It’s a proven fact that a big-time tight end can sometimes be more productive than anyone in your wide receiving core. Targets like Antonio Gates, Jermichael Finley, Dallas Clark, Jason Witten and Vernon Davis can single-handedly catapult your team to victory when your receivers decide to go in the tank. However, going after a premier tight end early has its disadvantages that should make an owner consider bargain shopping towards the end of the draft instead of spending high near the beginning.
In cases where people may have put a lot of stock into Gates, Finley or Clark last year, devastation struck as the trio only managed a total of 21 combined games in 2010 due to injuries. Owners that reached high for any one of those players didn’t just lose their top tight end but also missed an opportunity to draft a better receiver, running back or quarterback in an earlier round of the draft. Thus, leaving them scrambling for replacements and causing headaches during fantasy football games. The following big-time bargain tight ends are ones that have a lot of upside, will surely be available towards the end of your fantasy football draft and won’t cause nearly the cardiovascular strain on your body if they happen to go down early.
Jared Cook
JARED COOK: 6’5, 248 pound Cook is now entering his third year in the league and is primed to have a breakout season. Cook has been clocked under 4.5 seconds in his 40-yard dash and has over a 40-inch vertical leap. With a new offense and limited resources to work with, expect QB Matt Hasselbeck to look Cook’s way early and often this year.
Brent Celek
BRENT CELEK: If Michael Vick says Celek is going to be more involved in the offense this season, who am I to disagree? Celek has been about as durable as they come, not missing a game in four seasons and is only one year removed from a stellar 76 reception season in 2009 when he also brought in 8 touchdowns. After his slip last season, Celek is sure to drop in most fantasy drafts that don’t involve Eagles fans.
Ben Watson
BENJAMIN WATSON: Believe it or not, there’s another Cleveland Brown besides Peyton Hillis worth looking at this year (at least as far as weekly fantasy football goes). Watson is coming off his best statistical season of his career with 68 receptions for 763 yards and 3 touchdowns and was one out of only six tight ends with over 100 targets last year. As QB Colt McCoy continues to progress, so will Watson’s numbers since he’s one the very few receiving threats Cleveland has.
Lance Kendricks
LANCE KENDRICKS: Here’s a guy who you won’t see on traditional fantasy football rankings. Kendricks was the St. Louis Rams 2nd round pick this year and it’s looking like he’ll be the starter come Week 1. Kendricks moves very well for his size (6’3, 243 pounds) and has bear claws for hands. QB Sam Bradford targeted Kendricks seven times in the Rams first preseason game and the rookie led the team with 5 receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Kendricks will definitely see his share of targets this year seeing that 38 percent of Bradford’s touchdown passes went to tight ends last season.
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Tags: antonio gates, Ben Watson, Brent Celek, Dallas Clark, fantasy football draft, fantasy football tight ends, jared cook, Jason Witten, Jermichael Finley, Lance Kendricks, Vernon Davis
