William Del Pilar's Blog: Keeper Leagues and Free Agent TEs

Let’s wrap this keeper league series up with tight ends.

There was a time, not too long ago, when tight ends were at a premium. You had Kansas City Chiefs‘ Tony Gonzalez, Baltimore Ravens‘ Todd Heap and Denver Broncos‘ Shannon Sharpe, or something to that effect. Older players remember there were only a few that you could count on to post wide receiver numbers!

Obviously, the position has increased in quality players over the last two to three years. I believe Antonio Gates—a big, athletic player with great hands—showed the league how important the position can be in creating mismatches. Teams now realize style of player can be a difference maker. I expect this position to continue to grow with regard to fantasy tight ends.

As always a few comments before we get to it:

I believe you should only hold on to top-tier tight ends. Players such as Gates, Gonzalez and Jason Witten fit in that group. In larger leagues, you can add Kellen Winslow and possibly Chris Cooley. I’m sure there are others who would argue this, but these are some of the heavy hitters.

I will trade for a top-tier tight end, as I feel they are worth a better-than-average wideout because receivers are plentiful in a draft. That’s the only position I would give up for the tight end, unless it’s a mid-tier quarterback or running back if I’m deep at those positions.

As with the previous blogs on free agents and keeper leagues, I’m piggybacking off our free agent analysis tables that came out in late February.

Free Agent Tight Ends

L.J. Smith (signed by the Baltimore Ravens): First, this signing is not good news for Todd Heap, as he’s a better blocker than Smith and Smith is a capable receiver. Yes, you see where I’m going with this, as Heap could be on the field more to block than receive now. In fact, Heap has not done much over the last two years, so this could officially mean the end of him as a fantasy tight end. However, Smith is injury prone and an underachiever, but head coach John Harbaugh is familiar with him from their days as Philadelphia Eagles. Smith also is coming cheap, in football terms, at only $1.5 million on a one-year contract. That is, Smith is in a contract year! The team now has two injury-prone players who could eat into each other’s time! Due to that, there’s no reason to keep Smith, as there will be better choices come Draft Day. Feel free to waive him.

Chris Baker (signed by the New England Patriots): Sadly, Baker will have greater fantasy relevance in New England than he did in New York. That stated, it’s not by much, because he’ll have to share time with the injury-prone underachiever Benjamin Watson, and an unproven David Thomas. Baker is only 29 years old and in his prime, but when you consider how the Patriots use their players based on schemes, his value diminishes quickly to a late-round flier pick. Feel free to waive him!

Jeff King (re-signed by Carolina Panthers): King is one of those players many thought could turn into a quality fantasy tight end. He signed a one-year, $1.45 million tender. He can block and has decent hands, but he's on a run-first team that does not go to the tight end enough for fantasy owners. Let’s not forget Dante Rosario, who'll see playing time, and that means they will eat into each other’s numbers. Waive him!

Jerramy Stevens (re-signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Stevens has a new contract with a base salary of $1.265 million in 2009 and $1.425 million in 2010. However, the Buccaneers have a new top “Dawg” in former Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow, who was traded to the team. Let’s be frank: Stevens will be a role player, and in the end, he's never achieved his potential, going back to his days with the Seattle Seahawks. You add Alex Smith into the mix, and you have a crowded position. In his defense, Winslow’s a wideout in a tight end’s body, so I can see Stevens in the classic tight end role, with Winslow moving around the field. Waive Stevens, as there will be better choices come draft day.

There you have it, don’t keep any of them! Later this week, it’s time to talk fantasy baseball with some words of wisdom on KFFL’s internal league. As always, don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter at.