2017 Fantasy Football Rankings Tiers, Draft Strategy: Tight ends

Tony Fortier-Bensen

2017 Fantasy Football Rankings Tiers, Draft Strategy: Tight ends image

Once upon a time, tight ends were an after-thought when creating fantasy football cheat sheets and rankings. More recently, TE has blossomed into a position that can score a ton of points thanks to a couple dependable guys and some other high-upside options. Still, questions remain when it comes to devising a draft strategy for tight ends, starting with just how important rankings tiers are at this position.

Each year, at least a couple tight ends inch closer toward the top portions of the draft that was once staunchly reserved for only running backs and wide receivers. Last year, Rob Gronkowski was a late first-round draft pick in many leagues. This year, even after another injury-plagued campaign, he projects as a second rounder. Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen are getting some love in the third round of 2017 drafts, too.

Many teams in the NFL have developed their tight ends to not only be blockers, but also dominant pass-catchers and touchdown machines. They've become bigger and more athletic with better hands and better footwork. As much as the tight end position has grown, not every fantasy team is able to get Gronkowski or another top tight end. In fact, after the first couple tiers, the tight end position has a major drop-off.

2017 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker | Top 200

To navigate the different strategies of drafting a tight end, we've written about the six different tiers and five different draft strategies that will best suit you and make you aware of what you should be looking for. Will you follow the trend and grab a tight end early, or is it better to wait and find a breakout sleeper? The choice is yours, and we're here to help.

Where should Rob Gronkowski be drafted?

To Gronk or not to Gronk? That is the question.

If he's on your team, it's almost a sure-fire bet that he'll give you a stronghold on the tight end position, and you really don't need to consider ever taking him out the lineup. However, there's always a catch with him -- his health.

Outside of his dominating size and ability, the story of Gronkowski's career has been his durability. After two years of relative healthiness (15 games each year with a healthy scratch in 2014 and sprained knee in 2015), he ended up injuring his pectoral muscle, hurting his hamstring, getting a pulmonary contusion, and finally a back injury in 2016. He started only six games, but he enters the '17 season with a clean bill of health.

When he plays a full season, he's pretty much a lock to be the best tight end and eclipse 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns -- often going well beyond that. Last year, only two tight ends reached 1,000 yards (Kelce and Olsen) and the TD leaders had eight touchdowns (Cameron Brate and Hunter Henry).

Gronk's average draft position is late second round (21st), but it would not be a shock to see him taken closer to the first round if someone in your draft really wants him. It's not an outrageous pick in the early-to-mid second round since Gronkowski has potential to score first-round level points and elevate you far above the rest of your league at this tough position.

If you believe that Gronk will be able to play a majority of his games this year, then going the Tier-1 route definitely won't disappoint you. If he becomes injury-plagued again, this route will definitely disappoint you. 

1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots 

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2017 fantasy football cheat sheet

2017 Fantasy Football Rankings Tiers: Tight ends after Gronk

For many teams, the tight end position is a key part of their offense; for some teams, it's a focal point. That's the case for our Tier-2 guys, who's average draft position is around the late-third to late-fourth round. Kelce is probably the safest bet to produce similar stats to last year when he was the top fantasy TE, and that's why he's costing a third-round pick. If he falls to the fourth, he's worth the gamble.

But after Gronk, the rest of the tight ends are really just fighting for second place. Olsen has been consistently "elite" for several years, but even when he was one of two TEs to top 1,000 yards last year, he still didn't finish second at the position. That was Jimmy Graham, who raked in three more touchdowns. Jordan Reed, who's developed a strong rapport with Kirk Cousins, can also push Kelce for the No. 2 spots...if he can stay healthy (four missed games in 2016).

There really isn't much of a difference between these four guys aside from health concerns for Reed. Last year, the difference came out to less than a point a week between Kelce, Reed, Olsen, and Graham. 

2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins
4. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
5. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks

2017 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker | Top 200

2017 Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Wait for TEs

Barring injuries, the top two tiers feel like a safe bet to stay where they are by the end of the season. The same can't be said for Tier 3. In all likelihood, these guys have the potential to be really really good or really really bad for you. Obviously, that means there's risk involved since these players will likely start going off the board around the seventh or eighth round.

Tyler Eifert has shown that he can put up numbers similar to Gronk with 18 touchdowns in the 21 games he's played the past two years. If healthy, expect big numbers and a jump to the second tier. If bothered by the back injury that required surgery this offseason, you better have a good backup on standby.

In PPR leagues, Kyle Ruduloph's value skyrockets after leading all TEs in targets last year (132), but throughout his career, he has never really put up the second-tier numbers he did in 2016. In fact, he was merely a fourth-tier guy the past couple years. Delanie Walker has been old reliable, and out of all the ones in this group, he might be the most likely to stay here by the end of the season, but a revamped Titans passing attack makes his role a little more uncertain. Hunter Henry's numbers were inflated last season thanks to eight touchdowns, but if Antonio Gates steals back his red-zone thunder this year, Henry might fall back. Either that or old man Father Time finally arrives and Henry becomes the breakout TE many people are proclaiming he will be.

So in this tier, expect the unexpected. You'll either be riding high off success or riding low in failure. Word to the wise -- the longer you can wait to draft these guys, the better. If someone reaches and grabs them before you can, that's OK. There's another tier of similar (and much cheaper) TEs that will be available.

6. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
7. Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
8. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
9. Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers

SLEEPERS: 5 QBs | 14 RBs | 8 TEs | 11 WRs | 5 D/STsOne from each team

Potential Fantasy Football Sleepers at Tight End

In a 12-team league, some of you will have to dip into this level for your starting tight end, but it's not all for loss.

In standard leagues (and even PPR), even if all you get out of your tight end is a touchdown, it's a successful day. So, when you enter this level of the draft, it's time to grab what's left, but keep in mind that you'll be doing some research on other potential TE matchups as the season goes on.

The waiver wire will be your friend, and it's best to start looking at matchups each week. Sleepers will emerge from this group (we predict Eric Ebron, Coby Fleener and Jack Doyle), so you could easily get good value out of Tier 4 if a couple things go your way.

10. Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions
11. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
12. Martellus Bennett, Green Bay Packers
13. Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14. Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints
15. Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Should you draft a backup TE?

Unless you drafted your "TE1" from Tier 3, don't waste your resources on a backup tight end. These late-round picks are meant for drafting important depth at RB and WR (maybe even QB), plus starters at D/ST and K.  

More than likely, a TE from Tier 5 won't put up huge numbers and be a consistent contributor. In short, you can arguably say that the ceiling is the roof for these guys.

In a league of 12 teams, there are only 12 starting spots for tight ends and most likely only half, maybe even less, will even draft a backup TE. It's still worth keeping an eye on these guys and picking them up when needed throughout the season. They might belong on your team for a week, maybe two or more, but they're not really worth draft pick.

16. Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills
17. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Houston Texans
18. Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars
19. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
20. O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

The Tier-6 guys are even riskier.  A sleeper or two might appear (Ben Watson in PPR leagues?), but these guys should be an extension of your bench while on the waiver wire.

22. Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers
23. Benjamin Watson, Baltimore Ravens
24. Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons
25. Zach Miller, Chicago Bears
26. Jared Cook, Oakland Raiders
27. Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers
28. Dwayne Allen, New England Patriots
29. Evan Engram, New York Giants
30. Jermaine Gresham, Arizona Cardinals

Tony Fortier-Bensen