By Steve Strange. Steve Strange, a graduate of Penn State’s Center for Sports Journalism in 2006, is currently writing Fantasy is Reality, a book geared around the commissioner aspect of fantasy sports. Steve has been playing fantasy sports of all sorts and sizes since 1997. Feel free to e-mail Steve questions and comments at [email protected].
These 2010 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Rankings will be updated often throughout the summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out the other 2010 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2010 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material.
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Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Vikings. Bye: 4.
Shiancoe grew into a huge fantasy factor last season. He scored 11 touchdowns, which was second most among all tight ends.
What to Like: As Brad Childress visits Brett Favre in Mississippi, Shiancoe’s fantasy relevance remains intact.
Concern: Shiancoe is 30, and 2009 was his best season by far. It’s possible he’s peaked.
X-Factor: The Vikings traded up in the second round for 231-pound Toby Gerhart, who gives the Vikings even more reason to keep it on the ground inside the 5-yard line.
Favre formed a connection with Shiancoe last year, but the Vikings offense is chock-full of fantasy factors. Shiancoe is a low risk, medium-reward pick.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 58 catches. 580 yards. 10 total TDs.
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Owen Daniels, TE, Texans. Bye: 7.
Daniels was tremendous the first seven games of 2009 (39 receptions for 497 yards and 5 touchdowns). Then a torn ACL robbed him of a career season in Week 8.
What to Like: With Matt Schaub throwing, and Andre Johnson killing defensive backs, the 27-year-old Daniels has a great chance to pick up where he left off.
Concern: I’m always wary of players coming off season-ending injuries.
X-Factor: Daniels had 70 receptions for 862 yards in a Pro Bowl 2008 season. He’s not a one-year wonder.
Health is the key with Daniels. If he looks good in the preseason, don’t be afraid to make him your No. 1 tight end.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 68 catches. 835 yards. 5 total TDs.
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Zach Miller, TE, Raiders. Bye: 10.
Miller was the only consistent position player on Oakland’s offense last season. His 66 receptions accounted for more than a quarter of Oakland’s catches.
What to Like: Jason Campbell is a better quarterback than Miller’s used to. Miller’s receptions and targets have increased each season.
Concern: The Raiders’ futility kills Miller’s fantasy value. Oakland doesn’t score enough touchdowns, and neither does he (seven touchdowns over three seasons).
X-Factor: Miller is only 24, and should only get better.
He’s a steady performer on a bad team.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 58 catches. 750 yards. 3 total TDs.
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Jeremy Shockey, TE, Saints. Bye: 10.
Shockey was an integral factor in New Orleans’ 2009 playoff dominance, but his fantasy impact was minimal at best.
What to Like: Shockey plays with ferocity, and Drew Brees will look his direction.
Concern: Shockey turns 30 in August, and he’s never played a full NFL season. Age and injury concerns usually do not mesh into fantasy production.
X-Factor: Shockey had three touchdowns in two regular seasons as a Saint, but caught two touchdowns in last year’s playoffs. Maybe he can carry some of that red-zone momentum into this year.
As Shockey’s real life value increases, his fantasy impact minimizes. Take him as a backup, but don’t expect 2005 numbers.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 52 catches. 590 yards. 6 total TDs.
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Kevin Boss, TE, Giants. Bye: 8.
Boss’ targets, catches and yards have steadily increased in three NFL seasons.
What to Like: Boss is 26 and entering a contract year. He’s caught 11 touchdown passes the last two seasons.
Concern: Boss is solid, but doesn’t have the look of a fantasy stud.
X-Factor: Boss was forced to stay in to block last year due to offensive line struggles. If Chris Snee, David Diehl and Shaun O’ Hara can get the unit back on track, Boss will be able to run more routes this year.
There is some upside attraction to Boss, but stay realistic.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 48 catches. 630 yards. 6 total TDs.
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Greg Olsen, TE, Bears. Bye: 8.
Olsen is coming off his best NFL season (60 catches for 612 yards and 8 touchdowns). His targets, catches, yards and touchdowns have increased each season.
What to Like: Olsen led Bears receivers in catches and touchdowns in 2009.
Concern: Mike Martz usually keeps tight ends in to block. Martz was never able to cash in on Vernon Davis’ talent in San Francisco.
X-Factor: Olsen is only 25, and appears to have Jay Cutler’s trust.
Olsen has everything going for him, with the exception of Mike Martz. Maybe Martz is secretly finding a way to incorporate Olsen, but draft with caution.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 53 catches. 570 yards. 6 total TDs.
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John Carlson, TE, Seahawks. Bye: 5.
The 26-year-old Carlson has put together back-to-back solid seasons.
What to Like: Carlson scored seven touchdowns last season, which led all Seahawks running backs and receivers. Add in five touchdowns in 2008, and Carlson is officially a steady red-zone producer.
Concern: It’s not a huge deal, but the Seahawks drafted tight end Anthony McCoy in the sixth round. Chris Baker was also signed in the offseason. The Seahawks should implement some two tight-end sets, but three could be a crowd.
X-Factor: Carlson has caught more than 50 passes each of the last two seasons.
There is a big dropoff after Owen Daniels. Zach Miller, Jeremy Shockey, Kevin Boss, Greg Olsen and John Carlson all have similar fantasy values.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 52 catches. 585 yards. 6 total TDs.
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Dustin Keller, TE, Jets. Bye: 7.
Keller enters 2010 as the starting tight end on a good offense.
What to Like: The Jets now have many offensive weapons, and Keller should be hard for defenses to keep track of.
Concern: There are only so many footballs to go around. Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Jericho Cotchery, Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson will all eat before Keller.
X-Factor: The 25-year-old Keller has never had more than 50 caches or three touchdowns in a season. His ceiling is lower than you would like.
Keller is a solid bye week fill-in.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 47 catches. 525 yards. 3 total TDs.
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Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals. Bye: 6.
The Bengals wisely drafted Gresham, a 261-pound physical specimen, with the 21st-overall pick in April’s draft.
What to Like: The Bengals wouldn’t have a used first round pick on Gresham if they thought Reggie Kelly and Chase Coffman are answers at tight end.
Concern: Gresham missed all of 2009 with a torn meniscus. Rookies coming off season-long injuries are the ultimate risk.
X-Factor: As the Bengals offense slowly evolves towards smash mouth, Gresham could be the perfect fit.
He’s worth a late-round flier, especially in deep leagues.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 45 catches. 490 yards. 3 total TDs.
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Todd Heap, TE, Ravens. Bye: 8.
Heap was one of the game’s best fantasy tight ends four years ago, but started fading fast after an injury in 2007. He saved his fantasy worth with a solid 2009.
What to Like: Heap was at his best during fantasy football championships. He had two touchdowns in Week 15, and two more in Week 16.
Concern: Heap is 30, and the Ravens drafted tight ends Ed Dickson (third round) and Dennis Pitta (fourth round).
X-Factor: Anquan Boldin will relieve pressure from Heap, but he’ll also hog catches and touchdowns.
Heap isn’t as good, or bad, as he used to be. He should be set for one more productive fantasy season.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 42 catches. 470 yards. 4 total TDs.
More 2010 Fantasy Football Articles:
2010 Fantasy Football: Home
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2010 Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings - 1/5 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Week 17 Fantasy Rankings - 1/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 6/6 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 7/3 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 7/14 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 7/20 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/10 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/11 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Auction Values - 9/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Linemen - 8/3 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Linebackers - 8/7 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Backs - 8/14 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Team-by-Team - 6/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Dynasty Rookie Rankings - 4/30 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Rookie Rankings - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 Traditional - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 PPR - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 Touchdown League - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Downloadable Spreadsheets - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: WF.com Free League - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real Traditional Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real PPR Draft - 8/26 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real PPR Draft - 8/18 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real Experts PPR Draft - 8/12 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Experts Mock Draft - 8/12 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Pros vs. Joes - 7/28 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR Draft with AKA - 7/20 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Mocking ESPN's Fantasy Mock Draft - 7/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: The Four-Man PPR Fantasy Draft - 7/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Articles:
2010 Fantasy Football Injury Reports: Week 17 - 1/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em - 12/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Add/Drop - 12/20 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Stock Index - Week 8 - 10/29 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football Buffet: Week 8 - 10/28 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Stock - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 9/3 (Walt)
2010 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 9/3 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: High-Upside Late-Round Sleepers - 8/25 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Top 12 Players to Avoid - 8/25 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Undervalued Players - 8/13 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Buy Low - 8/6 (Walt)
ESPN's 2010 Fantasy Football Magazine Errors - 8/3 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Defense Strategy - 8/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: My Round-by-Round Strategy - 7/27 (Walt)
Lack of 2010 Fantasy Depth: Blame the 2008 NFL Draft Class - 7/26 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Why You Should Pass on Chris Johnson - 7/14 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Draft Strategies - 7/13 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Scarcity - 6/30 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers (Late-Round) - 6/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers (Mid-Round) - 6/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Busts - 5/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mailbag - 5/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Quarterbacks with New Receivers - 5/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: 2010 NFL Draft Stock Up - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: 2010 NFL Draft Stock Down - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Free Agency Stock Up - 4/15 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Free Agency Stock Down - 4/12 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 4/10 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Dec. 15
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
