The importance of the TE?

[Champion8877]

Exactly how important are Tight Ends in today's fantasy football?

Obviously Gronk and Graham are round 2/3 picks, I mean they out performed nearly every receiver last season. But where do you draft the guys after them? When it comes to guys like Gates, Vernon Davis, Hernandez, Witten, etc. Where do I draft them? are they worth it to take rounds 5/6/7/, or am I better fill out my bench in these rounds and wait until rounds 12/13/14 and just take guys like Tamme, Gonz, Fleener, etc. for my TE?

Just wanted your guys' opinions, TE every year seems to always be my weakest position since I am always hesitant to take one early.

[wwharton]

The answer is somewhere in the middle. You generally have to start at least 2 RBs/WRs which instantly makes them more valuable in a supply and demand sense. That's why, even though QBs are getting more love now, there is still hesitation on taking quality QBs too early. TEs are in the same boat, and without the top end potential of the best QBs. I wouldn't reach for one of the top TEs for this reason. But I wouldn't treat them like kickers either.

I think you have to find a way to fill out your starters at QB, RB and WR before getting a TE unless one really slips in the rankings. Once those spots are filled then I go best available at any position with the only exception being I wouldn't take a back up QB early unless there are serious questions about the starter I picked (i.e. Payton Manning). I think you're fine if that still lands you in the Tamme/Gonzo range. I wouldn't want Fleener as my starter. Maybe on the bench if there's room or an in season pick up after getting a look at him in competition. But there are a ton of other guys too worth grabbing before you need to think about doing that.

[Baughn3]

Quote: Originally Posted by wwharton

The answer is somewhere in the middle. You generally have to start at least 2 RBs/WRs which instantly makes them more valuable in a supply and demand sense. That's why, even though QBs are getting more love now, there is still hesitation on taking quality QBs too early. TEs are in the same boat, and without the top end potential of the best QBs. I wouldn't reach for one of the top TEs for this reason. But I wouldn't treat them like kickers either. I think you have to find a way to fill out your starters at QB, RB and WR before getting a TE unless one really slips in the rankings. Once those spots are filled then I go best available at any position with the only exception being I wouldn't take a back up QB early unless there are serious questions about the starter I picked (i.e. Payton Manning). I think you're fine if that still lands you in the Tamme/Gonzo range. I wouldn't want Fleener as my starter. Maybe on the bench if there's room or an in season pick up after getting a look at him in competition. But there are a ton of other guys too worth grabbing before you need to think about doing that.

I agree completely with this. While TEs are getting more use as receivers currently, I'm not planning to treat any of them other than Gronk/Graham and maybe Aaron Hernandez than I would in any previous year. TEs have always been an afterthought to me as the difference between the top TE and the 15th TE has been pretty minimal, historically speaking. So there is much more incentive to fill out the RB, WR, and QB positions and wait on a middle of the pack TE in the 8th-12th rounds.

[TheMatrix31]

Well, I mean, if these guys are producing like they have been recently (Gronkowski, etc), then it's worth splurging as they end up being WRs for you basically.

[wwharton]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheMatrix31

Well, I mean, if these guys are producing like they have been recently (Gronkowski, etc), then it's worth splurging as they end up being WRs for you basically.

But you're going to draft multiple WRs including a couple for your bench. Drafting multiple TEs is generally wasting a bench spot. So there is a good chance a handful of these guys produce WR numbers, but there's a chance they don't too. Expecting Gronk, Graham and even Hernandez to reproduce last year's numbers is a real shot in the dark. The odds seem in their favor, but if the guy you get takes a dip, you'll be fighting on the waiver wire for an acceptable option to replace someone you expected a ton of production from (high draft pick).

Meanwhile just waiting a few more rounds can still net you Gates, Gonzo, Pettigrew, Witten, Davis, Celek... high potential that won't sting as much if they end up not panning out.

Don't forget that part of the reason guys like Gronk, Graham and Hernandez were considered SO huge last year was because they were sleepers going into the draft last year who exceeded expectation. The guys that were ranked above them didn't really drop down much (outside of Gates' injury). I'd be happy to get a top WR early and end up with one of these guys a few rounds later (or for significant amount less in an auction).

[55]

I saw Gronkowski go in the first round of a draft today. In fact, his average draft position in ESPN drafts is 14.7 right now. Graham's average draft position is 21.5 at the moment as well. Sickening.

[wwharton]

Quote: Originally Posted by 55

I saw Gronkowski go in the first round of a draft today. In fact, his average draft position in ESPN drafts is 14.7 right now. Graham's average draft position is 21.5 at the moment as well. Sickening.

I'd say it's the exact opposite if you're ok with knowing from the jump that neither will be on your team.

[55]

Quote: Originally Posted by wwharton

I'd say it's the exact opposite if you're ok with knowing from the jump that neither will be on your team.

Touche.

The handful of elite QBs are such a jump above the rest and the RB position is SO thin this year that I don't know how you can draft a TE in the second round and still field a top team, especially in deeper leagues.

[TimmeH]

I feel Gronk and Graham are well worth their draft spots in the first three rounds. The problem for me is the talent level at QB and RB drops off so fast that it's hard to justify using a pick in the first three rounds on a tight end.

In my drafts so far, it's depended on what's on the board when my pick comes up. If it's mid-to-late second round and Gronk is floating around, I've had problems resisting. Same with Graham in the late second-to-early-third. When you get to those points of the draft, usually the top QBs are gone, the RBs left have alot of question marks, and I feel there's so much depth at WR that I take the plunge.

If I don't get Gronk or Graham, usually I wait until the 7th-9th rounds to grab a TE based on what's available and if I feel I need added depth at RB/WR. I have Witten, Gates, Vernon & Fred Davis, and Hernandez all pretty much lumped together and if nothing else Fred's usually around in the 9th round. If all else fails, Tamme and to a lesser extent Cook are available after the 10th round and could pose nice sleeper numbers.

My opinion is if you can't justify Graham or Gronk early, just hold off and make sure you're safe at other positions before drafting a TE. There's alot of depth after the "big two" that are all pretty similar.

[Blue]

I feel that every TE, except Jimmy and Rob, is too inconsistent to draft very high, I've been doing a lot of mocks in 12 team setups on ESPN and I usually am able to grab Pettigrew in round 9, after I get my first 2 backups, usually QB n RB, my real draft is 16 teams next Sunday so I'm a little worried to see what TEs will be around round 9 especially since most of the people in my league are first time fantasy players and will likely go right down their roster(QB,RB,RB,WR...)