NFL Predictions Week 5: Jermaine Gresham and 3 TEs Due for Big Games

The tight end is often the unsung hero of the offense. Blocking and catching passes, he has to be sure-footed and sure-handed, fast and strong.

It's a tall order, but this year, a number of tight ends have emerged as offensive leaders.

Here are three tight ends set to have successful outings this Sunday.

Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

The Bengals' Jermaine Gresham has stood out as one of the most talented players on the roster, and while quarterback Andy Dalton has a few targets to throw to, Gresham is more involved in the offense than he was in 2010.

He has 16 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns on the season thus far, and his team travels to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars this afternoon, guaranteeing him another big day.

The Jaguars defense ranks 19th against tight ends, having faced the likes of the Saints' Jimmy Graham and the duo of Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey of the Carolina Panthers.

Expect Gresham to have similar success against Jacksonville today, with 50 or more receiving yards and a touchdown.

Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Green Bay Packers)

The Falcons are going to need to put up a major offensive performance against the Packers tonight, and Green Bay will likely oblige them. The Packers defense allows 335.8 passing yards on average this season (good for 31st in the league), and are ranked 30th against tight ends. 

While the deep pass will be there for quarterback Matt Ryan tonight, Gonzalez will factor into the short passing game and will be the primary target in no-huddle situations.

Though he's averaging 57.3 yards per game, he's more likely to repeat his Week 2 numbers (83 yards and two touchdowns) against the Packers tonight rather than something closer to his average.

Owen Daniels, Houston Texans (vs. Oakland Raiders)

Without wide receiver Andre Johnson, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub won't be looking to Kevin Walter or Jacoby Jones—he'll be using tight end Owen Daniels as his primary target.

While the Raiders' 23rd-ranked defense is sixth in the league against the tight end, they haven't experienced trying to stop one who will serve as de facto WR1.

So far this season, Daniels has 14 receptions for 182 yards and three touchdowns, two of them (and 69 yards) coming last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Houston will more than likely rely on its running game to carry the load while Johnson recovers from surgery, the passing game will be all Daniels'.

For that reason, he's going to have a big game against the Raiders today.