These 2017 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Rankings will be updated often throughout the spring and summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out my other 2017 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2017 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings - Tight Ends (Sept. 6):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-45
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Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers. Bye: 9.
Hunter Henry had a strong rookie campaign, catching 36 passes for 478 yards and eight touchdowns. He did this despite Antonio Gates taking targets away from him. Henry should be able to take a big step forward in 2017, but will never reach his full potential until Gates moves on.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 52 catches. 650 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 113.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 165.
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Jared Cook, TE, Raiders. Bye: 10.
AUG. 11 UPDATE: Derek Carr has been targeting Jared Cook “often” in training camp, per Vic Tafur, San Francisco Chronicle. Cook has generally been a disappointment throughout his career, but he has an opportunity to shine in Oakland. He’s worth a pick in the late rounds.
Jared Cook had an amazing playoff run for the Packers, catching 18 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns in three games. Cook signed with the Raiders and should be a low-end TE1 as Derek Carr’s intermediate option.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 63 catches. 720 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 108.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 171.
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Austin Hooper, TE, Falcons. Bye: 5.
AUG. 11 UPDATE; Austin Hooper caught the first pass of the game for the Falcons in the preseason opener, as it went for a gain of 12. It’s obviously a very small sample size, but the athletic second-year tight end is going to be a bigger part of the offense in 2017. He’s being drafted too late at his 14.02 ADP.
JUNE 20 UPDATE: Matt Ryan told the media that Austin Hooper has “improved exponentially” this offseason. Hooper’s ADP is absurdly low at 14.01. He has great athleticism and plays in a high-powered offense, so the sky is the limit for him in his sophomore campaign.
Hanging with Austin Hooper in fantasy last year didn’t end very well, as the rookie caught just 19 balls for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Hooper will be better in his sophomore campaign, but Matt Ryan loves to spread the ball around.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 55 catches. 690 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 105.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 160.
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Evan Engram, TE, Giants. Bye: 8.
JUNE 10 UPDATE: Evan Engram has been extremely impressive at OTAs, per multiple reports. Drawing Jordan Reed comparisons, Engram has been a major standout. I’m not a fan of rookie tight ends, but he’s worth a shot at his 13.10 ADP.
Evan Engram has drawn comparisons to Jordan Reed coming out of Ole Miss, so he definitely has tons of potential. However, he’s difficult to trust right away because he’s a rookie tight end, and Eli Manning won’t be around for the long haul, so Engram’s long-term future is somewhat cloudy.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 54 catches. 640 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 94.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 148.
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Jack Doyle, TE, Colts. Bye: 11.
SEPT. 5 UPDATE: One more update on Andrew Luck: It’s official now that Luck will be sidelined Week 1. The fact that the Colts ruled him out so early in the week suggests that he won’t be available Week 2 either. I would stay away from all Colt players unless they fall far in your draft.
AUG. 1 UPDATE: Jason La Canfora said he has heard rumblings about Luck beginning the year on the reserve/PUP list because of his shoulder issues. That would mean he would miss six games. Meanwhile, general manager Chris Ballard told the media that Luck will be activated from the active/PUP list prior to Week 1. This could be wishful thinking on Ballard’s part, however, and even if Luck is activated, there’s no guarantee that he’ll play early on. And even if he does, he may not be 100 percent. This is obviously bad news for Luck’s outlook, and he should be avoided unless he falls numerous rounds. His supporting cast should be avoided as well.
JULY 30 UPDATE: Andrew Luck wouldn’t commit to playing in Week 1. When asked about it, Luck said, “It’s hard for me to look beyond, really, today’s rehab session.” Luck is a risky fantasy pick because the status of his shoulder is unclear, and even if he returns, he may not be 100 percent. T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Jack Doyle all have troubling outlooks as well.
Jack Doyle ruled in some games last year, finishing with 59 catches for 584 yards and five touchdowns. With Dwayne Allen gone, Doyle’s value has obviously risen.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 60 catches. 640 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 94.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 154.
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Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers. Bye: 9. 
Antonio Gates turns 37 in June, so it’s hard to expect him to keep producing at a high level. Gates caught 53 passes for 548 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games last year. Gates will continue losing touches to Hunter Henry.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 52 catches. 550 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 91.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 143.
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Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys. Bye: 6. 
AUG. 27 UPDATE: Jason Witten led the Cowboys with six targets in the third preseason game. He hauled in all six for 74 yards and a touchdown. Witten is 35, but he didn’t look nearly that old. Part of this production was because of Oakland’s horrendous linebacker play, but Witten is still a decent fantasy option, especially with Dak Prescott now having experience under his belt.
Jason Witten turns 35 in May, but was still solid last year, catching 69 balls for 673 yards and three touchdowns. Witten is no longer a TE1 at this stage of his career, but he’s a decent backup and bye-week filler, especially in PPR leagues.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 70 catches. 730 yards. 3 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 91.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 161.
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Vance McDonald, TE, Steelers. Bye: 9.
Vance McDonald has been traded to the Steelers. It might take him some time to integrate into the offense, but McDonald has great potential late in the season because of the offense he’ll be playing in.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 50 catches. 590 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 89.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 139.
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O.J. Howard, TE, Buccaneers. Bye: 11.
JUNE 11 UPDATE: Cameron Brate may keep the starting tight end job to start the season, according to Trevor Sikkema, Pewter Report. Jameis Winston has a great rapport with Brate, and O.J. Howard may need some time to develop. Howard’s usage will increase as the year progresses, but it’s looking like Evan Engram is the rookie tight end to own.
Though O.J. Howard has great long-term potential in keeper/dynasty leagues, I would avoid him in re-draft formats this year, as rookie tight ends seldom produce on a high level. Howard could catch six to eight touchdowns, but he’ll be sharing targets with lots of other weapons.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 45 catches. 560 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 86.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 131.
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Julius Thomas, TE, Dolphins. Bye: 11.
Julius Thomas signed a $46 million deal two years ago, but was going to be released this offseason if the Dolphins didn’t trade for him. Thomas has been a major disappointment, and I don’t expect things to be much better in Miami.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Stats: 51 catches. 560 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2017 Fantasy Points: 86.
Projected 2017 PPR Fantasy Points: 137.
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings - Tight Ends (Sept. 6):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-45
More 2017 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/6 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/28 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/6 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/28 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/6 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/28 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/6 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/28 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/18 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/18 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/12 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/12 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/12 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 9/1 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/31 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB, PPR - 8/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/24 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/17 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/10 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/3 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/27 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/26 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/20 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/14 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/13 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings - 8/16 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Articles:
2017 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/6 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/2 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/2 (Walt)
2017 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 9/1 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason - 9/1 (Walt)
2017 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/31 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
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Injured/injury risk
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Potential bust
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Potential sleeper
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Rank higher in touchdown leagues
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Rank lower in touchdown leagues
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Rank higher in PPR (points per reception) leagues
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Rank lower in PPR leagues
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