These 2009 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings will be updated often throughout the summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out my other 2009 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2009 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other things.
2009 Fantasy Football Rankings – Tight Ends:
Last Updated: Sept. 4, 2009
2009 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends 1-12 | Tight Ends 13-32
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Jason Witten, Cowboys. Bye: 6. 
With Terrell Owens off the team, Jason Witten is the clear No. 1 tight end in fantasy football. Essentially a wide receiver, Witten will get more looks in the red zone with Owens in Buffalo. He never had more than seven touchdowns in a single NFL season, but that’ll change.
If you’re in a PPR League, make sure you target Witten as early as the bottom of Round 3 (12-man league). He’ll have at least 10 more receptions than every other tight end.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 88 catches. 1,040 yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 158.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 246.
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Antonio Gates, Chargers. Bye: 5.
Throw out Antonio Gates’ 2008 season. I listed Gates as a potential bust last summer because of his lingering foot injury. Gates went on to catch eight touchdowns, but had just 60 receptions for 704 yards. Definitely not elite tight end numbers.
Gates will be back in 2009. He’s healthy again, and might be undervalued in a league if most of the owners put too much stock into his 2008 production.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 74 catches. 960 yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 150.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 224.
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Dallas Clark, Colts. Bye: 6.
AUG. 30 UPDATE: Dallas Clark led the Colts in receptions with six for 63 yards and a score. Clark caught all three of his targets on the first drive. Look for a bump in his numbers now that Marvin Harrison is gone.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: Dallas Clark had been a perennially overrated tight end until the 2007 season, when he somehow snagged 11 touchdowns. Clark’s scoring total dropped to six in 2008, but his receptions (77) and yardage (848) both rose, as Marvin Harrison’s production dropped off.
With Harrison officially done, Clark will be more important than ever to Peyton Manning. He’s a borderline top-three tight end.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 78 catches. 875 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 135.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 213.
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Tony Gonzalez, Falcons. Bye: 4.
AUG. 23 UPDATE: So much for not knowing the offense. Against the Rams, Tony Gonzalez moved the chains with an 11-yard reception on third down. He later caught a 14-yard touchdown. Gonzalez finished with three receptions for 32 yards and that score.
AUG. 20 UPDATE: Tony Gonzalez said he’s struggling with the playbook: “I’ll admit I’m still somewhat uncomfortable. I’m learning a new offense, I’m making new friends, learning a new freeway system. All the things going into switching teams, I’m going through it right now and it’s kind of tough, like being a rookie all over again.”
Gonzalez is going to have to block more than he ever did in Kansas City. Don’t reach for him.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: At 32, Tony Gonzalez showed no signs of aging, recording more than 95 receptions and 1,050 yards for the second consecutive year. All but two of his 10 touchdowns came with Tyler Thigpen under center. It’s a good thing Matt Ryan is just a bit better than Thigpen!
In all seriousness, Gonzalez will be overdrafted in your league. The upgrade he has at quarterback is too obvious. But the thing is, Atlanta won’t throw nearly as much as the Chiefs did with Thigpen last year. There’s much more value with Dallas Clark in Round 6, Chris Cooley in Round 7 and Greg Olsen in Round 8 than there is with Gonzalez in Round 5.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 72 catches. 860 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 125.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 197.
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Chris Cooley, Redskins. Bye: 8.
Jim Zorn did a great job murdering Chris Cooley’s fantasy value last year. While Cooley had career-high receptions (83) and yards (849), he caught just one touchdown, debacling Touchdown League fantasy owners everywhere.
The one score is a fluke. Cooley’s touchdown total will bounce back, especially given that Jason Campbell will be in the same system for the second year in a row.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 78 catches. 830 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 119.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 197.
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Greg Olsen, Bears. Bye: 5. 
AUG. 2 UPDATE: As expected, Jay Cutler’s first option on almost every play in training camp thus far has been Greg Olsen. Olsen could be poised for a huge year.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: Jay Cutler sure loves giving it to his tight ends. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
In just seven starts (he played 13 games, but was hurt for six of them), Tony Scheffler caught 40 passes for 645 yards and three touchdowns last season. In seven starts in 2007, Scheffler registered 49 receptions, 549 yards and five scores.
Greg Olsen is much more athletically gifted than Scheffler. The Miami product managed 54 catches, 574 yards and five touchdowns last year. With Cutler under center, I expect Olsen’s numbers to keep improving. I’ll be pretty surprised if Olsen, now entering his third season, doesn’t emerge as a top second-tier tight end.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 72 catches. 830 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 119.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 191.
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Jeremy Shockey, Saints. Bye: 5.
AUG. 30 UPDATE: With Nnamdi Asomugha erasing Marques Colston, Drew Brees targeted Jeremy Shockey four times in a quarter and a half Saturday afternoon. Shockey caught all four balls, finishing with 48 yards, including receptions of 21 and 22.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: Going into New Orleans’ high-powered offense, Jeremy Shockey was expected to put up massive numbers. Unfortunately, Shockey scored absolutely no touchdowns, though he managed 50 receptions and 483 yards in 12 games.
Now that Sean Payton and Drew Brees have an entire offseason to work with Shockey, I believe the former Giants tight end will have a much better season. He might be undervalued in your league because of his mediocre 2008 campaign.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 70 catches. 725 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 108.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 178.
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John Carlson, Seahawks. Bye: 7.
SEPT. 1 UPDATE: John Carlson caught all five of his targets Saturday night, and it looked like Matt Hasselbeck was very comfortable throwing to him. Carlson’s five grabs went for 68 yards and a score.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: Despite being handicapped with Seneca Wallace, John Carlson had a great rookie season for a tight end, catching 55 passes for 627 yards and five touchdowns. In a three-game stretch in Weeks 13-15, Carlson had 19 receptions, 250 yards and a touchdown.
Carlson can only improve as a player, but T.J. Houshmandzadeh will take away some of his end-zone looks. Matt Hasselbeck’s return to the lineup, however, should cancel that out.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 64 catches. 725 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 108.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 172.
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Owen Daniels, Texans. Bye: 10. 
AUG. 1 UPDATE: Owen Daniels, unhappy with his contract, reported to training camp. Daniels is still a fringe TE1 who is not an end-zone option.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: Between Weeks 1 and 9, Owen Daniels had six games where he caught at least four passes. After that, Daniels notched at least four catches only three times. The dropoff in his production coincided with the emergence of Steve Slaton.
It’s also important to note that in his three NFL seasons, Daniels’ touchdown totals have dropped from five to three to two. With the massive Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter split out wide, there aren’t many red-zone looks to go around.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 72 catches. 860 yards. 3 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 104.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 176.
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Zach Miller, Raiders. Bye: 9.
AUG. 30 UPDATE: Statistically, Zach Miller had the best game of any of JaMarcus Russell’s targets Saturday afternoon, finishing with five grabs for 74 yards. Unfortunately, Miller committed a fumble as well.
AUG. 25 UPDATE: Zach Miller caught all three of his targets for 11, 3 and 2 yards. Miller remains one of the lesster TE1s despite Oakland’s offensive problems.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: The one consistent receiving option the Raiders had last year, Zach Miller had 56 receptions for 778 yards in his second season. Unfortunately, JaMarcus Russell’s ineptitude affected his touchdown total, which stood at one.
Russell’s work ethic apparently hasn’t improved, but Miller remains a solid fantasy option amid all of the slop in Oakland.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 63 catches. 850 yards. 3 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 103.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 166.
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Kellen Winslow Jr., Buccaneers. Bye: 8.
AUG. 28 UPDATE: Despite the fact that Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton were out Thursday night, Kellen Winslow Jr. only saw two targets. Winslow didn’t come away with a catch because Leftwich was completely inaccurate on both attempts. Winslow owners should continue to expect this until Leftwich is benched.
AUG. 24 UPDATE: Kellen Winslow Jr. was not targeted at all by Byron Leftwich on Saturday night. In fact, all Winslow did was commit a false start to open the game. Leftwich is a pedestrian quarterback at best, and consequently may not be able to get the ball to Winslow.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: Battling injuries and horrendous quarterback play, Kellen Winslow Jr. managed just 43 receptions, 428 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games. Aesthetically, Tampa Bay’s offense doesn’t seem much better, though Luke McCown has a strong arm, the offensive line is very underrated and Antonio Bryant will draw double coverage.
Winslow won’t match his 2007 totals (82 catches, 1,106 yards and five touchdowns), but he’ll be undervalued in your league if most of the guys think Tampa’s scoring attack will hold Winslow back. Your only concern should be if Winslow can stay healthy or not.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 62 catches. 760 yards. 4 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 100.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 162.
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Dustin Keller, Jets. Bye: 9.
SEPT. 4 UPDATE: Of Mark Sanchez’s five throws on Thursday night, three went to Dustin Keller. Keller caught all three balls for 44 yards. We haven’t seen much of Sanchez yet, but it looks like Keller is his favorite target.
PREVIOUS UPDATES: In his first eight games as a pro, Dustin Keller caught 13 passes for 147 yards. In his next eight games, Keller had 35 receptions and 388 yards. Does this make Keller a great value at tight end? Nope. It makes him overvalued.
Chris Baker is gone. Baker was the Jets’ blocking tight end last year. He was the guy who allowed Keller to be a receiving option. With Baker gone, Keller is going to have to do more blocking than ever. And unless I’m mistaken, you don’t get points for blocking in fantasy football.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Stats: 65 catches. 725 yards. 4 total TDs.
Projected 2009 Fantasy Points: 96.
Projected 2009 PPR Fantasy Points: 161.
2009 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends 1-12 | Tight Ends 13-32
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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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