Legendary San Francisco Forty Niners Coach Bill Walsh once said that the tight end is the most under utilized position in modern football.
The white haired wizard said teams don't attack properly with their tight ends, but instead let them linger in limbo. Not quite a tackle, not an effective receiver, but always almost ready to be worked into the game plan.
So the tight ends suffer in fantasy football land.
The best tight ends form an uncanny bond with their quarterbacks. This takes a bit of time playing together and much off season practise, but when it works well it seems like a harried quarterback and his tight end almost have telepathy.
Tight end telepathy.
Think Troy Aikmen and Jay Novacek. Steve Young and Brent Jones. Dan Fouts and Kellen Winslow. Ken Stabler and Dave Casper. Johnny Unitas and John Mackey.
Seldom do teams run the Ghost to the Post type plays—that beautiful pass and catch between Stabler and Casper—seldom do teams send their tight ends deep.
The best fantasy tight end deep threat is, of course, Antonio Gates.
Opening with Gates is like adding an extra receiver to your team. Even though Gates had a bit of a down year he is a good gamble. Grabbing Gates early is great.
But almost every other owner thinks the same thing.
So the best option, post Gates running deep posts for your team, is to pair your tight end with your quarterback.
Folks like doing this with a key receiver, and that's a great strategy, but doubling down with the tight end and quarterback play strengthens a weak position.
Each scoring pass is a potential double down hit.
The best pair are the Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo and Jason Witten, veteran players on a good team used to each other.
Cleveland Browns Derek Anderson and Kellen Winslow are an up and coming pair. As long as Winslow doesn't revert back to his immature ways and continues to grow as a player and person.
Dallas Clark always seems to snag several key Peyton Manning touchdown passes. The Colts love to throw, and Manning spreads the pig skin around. Any serious legal issues with Marvin Harrison ups the veteran Clark's value.
Big Ben Roethlisberger developed a rapport with Heath Miller as the season progressed last year. Hines Ward is the primary Pittsburgh possession receiver but Miller grabs some short yardage TD's, and the Steelers QB seeks Miller on crucial first down passes.
Alge Crumpler was Michael Vicks security man in Atlanta. Now he travels to Tennessee to see what he can do for the enigmatic Vince Young. Young seems to be having a hard time adjusting to NFL's defenses and he limits the Titan attack. Alge will catch a bunch of short passes, but how much will the Titans be scoring?
Chris Cooley always seems to grab a bunch of balls, but will the change of offense and the development of Jason Campbell hurt his production?
Tony Gonzalez is still a threat but he is aging and on a young team with an unproductive quarterback. Pass on Gonzo and the Chiefs O, but kudos to Gonzo for the recent life save.
3 comments Last one added 12 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jacob Sloan 12 months ago
Interesting strategy and likely a pretty decent way to make use of a lower-end TE. People often overlook the TE position if they don't nail down one of the top WR-like guys. Many can be TD machines if picked up properly in the draft.
I think I'd give Vernon Davis one more try with Mike Martz. Supposedly, his two TE sets could be killer this year for that offense.
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steve borunda 12 months ago
Todd Heap has only been hurt 2 of his 7 Nfl seasons, but has played in each....
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Rob Ohlstrom 12 months ago
I don't recommend this line at all.
You may get a "double down hit" when your TE scores a touchdown, but you also go bust when they lay an egg.
I happened to have Witten and Romo last year, and Romo's worst game of the season cost me my first round playoff game. I only lost by seven points, so if Witten played with someone else an extra 20 yards and a touchdown would've won that game for me.
Also, Romo and Witten would take a third and a fifth round pick to secure. Shouldn't you be thinking more along the lines of Matt Schaub/Owen Daniels or Cutler/Scheffler, a couple tandems that won't compromise the rest of your draft?
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