Well, we’ve gone through just about every type of 20 there is this week. We’ve brought you the Top 20 Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers and now we’re here to talk about Tight Ends for our 2013 Fantasy Football Rankings. On the one hand, the position is deep. On the other hand, there’s really only two ringers in the bunch that will outpace their TE compadres by enough that you’ll truly notice. On the third hand which is actually just a cut out of the Hamburger Helper that I’ve glued to my shirt, Tight End is the position just behind QB on which I’m going to say do not take a top one unless they fall to you in the draft. It’s a position that had a few surprises last year that crept into the top 10 and I fully expect the same to happen this year for various reasons. In shallow enough leagues, I’m going to be very tempted to stream them as needed until it proves I have a keeper or until someone notices it and starts hoarding guys like Marcedes Lewis. At that point, it’s clear I’ve done my job: made someone done lose their minds. But that’s my approach and not what this is all about. This is the Top 20 Tight Ends for 2013 Fantasy Football…
Stats based on receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Rankings based on a PPR setting.
1. Jimmy Graham – Graham is the start of the first tier and it goes to Gronk. I call this tier the ‘Fur Coat’ tier as it is a sign of being rich but also being out of style. Seriously, who wears that shizz nowadays? All this to say, they’re expensive and so are these two and I’m not buying at the going rate. 2013 Projections: 95/1250/11/0/0
2. Rob Gronkowski – Yes, I’m worried about the injuries and I said so much over the off-season when I reviewed the Rob Gronkowski Injury dilemma. That said, he still finished as the second best TE last year despite only playing in 11 games. Now keep in mind I said I most likely won’t get either guy but with all the fear surrounding Gronk, he’s probably the most likely one I’d get to nab in the draft. I truly would like to be blind-stinking Gronk with power in 2013 if I can. 2013 Projections: 78/1107/12/0/0
3. Jason Witten – Jason is the start of the second tier and it goes to Tony. I call this tier the ‘1995 Honda Civic’ tier because even though it’s not flashy, it’s dependable and seems to last forever. Witten had a lacerated flipping spleen last year and – ho hum – set a career high in receptions in 2012. That’s the definition of dependable there. 2013 Projections: 88/889/4/0/0
4. Tony Gonzalez – The dude doesn’t get old. I’m starting to think he’s Benjamin Button. Then I realize he’s looks nothing like Brad Pitt and that was a movie, i.e. not real. But is Tony real? I question that greatly after having his best season since 2008. There’s risk of regression here but it should be minor enough to keep him in the safe warm glow of the word ‘dependable’ just like his counterpart Witten. 2013 Projections: 78/772/7/0/0
5. Dennis Pitta – Pitta is the start of the next tier and it goes all the way to Rudolph. I call this tier ‘Juicy On The Back’ in reference to sweatpants with the same verbiage on them and yes, the whole goal is to get you to picture each one of these guys wearing said sweats and hopefully nothing else. You got it? You throw up yet? Good, let’s move on. This tier is full of breakout candidates and Dennis is no exception. With Anquan Boldin heading to the 49ers via trade, I think we see a big year out of Pitta with a bump in targets. For as much as I dog Flacco, it’s hard not to like his targets once he locks onto one and Pitta is that for me. 2013 Projections: 75/892/8/0/0 Out for the year with a dislocated hip. Help me hunt down the man who killed his fantasy season, won’t you?
6. Jared Cook – I know, I know, you’ve been burned before. But keep in mind who was throwing to him in Tennessee. As I talked about in my Top 20 QBs, Locker’s asset is his feet but the man just can’t throw with accuracy. Hard to be a top end Tight End with no one to throw to you. Luckily for Cook, my Sam Bradford Sleeper says he’s gonna be just fine this year. 2013 Projections: 65/851/7/0/0
7. Vernon Davis – Yet another well we’ve said we’d never go back to. I get the fear but in reality, Kaep is gonna have to find someone else to throw to after the Michael Crabtree Injury and who better to take on more targets than a guy Colin is already familiar with? Once the WR dust settles in San Fran, there’ll be another go-to in that offense but for now, I’m seeing a guy who should go back from Vermin to Vernon on the lips of draftees this Fall. 2013 Projections: 71/937/6/0/0
8. Kyle Rudolph – Yup, the guy I touted as a sleeper last year came through in 2012. In that I said about Kyle, ‘soooo last season, gag me!…there’s a joke about holes and Tight Ends in that last sentence…you Negative Nellies’. Clearly, the important stuff was covered elsewhere but I wanted you to get a taste at least. Rudolph was tied for second among TEs for touchdowns scored in 2012 and I see at least that part of his game carrying into 2013. Unfortunately, until I trust Ponder, there’s not much I can do about the yardage. 2013 Projections: 60/570/10/0/0
9. Greg Olsen – Greg is the start of the next tier and it goes to Gresham. I call this the ‘Cork On Your Fork’ tier because – even though it’s safe – you’re not gonna be overly joyed you drafted them. Olsen is solid and I almost snuck him into the tier above him but still don’t feel Cam is a trustworthy source for WR/TE breakout potential to rate He-Man any higher. 2013 Projections: 66/818/6/0/0
10. Brandon Myers – So Myers goes from an offense that doesn’t throw the ball much farther than the line of scrimmage to a team that chucks it long and far but takes advantage of it’s TE in the end zone. The grass isn’t greener here, it’s just a slightly different shade of a’ight. Again, the guys in this tier I just have a hard time falling in love with no matter how magical their facial hair prowess is. 2013 Projections: 61/701/7/0/0
11. Owen Daniels – Last year was a bit of an eye-opener regarding Owen. He started the year off on fire and was a top 5 TE midway through the year. Then Matt Schaub forgot who he was and only had eyes for Andre for the rest of the season and he slipped down to 8th by the end of the year. Did I say it was eye opening about Owen? I meant about Schaub. He’s a one-check pony and his head is cartoonishly oval. Is he Adam Sandler’s cousin or something? Meh, whatevs, it’s the tier I ain’t grabbin’ from anyway. Moving on. 2013 Projections: 58/696/4/0/0
12. Jermaine Gresham – Jermaine has a similar problem that Owen has in that his QB is a one-check pony too. Do you even know what that is? It’s my term for a QB who can’t do more than one check on the field before he’s throwing it. One check and done gets you locked in to a particular player and even with the jaws of life, you cannot be pried off them. Yes, that’s Schaub and that’s also Dalton. It’s also why watching them play each other in the playoffs last year was more painful then when I got my chest waxed. Looks like a man’o’lantern. But more to the point, we’re now done with the meh category and I’m ready to move on. 2013 Projections: 62/694/5/0/0
13. Antonio Gates – Gates is the start of the next tier and it goes to Finley. I call it the ‘TL;DR’ tier as you’re gonna see pundits out there touting them but I’m telling you to ignore them because they’re not gonna be worth the headache. Last year I put Gates 9th when many were still putting him in the top 5. He finished the year as the 12th best with the same injury issues he’s always had. Getting old sucks. Getting fat and old while trying to catch passes against a bunch of young guns is even worse. 2013 Projections: 55/649/6/0/0
14. Jermichael Finley – I promised myself I wouldn’t rank him in the top 10 this year after last year’s fiasco. Mission accomplished. Even after Jennings AND Nelson dealt with the injury bug in 2012, Finley gained no traction. Talent is and will always be there but it’ll be on a different team than mine if he’s drafted this year. 2013 Projections: 57/650/4/0/0
15. Fred Davis – This is the start of another tier and it goes to Moeaki. I call this one the ‘Oh Hai Mark’ tier as a reference to coming from out of nowhere. Have you watched ‘The Room’ by Tommy Wiseau? You have? Why? All the good parts are on YouTube and by good I mean ‘so horribly bad, it’s good’ so you don’t have to watch the whole thing. For the newbs in the room, I’m referencing this breathe-taking scene of cinematic mastery. You’ll notice this tier is full of guys who are coming off of injury. That wasn’t intended, per se, but it’s a good way to stay under the radar come draft day and this is my way of putting them…what, over the radar? That can’t be right…either way, we’re now having deep league thoughts here so I say aim high and draft one of these guys. Fred is coming off a serious injury so it’s important to track him into the season and see how he progresses but he really did start connecting with RG3 before going down last year. 2013 Projections: 55/759/5/0/0
16. Heath Miller – Remember me? I finished the year as a Top 5 TE despite missing the final two games of 2012 with injury. Oh that injury? Nothing big, just a torn ACL/MCL/PCL in my right knee. Yikes! I’ll put it to you this way, he could very well start the year on the PUP list. But I said the same thing about A-Hern above and people are ranking him in the Top 5 and we’re looking at a guy who has actually finished as a Top 5 TE as of last year. Get it? There’s value in them thar rankings. 2013 Projections: 75/832/6/0/0
17. Tony Moeaki – Shut up about this guy, Sky. Don’t get so testy, imaginary reader, they’re my rankings and I’ll do with them as I see fit. You’re street rat crazy about this kid. Sigh, I know I.R. and it’s getting to the point of ridiculousness as he won’t even be ready to go until Training Camp. Andy Reid actually likes throwing to his TEs and so does Alex Smith. As long as Moeaki is the starter out of camp, he’s intriguing not only for talent but for his placement in the offense. If you don’t like this, you can ignore it and chalk it up to a bit of blinders on my part but, but…DAH! The potential is there, dammit! 2013 Projections: 62/793/7/0/0
18. Martellus Bennett – This is the start of the next tier and it goes to Pettigrew. I call this tier the ‘You Only Think They’re Safe’ tier as I think their name exhibits more than what they will do on the field. The new team thing worked out well for Martellus last year. But that new team was the Giants who actually like to throw to their Tight End. The top receiving TE for the Bears last year was Kellen Davis with a whopping 19 receptions. Couple that with it being a new offense in Chicago and there’ll be some kinks to work out along the way. I’d rather not take on the project just because his 2012 numbers were good. 2013 Projections: 45/594/4/0/0
19. Brandon Pettigrew – The dude can’t catch the ball in the End Zone. So there’s one mark against him. The dude was outplayed multiple times last year by his back up Tony Scheffler. There’s strike two. And the Lions also picked up Reggie Bush in the off-season, a man that will chip away at some of those underneath receptions Brandon hauled in over the last few years. Strike Three! You bowled a Turkey! 2013 Projections: 61/555/2/0/0
20. Jake Ballard – Before A-Hern got arrested, this was the blurb on Ballard who I had outside the rankings, ‘If all the ugliness with Gronk & A-Hern get too serious by the time the season starts, this is the man that will rocket up my rankings…hrm, well he’s not actually in my rankings so by ‘rocket’ I mean ‘be a part of’. Jake isn’t at full strength either so it’s hard to just assume that he’s going to step in and be productive in Pats country but if you’re looking for a TE that might go undrafted in some leagues and be the next big thing, Ballard’s your man.’ And that’s me cutting and pasting me! Ballard gets a shot to be the TE2 behind Gronk in that offense. He’s not what A-Hern brought to the table but he’s not Michael Hoomanawanui either. Either way, color me intrigued which I believe is a shade of magenta. 2013 Projections: 60/726/6/0/0
21. Jordan Cameron – This is the start of one of the final tiers which stretches to Keller and I call the ‘Dramatic Chipmunk’ tier because I set the goal of using as many memes as possible with my tier names and I’m gonna reach it! That and it describes this tier of upside quite well as any of them could be shocking. There’s a lot of buzz around Cleveland right now and I buy into it a bit. The offense should be better without Shurmur now being told what to do in Philly by someone who knows how to run an offense and I do actually dig their DEF this year. I like it so much, if I wrote DEF sleepers, I’d write one about them. But I don’t write DEF sleepers so this is all you’ll get. But where was I? Oh yeah, Jordan should get a shot to produce this year and could find himself climbing the rankings by year’s end. 2013 Projections: 59/696/5/0/0
22. Robert Housler – Yeah, he’ll be Brandon Myers 2.0 this year! Or that’s what everyone is saying. I have my doubts but I have no qualms drafting him in deep leagues. It’s all about potential at this point and Robbie Housler, AZ definitely has that. 2013 Projections: 63/617/3/0/0
23. Dustin Keller – I don’t LOVE Keller but I think he is getting pretty overlooked for a guy one season removed from a 65/815/5 campaign. The surroundings are much nicer – I’ve heard the weather’s nice in Miami – and he is on a potentially more explosive offense than he was a year ago. There’s a lot to like here. Just don’t fall in love with it. 2013 Projections: 56/666/4/0/0
And because I don’t really think I need to rank them, here’s the rest. If you want a tier name for them, I strongly encourage ‘the rest’. Trust me, it fits perfectly.
Dwayne Allen – The word I’m hearing out of camp is Coby will be more of a vertical threat between the two TEs. I take that to mean Allen will get the most touchdown opportunities when the field shortens. And that’s how you skin an omelette. Yeah, I don’t know what that means either. Here’s your numbers. 2013 Projections: 57/655/5/0/0
Marcedes Lewis – Jaguars annoy me. For cereal, I know I’ve already said it but they flat out do. For that reason, Marcedes is a great streaming TE option but never one you wanna get too attached to. 2013 Projections: 19/534/6/0/0
Tyler Eifert – Yeah, like I mentioned in Gresham’s post I don’t have huge hopes for anyone not named AJ in Cincy for that passing game and would rather not dip my balls in it if I don’t have to. And I don’t. And so it is. 2013 Projections: 43/442/2/0/0
Delanie Walker – Replaces Cook in Tennessee. Sadly, no one has replaced Jake Locker. 2013 Projections: 48/566/3/0/0
Zach Miller – Some would point to the playoffs as a sign that Miller will become a bigger part of the offense in 2012. I’ll simply point at Skittles/Percy/Tate/Rice and laugh. Not at them, of course. I’d get my ass kicked doing that. 2013 Projections: 42/466/2/0/0
Coby Fleener – Here’s some vertical Tight End in your eye! And I swear that’s more sanitary than it sounds! 2013 Projections: 45/729/2/0/00
Ed Dickson – Someone has to mop up a bit of the targets that Boldin got and it can’t all be Dennis. I really thought it would’ve been Dickson rather than Pitta last year. I was wrong. I’m not going to make that mistake again but he’s worth a flier in deeper leagues.  UPDATED: With Pitta out for the year, I’m upping Dickson’s expected output this year. Note he’s still down here so don’t get too crazy about it. Original Projections: 38/384/3/0/0 CURRENT PROJECTIONS FOR 2013: 51/515/5/0/0
Aaron Hernandez – – I’m not touching A-Hern this year but he still belongs in the upside tier due to his surroundings and talent. I don’t hate the man, really, but he seems to hate staying on the field. Usually it’s just injuries but now his off-season is reading like a mad man’s illegal rampage. And even if he clears that hurdle, the off-season discussion he might even start the year on the PUP list as I alluded to in my Aaron Hernandez Injury coverage gives plenty of reason to Aaron the side of caution and I’m projecting him to miss some time because of it. As I’m sure you know, he’ll fly right on outta this tier if all the allegations hold. 2013 Projections: 82/861/5/50/0 Was released by the Patriots on Wednesday morning. We won’t see A-Hern in a Pats uniform ever again or maybe in football altogether. At the very least, he’s not playing da foosball anywhere this year (originally ranked as 8th TE). 2013 Projections: 82 court ordered appearances/861 license plates made/5 courtyard brawls/50 packs of smokes exchanged/0 percent fantasy ownership.
