Seton Hall
Tight ends to pick up for your fantasy football team
Date: July 17, 2019By: Jorie Mickens
A long time ago, the so-called “pass-catching tight end” was unheard of. Up until around the 1990s, tight ends were primarily tasked with blocking the extra linebacker or defensive back on blitzes by the defense, essentially a sixth offensive lineman.
As time went on, players like Shannon Sharpe, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates entered the league and transformed the position into what fans know it as today. Fantasy-wise, the obvious selection at the tight end position are guys like Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz. Kelce plays with the 2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes and could see a slight bump up in targets if Tyreek Hill is suspended or released by the Chiefs.
Ertz broke the single season record for receptions by a tight end last season and should have a fully healthy Carson Wentz to feed him the ball this year. But after those two names, there is a pretty significant drop-off at the tight end position.
One could make the case for George Kittle. He had a breakout sophomore year for the 49ers last season, breaking the single season record for receiving yards by a tight end. That being said, it is unlikely Kittle will sustain this kind of dominance.
Sophomore receiver Dante Pettis will demand more targets this season, wide receivers Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor are returning from injury, Jimmy Garoppolo will return from his ACL injury and will not rely on Kittle as much as rookie quarterback Nick Mullens did.
What made Kittle so valuable in fantasy was his ADP. Kittle was free in most fantasy leagues. If owners were lucky enough to grab him off waivers, you probably won your league. Now that the entire fantasy football community knows what Kittle is capable of, you have to spend a third-round pick to get him. Kittle will not live up to that draft position this season.
So which tight ends should you target in your draft? The first player is New York Giants tight end Evan Engram. He is currently projected as the fourth pick in the fifth round, Engram is heading into his third season with the Giants. After an underwhelming season last year, Engram has the potential to become one of the premier tight ends in the league.
According to Next Gen Stats, last season, Engram averaged more yards of separation per play (4.4) than anyone in the league. At 6 foot 3 inches, 240lbs, running a 4.42 40-yard dash, Engram is arguably one of the toughest covers in the league. Not to mention that wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and his 124 targets are headed to Cleveland, Engram has a serious case to be the Giants number one receiving target.
What is stopping Engram from being the number one tight end in fantasy football?
The answer is simple, his quarterback situation. Whether it be 38-year-old Eli Manning, who ranked near the bottom in every accuracy category last season or rookie quarterback Daniel Jones, it is unlikely Engram will benefit from all that separation this upcoming season. Engram is still a worthwhile selection though. If all breaks right, you could pick up the best fantasy tight end in the fifth round of your draft.
The other tight end with legitimate top-five fantasy tight end upside is Steelers tight end Vance McDonald. Currently going as the second pick in the seventh round, McDonald will benefit from the departures of Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Jesse James this season. Many remember McDonald for his monster stiff arm on Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Chris Conte during his 75-yard touchdown last season, but he is much more than that.
McDonald is great at attaining both YAC (yards after catch) and yards after contact. With the departure of Antonio Brown and Jesse James and their 17 combined receiving touchdowns, McDonald’s total touchdown receptions from last season (four) is bound to increase. McDonald also is likely to become the second receiving option for Pittsburgh, behind wideout Juju Smith-Schuster.
While quarterback Ben Roethlisberger most likely will not lead the league in pass attempts, completions and passing yards like he did last season, McDonald will surely increase his target, reception, yards and touchdown totals this season.
Jorie Mickens can be reached at jorie.mickens@student.shu.edu.
