This is the fifth post in a series that will delve in to each NFL position, ranking the top 12 for all. After each has been dissected, I will give my final top 12 players in the NFL. To see the previous post in the series, click here.
The transformation from extra run-blocker that occasionally goes out for pass to a prolific playmaker is a fun one. Going from big body to receivers to now ones that are small and fast to tall and long, some resemble the "classic" look while others would be mistaken for a wideout with their style and build.
The Tight End. They don't always rack up the yards, but they do have a knack for being big red zone threats that can put up double digit touchdowns in a season.
In case you wonder why a player is on the list or why he is so high, some of these players are where they are based on how I think they will do in 2017 whilst also including past achievements and experience. So if you see someone that surprises you, it could be that I think they are set to explode this upcoming season.
Let's get into it shall we?
*Key:
- TE = Tight End
- Yds = Yards
- Rec = Receptions
- TD = Touchdowns
Top 12 Tight Ends of 2017
12. Dennis Pitta - Baltimore Ravens (2010)
2016: 86 Rec; 729 Yds; 2 TD
Pitta showed how could he can be when fully healthy - leading all NFL tight ends with 86 receptions. While he didn't put up the TD's like in 2012 (7 in regular season, 3 in postseason), heck his total career TD's aside from 2012 combined are less then his 2012 total (7 outside 2012). But all that aside, his career year last year which resembled his
Proj, 2017: 70+ Rec; 650+ Yds; 4 TD
11. Charles Clay - Buffalo Bills (2011)
2016: 57 Rec; 552 Yds; 4 TD
While his stats aren't nearly top of the line, Clay has been a valuable asset for Tyrod Taylor and company and has set multiple Bills TE records in just his two seasons with the team. Clay is a gifted player who cna line up as a normal TE, as a wideout, or in the backfield as an H-back.
Clay hasn't played a full season with the team since joining, and on a team that has a run first mentality compared to the aerial attack in Miami, Clay makes the most of his targets, catching a solid 65.5% of his passes in 2016 (a top tier player like Antonio Brown caught 68.8% of his passes in 2016). Clay also finished 2016 incredibly strong, catching all four of his TD's in weeks 14-16, whilst racking up 209 of his 552 yards in that span and catching 18 passes that averaged a solid 11.6 yards per catch. He's got the upside and potential for the big play, and though he may not be a great fantasy pick, he gets the job done in Buffalo including great run blocking for a team that's finished as the #1 rushing attack in both 2015 and 2016 - remember: stats aren't everything.
2016: 55+ Rec; 600+ Yds; 6 TD
10. Kyle Rudolph - Minnesota Vikings (2011)
2016: 83 Rec; 840 Yds; 7 TD
Under a surprisingly effective Sam Bradford at QB (who set an NFL record for being the most efficient passer in a single season), Rudolph excelled in 2016, though having already for multiple years been a solid player who many thought would be a great fantasy pick up, but never even crossed the 500 yard mark once in his career nor more than 5 TD's in a season.
Well he did more than just that. Who knows maybe something finally clicked in Rudolph, or the game has just slowed down enough for him (it's about time). I expect him to be a 1K and double digit TD player in the following years, standing out as a solid pass catcher and run blocker for the Viks.
Proj. 2017: 90+ Rec; 1,000+ Yds; 11 TD
9. Antonio Gates - LA Chargers (2003)
2016: 53 Rec; 548 Yds; 7 TD
Here he is. The ol' man himself. Entering his 15th season as a pro, Gates ranks 6th all time on the career TD rec list (111). Why so low? Well like I said, he's an old man now. But he's still got the smarts and size to win in the red zone. He won't put up the ridiculous yards and catches like he used to, but he will still have double digit TD potential as long as LA can get the ball down to that end. He's respected on all accounts and is not taken lightly by DB's despite his age. Oh and Gates only has to get one more TD to become #1 on the list of most TD's by a TE. He's a good blocker who also is a touchdown making machine. And that's all that matters right? Scoring points and winning games. Gates can do that.
Proj. 2017: 40+ Rec; 400+ Yds; 9 TD
8. Jason Witten - Dallas Cowboys (2003)
2016: 69 Rec; 673 Yds; 3 TD
The next ol' man. Also entering his 15th season, Witten was originally higher on this list but a lot of that was out of immediate respect for this future Hall of Famer. He's a great player and I believe is better than the great Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez was flashy, put up record numbers. But Witten has everything. The whole package. He's getting old though, and it's time to look to the next generation of tight ends - but that doesn't mean disregarding greats like Witten and Gates. They are above younger players due to their consistency and knowledge of that game that the other TE's don't have. Those 2016 numbers are pretty great for an old man, and he will continue to make the important third down conversions and be Dak Prescott's security blanket until he retires.
Proj. 2017: 50+ Rec; 500+ Yds; 5 TD
7. Martellus Bennett - Green Bay Packers (2008)
2016: 55 Rec; 702 Yds; 7 TD
I really really like this guy. As I was making the list I had him much lower, but as I researched, watched tape, I realized I believed he deserved to be higher for the 2017 TE rankings.
We all knew Bennett would excel in New England where they just love their tight ends. And if you noticed, when a TE gets 50-60 catches, he gets 500-600 yards. Etc. Here is an exception. Bennett put up a chunk a yards on his minimal 55 rec, averaging over 12 yards a pop in 2016. I think we can all agree that he will do even better with the wizard we all know and love in Green Bay. I'm not downplaying Brady - he's amazing at spreading the ball around and winning. But from a player stand point and acting as the lone standout tight end in WI, Bennett's production will surely go up in 2017. He's been really good for a while and even managed to be great under Tom-terrific (remember those key catches and that pass interference call he got to win the Super Bowl this past year?) Let's see what he can get done with Rodgers the Great in 2017.
Proj. 2017: 70+ Rec; 850+ Yds; 8 TD
6. Jordan Reed - Washington Redskins (2013)
2016: 66 Rec; 686 Yds; 6 TD
Playmaker. Thats what Jordan Reed is. He embodies the receiver mentality of a TE and carries the big, splashy numbers that fans live to see. Now I want to make sure you don't get the feeling that I'm anti numbers and stats. Yards, TD's etc. Very important. Just not the whole story. But you can't ignore them. While Reed's numbers weren't quite the same in 2016 versus 2015 (a ridiculous 87 rec, 952 yards and 11 TD's), his ability to change the game with one electric play is still there and his role will be big as long as he continues a good connection with Kirk Cousins. With the departure of Desean Jackson and Pierre Garçon (although there were some exciting additions made to the receiving core as well), Expect Reed to play like he did in 2015, although his presence on the field alone will force defenders to be a little more careful.
Proj. 2017: 80+ Rec; 750+ Yds; 9 TD
5. Delanie Walker - Tennessee Titans (2006)
2016: 65 Rec; 800 Yds; 7 TD
Football isn't all about stats and fantasy. People can forget that sometimes. I think more with TE's that can happen especially. "Oh he only had 400-500 yards and 3 TD's last season." This is real football. Great TE's need more than the stats to truly be amazing to block both in the pass and the run. Be the unsung hero who helps other players get the key conversion and TD's. Delanie Walker is that and more. Fierce, tough, and competitive. And he puts up the numbers and carries the big play ability in his arsenal while doing all that dirty work that a good TE should do.
Proj. 2017: 70+ Rec; 850+ Yds; 6 TD
4. Jimmy Graham - Seattle Seahawks (2010)
2016: 95 Rec; 923 Yds; 6 TD
Graham is finally returning to his form from his New Orleans days. Took a while, and I'm hoping he goes over the 1K mark whilst also getting 15+ TD like he used to. Remember the big debate back then in the day? "Rob Gronkowski vs. Jimmy Graham: who's better?" It truly was a hard question. Well it's not so much anymore since that shocking trade which sent Graham north-west to a power running team led by Marshawn Lynch. Well now that Russell Wilson has become the elite pocket passer we all knew he could be, Graham is finally giving Seattle the numbers they'd hoped for. He's big, strong, and wins easily in double coverage and in all honesty, he's still *potentially* the best in football. Time for Seattle to realize this and let Graham go for a big rip in 2017. Till then, he stays right here, just on the outside of the "who's the best TE in football" question.
Proj. 2017: 110+ Rec; 1,100+ Yds; 12 TD
3. Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs (2013)
2016: 85 Rec; 1,125 Yds; 4 TD
Wow. What a year for Kelce. He ripped defenses a new one in 2016. An absolute nightmare DB's. Leading all TE's with 1,125 yards along with a crazy 634 yards after the catch, Kelce is hailed as the "next Rob Gronkowski" (he's even got the same build and jersey number) after just three full seasons (and a lost rookie season due to injury) - to think what he will achieve in 2017 and onward. People wonder why KC has a wide receiver problem, it's not hard to see why when you got Kelce. Alex Smith might as well throw it to him every down, big, safe, sturdy, and explosive. What's not to like in a QB's eyes?
Proj. 2017: 100+ Rec; 1,250+ Yds; 8 TD
2. Greg Olsen - Carolina Panthers (2007)
2016: 80 Rec; 1,073 Yds; 3 TD
When you set an NFL record for being the first TE in history to record three straight 1,000 yard seasons - you know this guy is special. Olsen was already great before he joined Carolina in 2014, who then went on his streak of terror from '14-'16. Standing as Cam Newton's favorite target, this quiet and humble player is one who still makes headlines regardless. He was criminally under ranked on the Top 100 list (67th), once again showing that when Carolina has a bad year, their player's great season get undermined in terms of praise and honor (Olsen was ranked 38th when Carolina made it to the Super Bowl). Sure Olsen only had 3 TD's in 2016, but his overall play is something to behold. He's incredibly tiny for a TE but makes it work to his advantage, getting under the back end of defenses for big plays.
Proj. 2017: 90+ Rec; 1,100+ Yds; 6 TD
1. Rob Gronkowski - New England Patriots
2016: 25 Rec; 520 Yds; 3 TD (8 games only)
After this man there is no other you could argue. The tight end that all others will strive to be for decades to come, "Gronk" is the best ever when he's healthy. For most players, if they get injured on a regular basis they get cut regardless of talent. That goes to show just HOW amazing this dude is. He hasn't played a full season since 2011 and he somehow still puts up monster numbers. I won't write them down, but New England's offensive stats show that they are very different when Gronk isn't in the lineup. Like it's a huge difference. Not just a slight one.
Gronk has played 88 out of 112 possible games (all missed due to injury), and still has the third most TD's ever by a TE. He also holds 9 other NFL records to his name.
Now, look at those numbers through only half a season and tell me what you see. Yes. He averaged over 21 yards a catch. You see the "25 Rec" and think that's pathetic. Then you see the "520 Yds" and think, "ok, other TE's had that many yds on double the amount of catches." Crazy. He only played in 8 games but dominated in those games. Think about it, take those numbers and turn it into a full season: 50+ Rec; 1,000+ Yds; 6+ TD. He tore people up when he was around. As he always does. He is impossible to defend.
But what's my favorite part of Gronk? He blocks. And he blocks well. He doesn't complain, he knows running is just as important, and when it's time to pass Gronk does his thing and lets Tom throw it to him. And...... Repeat. For 7 years running.
Proj. 2017: 50+ Rec; 900+ Yds; 9 TD