, and I do think the Lions were heavily favoring Hock because of his blocking skills, as it sounds like they want to be a run based team (which you can't blame them for the shift, Stafford has proven throwing 50 times a game doesn't = wins for that team) So that is one of the reasons I think Fant could very well outproduce him in fantasy. But who the heck knows right now.
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
Where would you draft Kelce right now, or Ebron or Kittle? With Hockenstein you’ve got a very reasonable expectation of that kind of production. Yeah, he’s a great blocker on multiple levels but his receiving skills are as good as his blocking skills. He can line up in-line, in the backfield, in the slot, or out wide. Hockenstein never comes off the field because of situation, which means he has opportunity no matter where on the field DET is, or what the down and distance is.
I’m probably going to regret saying this because of the likely blowback, but Hockenstein can be every bit as good as Gronkowski was. He has all the skills, talent, and mentality. It sure might not happen, but all the pieces are there for it to happen.
I’m probably going to regret saying this because of the likely blowback, but Hockenstein can be every bit as good as Gronkowski was. He has all the skills, talent, and mentality. It sure might not happen, but all the pieces are there for it to happen.
Snorkelson
Footballguy
I think he will be fine as long as things trend positively. It’s only May, so he has time.
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
Fant was the top TE going into last year. By the end of the year? Not so much. Why? Because Hockenstein had displaced him in almost every aspect of the game. Because Hockenstein had dedicated himself and made himself that much better.
So why do you think that changes this year or in coming years?
voiceofunreason
Footballguy
Snorkelson
Footballguy
I agree with you but I think saying there’s a 20-60% chance fant is better isn’t some bold take. There’s probably a 20% chance one of the other tight ends in this class outperforms both. As far as nfl performance there are a lot of factors that come into play- qb, other receiving talent, oline talent/health, their own health, depth chart, blocking ability, etc.
Two guys drafted near each other, both very skilled. Neither team has a recent history of utilizing the te, both have middling veteran qbs, seems like a 50-50 proposition to me.
Interseptopus
Footballguy
Makes some room for me on this train
Situation mainly. Most people had OJ Howard as a “better TE” than Evan Engram, but Engram outproduced him year one due to having a more fantasy-friendly role on his team than Howard had.
It’s rare we get to see two prospects go literally head-to-head on the same team, so I am comfortable with saying Hockenson passed Fant this year for the “best TE” title. And NFL execs would seem to agree with that, based on draft position.
I’ve also seen some reasonable arguments that Detroit won’t use Hock in a way that maximizes his fantasy potential, while Flacco could turn Fant into Denver’s version of Todd Heap. That would be the basis for drating Fant over Hock even if Hock is th better TE.
I’m still weighing the choice myself.
skinfanjon
Footballguy
Flacco is not going to be the QB for long. Whether its Lock or someone else, Denver has proven they aren't satisfied at the position.
Fant may have a slightly better rookie year but Hock is the better bet if you're looking for longevity. Which given the fact patience is required at the position, should be the case.
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
Well, you guys may be right. But I find it difficult to imagine any team picking a TE that high in the draft with no intention of making that guy an integral part of the offense, especially a team that shows proclivity of modeling itself after NE recently. And most especially when one considers how good Hockenstein is at all facets of his game. That even goes to a team that shows a tendency to stepping on its own #### as a habit.
skinfanjon
Footballguy
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
I concur under normal circumstances. Where I differ here - and very well could be wrong - is that HockenSTEIN
is a different breed of cat. I believe he’s going to hit the ground running. Not that he’ll be career optimal, he’s still got a lot to learn. But rather that he’s far enough along the curve and that he’s got enough game and mentality that he’s got a jump start over what is considered normal.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I really hope so.I concur under normal circumstances. Where I differ here - and very well could be wrong - is that HockenSTEIN
Foosball God
Foos
Bronco Billy
Footballguy
Interseptopus
Footballguy
he showed that blocking sleds who's boss.What a joke. I own him and am excited for him, but man oh man getting excited over blocking a sled...
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