Fantasy Football Rankings 2015: Early Breakdown of the Top TEs

We've sacked quarterbacks, tackled running backs and covered wide receivers in our early look at top fantasy football options. Now it's time to round it out with tight ends.

Let's take a look at the top 10 tight ends in the fantasy realm as we careen toward the preseason. These are based on standard fantasy scoring—one point per 10 receiving yards and six touchdowns—and reasonable expectations for production in 2015.

10. Josh Hill, New Orleans Saints

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Just because you take Jimmy Graham's place doesn't mean you will automatically be a top fantasy tight end. Being a big, primary target for quarterback Drew Brees, however, does give you a good chance.

That is the case here for Josh Hill, who steps in for the departed Graham in New Orleans. Hill showed some serious upside in limited duty last season, scoring five touchdowns on just 20 targets for the year.

Of course, part of the reason why he had such a ridiculous touchdown rate was the fact opposing defenses weren't really keying on him—Graham tended to draw some attention. If Hill winds up being the primary receiving threat at tight end—Ben Watson could be a thorn in Hill's side, after all—he should hit the top 10 in fantasy scoring for 2015.

9. Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts

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It's been an injury-marred couple of seasons for Dwayne Allen.

The big tight end has missed 18 games over the past two years—15 games back in 2013—which has prevented him from really getting much going in the fantasy realm. He still managed to rank 14th in fantasy scoring last season, however, while ranking ninth in points per game.

So why trust him as a top-10 option? Simply put, he is a huge touchdown threat when he is on the field, and that makes him a strong candidate to land there at the end of the year.

Injuries might be a concern, but they are also unpredictable. Just because Allen has been unlucky with hip and ankle injuries doesn't mean he won't have a healthy year.

8. Jordan Cameron, Miami Dolphins

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If Jordan Cameron can stay healthy, he can be one of the best tight ends in the league. But that is the rub—Cameron has had some scary concussion issues that have threatened his career.

So far, so good in Miami, per ESPN.com's James Walker.

“Mentally and physically, I feel like I’m there,” Cameron said. “That’s the goal, to be the best I can be physically. Right now I feel great.”

When he has been on the field, Cameron has made some huge plays. Take, for instance, the 81-yard touchdown he scored last season with Brian Hoyer at quarterback.

And that is the real rub—Cameron is getting a bona fide quarterback for the first time in his career. Ryan Tannehill may not be Aaron Rodgers, but he is a drastic improvement over whatever the Cleveland Browns have thrown out there over the past decade or so.

7. Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars

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The swift cannot flee nor the strong escape. In the south by the St. Johns River, tight ends stumble and fall.

Julius Thomas moved southeast from Denver this offseason, cashing in with a massive contract from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unfortunately for his fantasy stock, he left the comfortable confines of a Peyton Manning-led offense for one quarterbacked by Blake Bortles.

That is not to say Thomas will automatically be a disaster next season, but it's a simple reality that his situation is worse. Not only is Bortles a far cry from Manning, but that offense overall won't likely be nearly as good as Denver's—Jacksonville ran 79 fewer plays last season, almost five fewer per game.

Of course, a big reason why the Jaguars ponied up was to upgrade that offense.

6. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

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The offense in Philadelphia might have seen a ton of turnover this offseason, but there were a few holdovers. One of those was Zach Ertz.

The third-year tight end saw a big increase in role last season, garnering 32 more targets than in his rookie season. He caught 58 of those for 702 yards, but he didn't have a particularly good fantasy season due to a dearth of scores.

Touchdowns can be fickle, however—sometimes you just have bad luck. It's likely his touchdown count regresses to the mean while he garners even more targets in 2015. He could even wind up with the second-most targets on the team depending on whether rookie Nelson Agholor picks up the offense quickly.

5. Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears

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He might not be happy in his current situation, per Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune, but Martellus Bennett has little choice—he must suit up for the Chicago Bears, barring an unexpected trade.

That's a good thing for his fantasy value, even if offensive-minded Marc Trestman is no longer the head coach.

Bennett has seen his target count skyrocket over the past three seasons. He has averaged 111 targets a year since joining the Bears in 2013, and Brandon Marshall's departure might get him even more looks. 

Oh, and Bennett is a pretty good tight end. He should have another nice fantasy season if he is healthy.

4. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

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Travis Kelce's rookie season was rather tantalizing for a guy who didn't see the field a ton.

The big tight end played on just 688 offensive snaps for the Kansas City Chiefs despite being healthy all year long, losing playing time to pedestrian starter Anthony Fasano. He still wound up with the 10th-best fantasy score at the position.

Fasano isn't around any more to muck things up for Baby Gronk—Kelce has a clear path to starter snaps, and he has the upside to have a huge season.

Were it not for Kansas City's relatively modest offense, Kelce might have been ranked even higher. As it stands, he probably has the most upside at his position outside Rob Gronkowski.

3. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks

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A move to the Pacific Northwest might not be the best thing for Jimmy Graham's fantasy value.

It's not as if the Seattle Seahawks have a terrible offense. But it'll be a steep decline in opportunities to score fantasy points if last year was any indication.

That's because the Seahawks passed the ball the second-fewest times in the league last season, as opposed to New Orleans putting it up the most. Seattle's offense is predicated on the run, and late leads—as the Seahawks are wont to hold—tend to mean less passing.

All that to say, it's not as if Graham has dropped out of the top 10 here or anything. He is still a top fantasy option despite the likely drop in opportunities to score fantasy points.

2. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

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Though he doesn't have the upside that Gronkowski possesses—and who really does—Greg Olsen has been one of the steadiest performers in fantasy football over the past few years.

The talented Panthers tight end has garnered over 100 targets in each of the past three seasons, a span during which he has finished in the top 10 in fantasy scoring. He had the second-most targets on his team last season, and there is little reason to believe that'll change going forward.

1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

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There is no more clarity at the top of a position than Rob Gronkowski at tight end.

Simply put, Gronkowski is the baddest man in the land at his position. He outpaced his closest competitor—Antonio Gates—by 30 standard fantasy points last season in one fewer game, and his 12.3 points per game were best by 2.2 points.

A nightmare to cover, Gronkowski is liable to put up three touchdowns on any given week. He gets so many targets that his floor is pretty nice, to boot.

Of course, you're going to have to spend a high draft pick to get him—if you pass on him in the first round, you probably won't get him.