Fantasy Football 2012: 4 Sleeper Tight Ends to Start in Week 1

Finding that big play tight end in fantasy football provides a major competitive advantage.

Everyone typically has at least three stud players consisting of some combination between quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. Therefore, having a reliable tight end capable of scoring near double digit points each week is crucial.

Greg Olsen of the Carolina Panthers is a great option; Cam Newton knows how to air it out, and the Cats face a young and inexperienced defense in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In addition, Olsen has been one of the more underrated tight ends throughout his career.

With that, let's break down Olsen and the best sleeper tight ends for Week 1.

Dustin Keller, Jets (vs. Bills)

Dustin Keller is the New York Jets' best offensive player.

Unfortunately, Keller goes drastically overlooked because of Tim Tebow and the Jets offense's miserable failures this preseason.

However, he is Gang Green's best and most reliable target in the passing game, and his size bodes well for run-blocking to give balance. Facing a newfound defense in the Buffalo Bills that possess elite potential, Keller is a good enough athlete to beat their linebackers in single coverage.

Santonio Holmes isn't a dominant No. 1 receiver, but he can at least win sometimes against man coverage. That said, Keller's field awareness will benefit New York's passing game.

Any time Buffalo runs a zone over the middle, he'll find the soft spot and get yards after the catch. The concern is Buffalo's pass rush, as time in the pocket will be limited. Therefore, expect more than a few delayed releases from Keller to help with protection and then get open space on shorter passes.

Keller is also the Jets' best hope for scoring, so he'll need a hefty dosage of targets in the passing game.

Heath Miller, Steelers (at Broncos)

Heath Miller is one of the NFL's best and most complete tight ends.

He's also been the most reliable receiving target for Ben Roethlisberger in numerous clutch situations.

That trend will have to continue against the Denver Broncos, because Jack Del Rio's defense can get impressive quarterback pressure.

The duo of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil is impossible to completely isolate on the outside, so  Miller must be Big Ben's primary target more often than not. The Steelers need to run quick developing plays when throwing the ball, and Miller's all-around skill set will get him open against the Broncos.

As great as Denver is, the linebackers aren't exactly dominant when defending the pass over the middle. Miller can beat any single coverage, and he has the size to out-jump anyone in the secondary as well.

The Broncos can't afford to put double coverage on Miller, as the threat of Mike Wallace outside will press downfield to open up underneath. Regardless of the game's outcome, Miller's contributions are extremely vital to keeping Big Ben from being under constant duress throughout.

Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars (at Vikings)

Believe it or not, Blaine Gabbert will have a respectably solid season in 2012.

As much as he struggled as a rookie in 2011, it's not like Gabbert was surrounded with a supreme amount of receiving talent either.

Tight end Marcedes Lewis was Jacksonville's best target last season, and courtesy of the offseason upgrades, this fall has much promise. Gabbert performed consistently well in the preseason—and Lewis won't have coverages geared toward him, thanks to Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson.

Additionally, the Minnesota Vikings do not have the greatest of pass defenses; despite their own upgrades, they have a lot to prove.

Lewis, contrary to the previous two tight ends, is more of the receiving kind.

In 2010, he caught 58 passes for 700 yards and scored 10 times; prior to that, his opportunities were limited, so we never saw the full potential. That was a breakout season, and Week 1 will pick him back up.

None of the Vikings linebackers can lock him down one-on-one, and the secondary has to focus on Blackmon and Robinson. We also can't forget about the Jags' ground game, which creates play-action to help Lewis get extra space over the middle.

Greg Olsen, Panthers (at Buccaneers)

Greg Olsen has been a consistent performer each season in pro football.

With the Chicago Bears, he averaged 48.5 receptions for 495 yards and four scores between 2007 and 2010.

Joining the Carolina Panthers for 2011, Olsen caught 45 passes for 540 yards and scored five times.

He was a key contributor to the Cats passing game and Cam Newton's development, and we can only anticipate this role expanding for 2012. In Week 1, traveling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is an intriguing matchup.

The Bucs have a young, inexperienced defense with an incredible amount of potential. Tampa also tends to play rather tough at home. Nonetheless, Olsen is a lot faster than it appears at first glance, possesses excellent hands and focus in traffic and has an impressive leap.

With No. 1 receiver Steve Smith only getting older, the 27-year-old tight end must become Newton's primary target. Olsen's size will allow him to create immediate separation on routes and his strength and power gets needed yards after the catch.

By no means is he going to hit the stature of Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham, but Olsen is primed for a big year.

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