Tight end has continued to be a position with a lot of highs and a lot of lows. While some of the elite options are struggling early on (i.e. Antonio Gates & Jason Witten), there have been some big breakouts over the first three weeks (i.e. Dennis Pitta & Martellus Bennett). Let’s take a look on how it all comes together for this week’s rankings:
- Jimmy Graham – New Orleans Saints – at Green Bay
- Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots – at Buffalo
- Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers – at New York Jets
- Tony Gonzalez – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Carolina
- Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers – at Kansas City
- Dennis Pitta – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Cleveland
- Brandon Pettigrew – Detroit Lions – vs. Minnesota
- Jermichael Finley – Green Bay Packers – vs. New Orleans
- Kyle Rudolph – Minnesota Vikings – at Detroit
- Martellus Bennett – New York Giants – at Philadelphia
- Owen Daniels – Houston Texans – vs. Tennessee
- Brent Celek – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. New York Giants
- Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Chicago
- Scott Chandler – Buffalo Bills – vs. New England
- Jared Cook – Tennessee Titans – at Houston
- Jacob Tamme – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
- Brandon Myers – Oakland Raiders – at Denver
- Jermaine Gresham – Cincinnati Bengals – at Jacksonville
- Greg Olsen – Carolina Panthers – at Atlanta
- Fred Davis – Washington Redskins – at Tampa Bay
- Dutin Keller – New York Jets – vs. San Francisco
- Tony Moeaki – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. San Diego
- Anthony Fasano – Miami Dolphins – at Arizona
- Marcedes Lewis – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Cincinnati
- Dallas Clark – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Washington
Thoughts:
- The New York Jets defense has to move forward without Darrelle Revis. While he wouldn’t have been defending Vernon Davis anyways, his loss is going to have an impact every aspect of how the Jets run their defense. As it is, Davis has been a monster this season (13 receptions for 169 yards and 4 TD), and there is every reason to think that he will continue to produce.
- Would anyone have predicted that the three most targeted tight ends through three weeks would be Jimmy Graham (31), Dennis Pitta (30) and Tony Gonzalez (28)? Graham obviously isn’t the surprise and Gonzalez is maybe a mild one, but no one would’ve guessed Pitta. There is no reason to think that he won’t continue to function as an important piece of a high-powered offense, making him a TE1 for the foreseeable future.
- Jermichael Finley just hasn’t been very good this season and, while the Saints’ defense has been poor as well, they have allowed just 3 passing TD on the season. I expect better days to be ahead, but with other tight ends emerging he’s sliding down the rankings until he shows us more.
- While Martellus Bennett has been a major force in the Giants’ offense this season, he has dropped a few passes and will definitely have to battle for touches (especially with the emergence of Ramses Barden in Week 3). Is he a TE1? Absolutely, but until he proves he can continue to produce when all of the Giants’ weapons are healthy, he has to be suppressed a little bit.
- It’s pretty obvious that Jason Witten was affected by his injury a lot more than anyone could’ve imagined. He continues to struggle, though you have to think that he will right the ship before long. Don’t give up hope, but monitor the situation for now.
- Fantasy owners will have to monitor the news on Jared Cook & Dustin Keller to make sure they are playing before depending on them. For now they are going to be included in the rankings, but be prepared to go with another option.
- Brandon Myers continued to be perfect, catching each of the 15 passes he has been targeted on this season. How much longer can this really last? Throw that risk in with the fact that he has yet to find the end zone and Myers becomes more of a mid-to-low level TE2.
- We continue to wait for the Peyton Manning-Jacob Tamme combination to thrive, thanks to their familiarity. Unfortunately, it hasn’t really happened yet as Tamme has just 10 receptions for 87 yards and 1 TD. Until Tamme starts to produce, how can we trust him? The matchup is favorable, however, so consider him a viable plug-in option, just not someone to use on a weekly basis.
- Until Robert Griffin III shows that he is going to go to Fred Davis, it’s impossible to use him. Davis has just 11 receptions for 142 yards and 0 TD on the year, as the Redskins rookie QB looks elsewhere often.
Make sure to check out the rest of our Week 4 rankings:
Looks like I may have guessed wrong last week in picking up Celek over both Pitta and Bennett. Should I drop him outright for Rudolph with Rudolph lining up for 3 straight excellent matchups for TEs?
Ugh! All my RBs are out or dodgy this week – Dwyer and Donald Brown on byes, and then I have Bradshaw, Fred Jackson, CJ Spiller and Mathews. Surely two of the last four will be ready to play this week? But just in case …
I’m last in the waiver order so unlikely to get anyone good anyway, but I’ve put in to drop Dwyer and pick up first Tashard Choice, then Daniel Thomas if I don’t get Choice. However, this above about Pitta has me intrigued. If I don’t need Choice or Thomas at RB, I could try for Pitta, have him as backup for Gronkowski, maybe even play him instead of Hervin at flex this week?
Starting WRs Calvin Johnson and Stevie Johnson (and Hervin and Antonio Brown); QB Eli Manning (Andrew Luck as backup); K Akers. I’m thinking I’ll keep both the Bears and Ravens Ds for now?
Thanks!
Oh! Or I could get Heath Miller (not that he’d be any help this week).
jon – I do like Celek, but Rudolph is looking pretty good right now. Rudolph does figure to play a bigger role in the offense so I probably would.
Triz – For a 3-0 team, we have a lot of issues to deal with, huh? I would expect Mathews to play, so I think you are only dealing with 1 RB spot right now. I would agree with picking up Choice or Thomas, as both should play major rolls this week. If you miss out, I think you can get by with what you have (chances are one of the Buffalo guys play).
As for the TE, I love Pitta and if you could get him, I absolutely would.
And yes, Bears/Ravens are a nice combo to have going forward.
Thanks! Maybe then I will just go ahead and try to get Pitta before Choice or Thomas and cross my fingers about the Buffalo guys (and Bradshaw is now swearing he’ll play, so).
Since I’m happy with Gronkowski I really hadn’t thought about Pitta until reading this article, but since TEs can play in the flex position now …
I got Pitta, yeah! Now if my guys would just stop breaking themselves I will (probably) be very happy!
Oh, I got Pitta, and yikes – just realized he plays Thursday.
Possible RBs: Mathews, Spiller, Jackson, Bradshaw
Possible WRs: Calvin Johnson, Hervin, Stevie Johnson
Possible TEs: Gronkowski, Pitta
DO I want to go with Pitta at flex? I just realized I have to decided by tomorrow night!
Thanks!
I know you already saw the answer…..lol
I love Pitta but I wouldn’t bench one of your WR for him. They still have more upside
SO glad I listened about benching Pitta and playing the Ravens D!
Antonio Gates has been killing me so far…. Should I drop Donald Brown and pick up either Heath Miller, Kyle Rudolph, or Owen Daniels? Obviously, with the intent to start one of these guys over Gates….
Who are your other RB again?
I didn’t see a ranking for WR’s for this upcoming week so I had to post this here. What are your thoughts on Colston this week? Is his foot injury that serious? My other two options are Crabtree and Blackmon. I rolled with Crabtree last week and hes been Frisco’s number one target but im kinda worried bout him going vs the Jets this week. And Blackmon I think is just on the wrong team and looks lost out there. Should I roll with Crabtree again this week or go with the Marques “one foot” Colston? Also Vick vs Giants is still a better option that Locker over the Texans right? Vick killed me last week.
Colston is a concer at this point. I would definitely monitor the news, but if it sounds like he s still a bit banged up I would be fully comfortable with Crabtree this week (especially with Darrelle Recis out)
Who would you grab for the rest of the season to get back on track and perform? Clark, Keller or Tamme?
I would still go Tamme. I don’t trust the Jes at all, though Keller would have to be considered a close second.
For this week, who has more upside, Tamme or Myers? Tamme hasn’t looked great to me but I can’t deny the connection w/Peyton. Myers is getting quality targets and going up against a D that got torched by Miller.
The question with Myers is if he is healthy and going to play or not (did suffer a concussion). That question needs to be answered first.
Looks like he’s listed as questionable but passed his concussion tests and will play…
If he is playing it is a coin flip, but I still like Tamme’s upside a little bit better than Myers’.