(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Even with the defection of future Hall Of Famer, Tony Gonzalez, to the Atlanta Falcons this off season, the AFC West is still home to plenty of talent at the TE position and at least three starters on fantasy football teams.
1. Antonio Gates
Although Gates was once again slowed by nagging injuries in 2008, he still managed to finish with over 700 yards and eight TDs. And that's because there are very few TEs to have ever played the game who possess the body control and hands that Gates does.
Look for more of the same this year, as Rivers' favorite target always receives the first look on short-to-medium-range passes, and balls in the red zone—800 to 1,000 yards and 10 TDs.
2. Tony Scheffler
It remains to be seen how affected Scheffler will be by the loss of QB Jay Cutler, but one thing which needn't be worried about is the role the TE position will play in Josh McDaniels' offense. The Patriots, where he learned his craft, have always utilized their TEs heavily, and this bodes well for Scheffler.
After finishing the 2008 campaign with 645 yards and three TDs, look for the fourth-year TE to receive even more looks from Orton, and finish with 800 yards and between five and seven TDs.
3. Zach Miller
Stuck in a horrific offensive situation, Miller was a bright spot in 2008 and finished with 56 catches for 778 yards and 1 TD. Over the course of the season, he also developed a nice rapport with former No. 1 overall pick, JaMarcus Russell.
The third-year TE should take another step forward in 2009 and continue improving his game. Look for over 800 yards, and an increase in TDs to five.
4. Brad Cottam
It looks like Cottam will have first dibs for the job left vacant by Tony Gonzalez' departure, and replacing double-digit TDs and over a thousand receiving yards will not be an easy thing to do; truthfully, no one in KC expects it.
In his limited time last season, he caught only seven balls for 63 yards, but no one really knows what he's capable of. With a full season as the starter, it's probably safe to expect between 30-35 catches and two to three TDs.
Draft Tip
Gates is still one of the top fantasy TEs in the game ,but will probably last until round four or five this season because injuries have dropped his perceived value.
Scheffler and Miller are both starting caliber TEs, and will probably go sometime between round's seven and nine, while Cottam is nothing more than a waiver wire pick-up at this point.
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