2011 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

Jason Witten tops the list in this year's rankings

Every so often in fantasy football it seems as if the season is deemed “the year of” for some position due to the tremendous talent stack. Normally it is a skilled position comprised of either the quarterback, running back or wide receiver. Not so in 2011 though; at least not in my eyes. I deem 2011 to be “The Year of the Tight End.” No, this is not a butt joke, I am being serious. Where in most years the motto is jump at a top tight end if the value is right, this year you can wait as the lower TE1’s can play a very solid part on your fantasy football team.

You still have your Jason Witten’s and Dallas Clark’s leading the pack, but unlike past years, you also have some young, blooming talent in the likes of Vernon Davis, Jermichael Finley and Brandon Pettigrew inching their way to the top for a spot on top of the pedestal. You will see what I am saying once you read the 1StopShopFF 2011 Preseason Tight End Rankings.

[Projected 2011 Stats are  Catches (For PPR League Purposes)/All-Purpose Yards  and Total Touchdowns]

1. Jason Witten (Dal) – Age 29, Bye Week 5, Projected 92/1,000/6

Despite struggling with some injuries the past few seasons, superstar tight end Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys hasn’t seen much of a dip in his offensive production. He has averaged 995 receiving yards and 5 visits to the end zone the past three years and has not missed a single game. Furthermore, he looked to finally reconnect with being a big time scorer, having had 9 touchdowns in 2010 after having just 2 in 2009. As age is still on Witten’s side and since he hasn’t been dealing with serious injuries such as his top tight end peers in Antonio Gates and Dallas Clark, Witten is a no-brainer to be at the head of the class in 2011. Another  1,000 yard season with 6 touchdowns is attainable.

2. Vernon Davis (SF) Age 27, Bye Week 7, Projected 65/950/8

It has taken time, but Vernon Davis has finally evolved into the top-notch tight end that the San Francisco 49ers had projected him to be when they drafted him out of college a few years ago. Davis followed up a monster 2009 season with 914 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. The 49ers will once again lean heavily on Davis to be one of their offensive juggernauts. When the games are all said and done, Davis will be looking down on all but Jason Witten. Flirting with 1,000 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns looks to be in the cards. Davis will be one of the top-3 off the fantasy football draft boards at his position.  

3. Dallas Clark (Ind) – Age 32, Bye Week 11, Projected 78/850/7

After an amazing 2009 season which saw the Indianapolis Colts Dallas Clark go for 1,106 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, 2010 was a nightmare beyond belief for his fantasy football owners. Clark was lost for the season just six games in due to a wrist injury. Both he and Peyton Manning are banged up a bit this training camp, but both are expected to be ready for a full-season’s worth of play. Other than Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys and Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers, Clark is the man to own at the tight end position in 2011. A rebound to 850 yards and 8 touchdowns seems to be in the books.

4. Antonio Gates (SD) – Age 31, Bye Week 6, Projected 58/750/6

I have Antonio Gates projected to be a 750 receiving yards, 6 touchdown tight end in 2011, a far cry from what he used to be in his prime. And while he still carries a big reputation at fantasy football drafts, one has to remember that Gates is breaking down physically. Having suffered from leg and foot injuries, he missed six of his last eight games in 2010 and seems to still be on the mend. If Gates is on the field you can guarantee that the San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers will find a way to get him the rock. While he does have the talent to go over my statistic projections, truth be told, he is more likely not to meet these expectations. With Gates being such a hit or miss and with him costing you a higher fantasy football draft pick than the other tight ends left on the board, I’d pass on Gates and let him be someone else’s problem.

5. Jermichael Finley (GB) – Age 24, Bye Week 8, Projected 68/750/5

Jermichael Finley’s 2010 season ended abruptly when he suffered a torn meniscus during the fifth game. That was a major let down for his fantasy football owners as he was coming off an excellent 2009 season in which he went for 55 catches, 676 yards and 5 touchdowns and was expected to do big things. Despite the disappointment, fantasy footballers should be excited once again to see what the Green Bay Packers 24 year old tight end can do on the field when healthy. If health is not a factor, expect him to become a 1-2 combination, catching the pigskin from Aaron Rodgers on a weekly basis. This 6’5 kid has the potential to be an offensive stud.

6. Brandon Pettigrew (Det) – Age 26, Bye Week 9, Projected  68/700/7

The Detroit Lions have usually been hit or miss on many of their top draft choices in recent memory, but Brandon Pettigrew showed the world in 2010 why he was drafted in the first round a year prior despite all of the offensive line needs that this team at the time had. Pettigrew, despite not having Matthew Stafford at quarterback for most of the season, racked up 722 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. He should continue to evolve into the premier tight end that he is seen to have the ability to be. Look for Pettigrew to see the ball thrown at him once again at a rapid rate and when you combine that with all of his offensive talent, there is a chance that he can even surpass my projections.

7. Kellen Winslow (TB) – Age 28, Bye Week 8, Projected 67/750/5

Known for being a health risk at the beginning of his career, Kellen Winslow has now played in back to back 16 game seasons. In that time frame, Winslow had also put up over 1,600 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He did take a step back last year, catching 66 passes compared to 77 from a year prior, much of which could be factored into the emergence of wide receiver Mike Williams. None-the-less, if Winslow can stay healthy for 16 games, he will factor into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive game plan. Look for him to put up another 750 yards and 5 touchdowns, making him a very solid TE1, and one that can be had at a fraction of the price that the big guys will cost you.

8. Tony Gonzalez (Atl) – Age 35, Bye Week 5, Projected 64/650/6

Once considered an annual lock for a top-3 slot at the tight end position in all fantasy football leagues, Tony Gonzalez is starting to see age creeping in. He has regressed in each of his last two years and is now more of a role player than someone that can help lead an offensive attack. Either way, that doesn’t mean that Gonzalez is chopped liver. He wouldn’t had come back for his 15^th NFL season if he thought he could not produce at a high level. Remember, he was talking about retiring just a few short years ago. While he won’t produce like a stud anymore, Gonzalez will still play as a mid-to-low TE1 during most weeks this season with the occasional great game tied in. When it comes to value picks, Gonzalez is very solid.

9. Marcedes Lewis (Jac) – Age 27, Bye Week 9, Projected 57/625/5

2010 was a coming out party for Marcedes Lewis as the Jacksonville Jaguars tight end caught a career high 58 catches while going for 10 touchdowns. While it is hard to imagine him duplicated his visits to the end zone, he has developed into a very important part of their passing game. Flirting with 60 catches, over 600 yards and at least 4-5 touchdowns seems to be on the menu for 2011. And folks, Lewis is hungry! Grab him as a low-end TE1 who is worthy of starting most weeks.

10. Chris Cooley  (Was) – Age 29, Bye Week 5, Projected 74/750/2

No one can call Chris Cooley a non-gamer, as he played through injury for all of last year despite being on the Washington Redskins who had nothing to play for in 2010. 77 catches for 849 yards is what he produced and I can almost but guarantee that he could barely roll out of bed on Monday mornings because of it. He is very consistent as Cooley’s norm is about 70+ receptions and while never a big time scorer, he can be counted on for a few touchdowns every year. He isn’t going to wow you with fantasy points, but what he will do is get you the consistent 5-6 fantasy points that many tight ends around this level and lower will not. If the top-8 are off the board and you end up with Cooley and are worried, just follow him up with another solid tight end a few rounds later and play the match ups. Just watch his knee as he is a tad bit of a injury concern.

11. Greg Olsen (Car) – Age 26, Bye Week 8, Projected 60/620/4

Greg Olsen leaves the Windy City for the Carolina Panthers in 2011 and with him he brings his untapped talent that the Chicago Bears were never able to utilize properly. The young Panthers, who are lacking for solid receiving options, welcome Olsen with open arms. Sitting here as the TE1-11 for 1StopShopFF, Olsen still has youth on his side and the potential to produce to be considered a weekly starter for your fantasy football team. Will he mesh though? That is what we will have to wait and find out. Track this situation closely in training camp. He should be targeted enough to grab 60 receptions, averaging around 10 yards per catch and be a target for a handful of red zone looks.

12. Owen Daniels (Hou) – Age 28, Bye Week 11, Projected 54/600/4

Owen Daniels looked as if he was going to be the next big name to be an annual tight end stud for years to come but that dream crashed quickly when he got injured a few years back and has been trying to get as close to 100% possible since. While he probably will never fulfill the expectations that many fantasy footballers had set for him, Daniels has looked good in training camp. Set in a very prolific offense, Daniels should see enough looks and grab enough touchdowns to make himself relevant as a low-end TE1 in deeper leagues. Daniels is a nice bargain pick.

13. Jermaine Gresham (Cin) – Age 23, Bye Week 7, Projected 48/520/3

This is where the list starts to run a little thin. I am not saying that there won’t be good fantasy football talent that can be found with the next handful of names, but they are all surrounded with the word “potential” or “aging veteran.” Jermaine Gresham fits that bill to a T. The Cincinnati Bengals tight end is chocked full of talent and should excel for years to come, but as far as this year is concerned he finds himself on an offense that is very young. Gone is Chad Johnson, Ochocinco if you must, and most likely will have a rookie starting at the quarterback position. Last year Gresham grabbed 52 catches for 471 yards and 4 touchdowns. His sophomore campaign should look similar when all is said and done.

14. Zach Miller (Sea) – Age 25, Bye Week 8, Projected 55/520/3

The new Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller has always had talent, but he has never had a good quarterback throwing him the rock. This year his gun slinger will most likely be Tavaris Jackson. Thus, as the initial sentence suggests, he never has a good quarterback. He could blow up in Seattle and rise into the TE1 caliber tight end that he has the talent for, but more likely 2011 will be a learning curve as nearly every important piece of the Seahawks offense is new to the organization. Respectable numbers should be produced but don’t look for your every week starter with him.

15. Rob Gronkowski (NE) – Age 22, Bye Week 7, Projected 45/510/3

When looking for a tight end later on this list, Rob Gronkowski is the type of tight end that I would grab before some of the veteran tight ends listed at around the same ranking for one simple reason, potential for growth. He has Tom Brady throwing to him, is surrounded by tons of offensive talent and chimed in with a remarkable 10 touchdowns during his rookie campaign. While I look for his touchdowns to come spiraling down, he still has the wiggle room to explode if he ever gets the majority of tight end looks. Unfortunately, Gronkowski also finds himself amongst another tight end in the same situation, his fellow teammate Aaron Hernandez. Gronkowski is a nice TE2 with room for growth.

16. Jimmy Graham (NO) – Age 24, Bye Week 11, Projected 37/450/4

Another tight end with upside is Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints. In his rookie campaign Drew Brees hooked up with Graham 31 times for 356 yards and 5 touchdowns. While the need for Graham to be a big part of the Saints offense doesn’t exist, he will still see his fair share of looks and should be a solid bye-week play on good match ups.  A receptions total in the mid-30’s along with 10+  yards per catch and a handful of touchdowns is well within reach.

17. Heath Miller (Pit) – Age 28, Bye Week 11, Projected 39/435/4

The Pittsburgh Steelers must be scratching their heads as Heath Miller has good enough talent to be a productive tight end in the NFL, yet he is very inconsistent. In 2008 he was very average. In 2009 he was very good. Guess what? In 2010 he was average yet again. Does that mean 2011 will be a very good year for Miller? Perhaps. Depending on the size of your league, Miller very well could go undrafted. He does possess the talent though to be a top-12 TE this year and the inconsistency to ride the waiver wire. Which TE will you get? Roll the dice if you feel like gambling.

18. Aaron Hernandez (NE) – Age 21, Bye Week 7, Projected 34/420/4

Let me start by saying that it is very abnormal for any rookie tight end to enjoy a nice rookie campaign. Even studs such as Antonio Gates and Jason Witten struggled. Yet the New England Patriots had two of them in 2010, the first being Rob Gronkowski, the other being Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez, as the second tight end on his team mind you, caught 45 passes for 563 yards and 6 touchdowns. There is only so many touchdown passes to go around and with the Patriots looking to run more this year and having Wes Welker and Chad Johnson also in the mix along with Gronkowski, it is hard to imagine Hernandez duplicating his rookie campaign. Now I could be wrong and it is him and not Gronkowski who excels. None-the-less, my money is on Hernandez being the one that dips as he is the one coming off of hip surgery. Hernandez is a solid spot-week starter in deeper fantasy football leagues.

19. Ben Watson (Cle) – Age 30, Bye Week 5, Projected 39/430/2

Some may think that I am ranking Ben Watson a little too low this year after he had caught nearly 70 passes while going for 763 yards and 3 visits to the end zone in 2010. I think that they are wrong. When looking at tight ends in 2011, Watson ranks nineteenth for me as far as wanting him on my team. Why? He is 30 years old, has never had a very good year and he is on a poor offense club.  Watson had a total of 51 receptions in 2008 and 2009 combined while having Tom Brady throwing to him, so do you really think that Watson will keep this pace up? Ya, me neither. Watson should go undrafted unless you are in the deepest of leagues.

20. Jared Cook (Ten) – Age 24, Bye Week 6, Projected 45/480/2

Jared Cook is one of those tight ends in which he has the potential to do well; 50+ receptions, 600 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. He also is on one of those teams that just never seems to take advantage of the tight end spot so he could do a 35/380/1 dance. I’ll put him somewhere in the middle there and rank him just below similar players just because of probable consistency issues. If you are in a deep league though and must carry two tight ends, push Cook up this ranking list some as he is young and as I said he as the “potential” to do well. You have got to love that P word.

21. Lance Kendricks (StL) – Age 23, Bye Week 5, Projected 34/400/2

Lance Kendricks looks like the real deal; an athletic receiving option for quarterback Sam Bradford out of the tight end spot. I’ll preach this until I am blue in the face though. It is very rare to come across a rookie tight end that will play good enough to be considered a spot starter in deeper fantasy football leagues, let alone one that is considered an almost every week starter. Honestly, don’t even look at this projection. I have nothing to base those numbers off of. He could do either much better or much worse, but until the games are played, you never know. And when you are looking to win a fantasy football championship do you really want to key in on unpredictability? Is Kendricks worth owning? Sure, in deeper leagues or certain keeper leagues, but he is not someone that you will want to depend on as a starter in 2011.

The Best Of The Rest In No Particular Order

Toni Moeaki (KC) – Age 24, Bye Week 6

Toni Moeaki is talented enough to be considered a rising NFL tight end. The Kansas City Chiefs offense continues to be built up properly and Moeaki could surprise. But don’t expect him to be the next Tony Gonzalez.

Brent Celek (Phi) – Age 26, Bye Week 7

One can’t deny that Brent Celek has the talent to be a TE1 in the right situation. Michael Vick being your quarterback is not the right situation. Unless that scenario changes, Celek remains an obscurity.

Anthony Fasano (Mia) – Age 27, Bye Week 5

Some weeks Anthony Fasano looks like he belongs in every fantasy football leagues lineup, most of the time though he looks like waiver wire fodder. Let him continue to swim in Miami Dolphins oblivion.

Dustin Keller (NYJ) – Age 26, Bye Week 8

Last year people were giving him the thumbs up to be Mark Sanchez’s favorite target. Twelve months later he is nothing more than an afterthought. That is the perfect scenario for a possible bargain player.

Visanthe Shiancoe (Min) – Age 31, Bye Week 9

The Minnesota Vikings Visanthe Shiancoe was a TE1 just a few years ago. While he will be forgotten about on draft day, Shiancoe could prove to be a solid play in weeks when he has the right match up.

Tony Scheffler (Det) – Age 28, Bye Week 9

Tony Scheffler is a capable tight end but plays second fiddle to Brandon Pettigrew for the Detroit Lions. Barring an injury to Pettigrew, Scheffler’s fantasy football impact will be minimal at best.