TE Rankings
2012 Fantasy Tight End Rankings
(Last updated July 17)
Rankings are based on a 12-team league flex format with 1 point awarded per reception
1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
2. Jimmy Graham, Saints
3. Aaron Hernandez, Patriots ↑
4. Jermichael Finley, Packers
5. Antonio Gates, Chargers
6. Jason Witten, Cowboys
7. Vernon Davis, 49ers
8. Jermaine Gresham, Bengals ↑
9. Fred Davis, Redskins ↑
10. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions ↓
11. Jacob Tamme, Broncos
12. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
13. Brent Celek, Eagles
14. Jared Cook, Titans
15. Dustin Keller, Jets
16. Greg Olsen, Panthers ↑
17. Owen Daniels, Texans
18. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
19. Coby Fleener, Colts ↓
20. Ed Dickson, Ravens
21. Tony Moeaki, Chiefs
22. Dwayne Allen, Colts ↑
23. Lance Kendricks, Rams ↑
24. Kellen Winslow, Seahawks ↓
25. Benjamin Watson, Browns
26. Heath Miller, Steelers
27. Dennis Pitta, Ravens
28. Luke Stocker, TE Bucs
29. Kellen Davis, Bears ↑
30. Charles Clay, Dolphins ↑
31. Zach Miller, Seahawks ↑
32. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars ↓
33. Rob Housler, Cardinals ↑
34. Martellus Bennett, Giants ↓
35. Scott Chandler, Bills
36. Dallas Clark, Bucs
37. Joel Dreessen, Broncos ↑
38. Anthony Fasano, Dolphins ↓
39. Brandon Myers, Raiders
40. John Carlson, Vikings
In the Mix
Evan Rodriquez, Bears
Chris Cooley, Redskins
Michael Egnew, Dolphins
Ladarius Green, Chargers
Going Up
Hernandez - The more I think about the tight end position the more I think the best value in terms of grabbing an elite talent is selecting Hernandez in Round 5. I’m not suggesting for a second that Gronk won’t put up big numbers but Bill Belichick is a proactive coach. He knows defenses are going to do whatever they can to try and stop Gronkowski this year and that should open things up even more for Hernandez. The bottom line in my book is the Patriots have two Top 5 fantasy tight ends, so if you don’t want to use a first round pick on Gronk, getting Hernandez four rounds later isn’t a bad consolation prize. I think he’s going to have a monster season in 2012.
Allen - I had Allen ranked as the top tight end in this year’s draft class and I still say he’ll be the best player at that position when it’s all said and done. I love that people are drooling over Fleener. What games did Fleener impress you in? San Jose State? Duke? You realize Stanford played the easiest schedule in the country last year and Fleener had Andrew Luck throwing to him, right? Despite all that Fleener caught a whopping 34 passes. Now, Fleener is in a great situation because he got teamed with Luck once again in Indianapolis but I believe Allen is the more talented player overall. I was watching a couple of Clemson games over and the announcers mentioned something interesting. They said the Clemson coaches moved Allen all over like the Patriots do with Hernandez because he’s so athletic. I’m telling you, this kid is the real deal and people aren’t even sniffing him because Fleener had one huge game against Washington State last year. You watch how many people add Allen to their fantasy team by the end of September.
Clay - Check out a recent article I did for Dynasty League Football to see my thoughts on Clay.
Coming Down
Daniels - This is one of those situations where I believe Daniels will be much more valuable to the Texans than he will be to fantasy owners. I think Daniels is a very good blocker and he’ll put up respectable numbers if he stays healthy but his days of being a starting fantasy tight end are over. He’s more valuable blocking for Arian Foster than he is as a receiver in 2012.
Winslow - Winslow is being drafted in Round 14 on average. My question is, why? That’s like taking a draft pick and throwing it out the window. I would rather take a shot on a Tony Moeaki late in the draft over Winslow. I can’t see any scenario where Winslow is a starting fantasy tight end this season. He’ll help the Seahawks power running game as a blocker but you don’t get any fantasy points for that. Winslow is a player on the decline and he may have Tarvaris Jackson throwing to him. Those aren’t strong selling points.
Lewis -The more I look at this Jacksonville offense the more I want to puke. Hey puke, that’s a funny word. I don’t see one Jaguars player, other than Maurice Jones-Drew, that I want in a re-draft league this year. Maybe Justin Blackmon if he stays off the sauce. I just can’t envision a world where people are starting Lewis as their fantasy tight end this season.
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Solid list but VDavis was so underused in the regular season that I would have issues with taking him at #5.
Liking the potential of a couple of your late guys - Olsen & Cook. No Shockey + improving Cam + no one to really speak of as a #2 WR = potentially big things for Olsen. I remember watching Olsen at Miami during some of their big games and thinking he was the best player on the field. He was coming of a really solid 09-10 season in CHI but then got stuck in a bad spot with Martz and then had to learn a whole new offense during a lock-out shortened season while splitting time with Shockey in his 1st season in CAR. I’m expecting his best season yet.
I like Cook’s potential too with Locker taking over at QB but worry he may be one of those teases that flashes his ability for 2 or 3 big games a year but never fully puts it all together. Worth it though to take a flyer late as your back-up TE or go into an auction spending under $5 total for both Olsen and Cook at TE and using your money elsewhere.
Davis always gets over-drafted and that will likely be the case again this year. This is the highest I’ve ever ranked him and it’s because of the possibility of Moss. I’m partial to Moss because I was in New England in 2007 and I’ve seen first-hand what he brings to an offense. Does he have anything left? I don’t know but if he does I think Davis will benefit a great deal.
I was high on Cook coming out of college but like I’ve written in the Fire Sale before he has been a sleeper for like the past 10 years. Every year, like you said, he has a couple of big games and people are high on him for the upcoming season. To be fair to him he was raw coming out of school so this could be the year where he finally breaks out. If not, it may be time to close the book on him.
I agree about Olsen. After I made my rankings I thought he was too low. I will be moving him up once I update them. The more I think about him the more I like Olsen to have a big year.
Thought you might did this nugget i just found, if you haven’t heard it already
‘Hernandez Forced more missed tackles (23) than any tight end or any receiver last year.’
That’s good stuff. Thanks for sharing. I’ll add that in next time and give you credit for finding it, of course.
Thanks, the real credit it all PFF. I just read and parrot what makes sense to me. He’s starting to appeal to me more. Gets so overlooked with the big Gronk there, but value is prime.