These 2016 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 2016 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2016 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings - Tight Ends (Sept. 7):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-45
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Tyler Eifert, TE, Bengals. Bye: 9. 
AUG. 26 UPDATE: Tyler Eifert is targeting Week 4-6 as his return from his ankle injury. Considering Eifert may miss five games – plus his bye, which is Week 9 – he’s being selected too early at his 7.06 ADP.
JULY 11 UPDATE: Bengals Director of Personnel Duke Tobin said that Tyler Eifert is likely to miss some games. Adam Schefter has reported as such recently, but this comes straight from the horse’s mouth. Eifert can still be a solid pick if he falls enough in your draft.
JUNE 21 UPDATE: Tyler Eifert is not expected to be ready for Week 1. Eifert could make it back in time, but it appears as though he’ll miss the first couple of games. You can probably use this opportunity to draft him for solid value, though.
Think Andy Dalton liked having Tyler Eifert back in the lineup? Eifert was a major end-zone target for Dalton in 2015, catching 13 touchdowns. That number will regress to the mean, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Eifert’s reception total (52) rise.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 62 catches. 720 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 114.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 176.
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Dwayne Allen, TE, Colts. Bye: 10.
AUG. 30 UPDATE: Dwayne Allen missed Monday’s practice because of hip soreness. Sounds like something I go through every morning. Allen is still a borderline TE1 for me, but this situation is worth monitoring, given Allen’s injury history.
Dwayne Allen caught eight touchdowns in 2014, but injuries to both him and Andrew Luck derailed his chances this past season. Allen is a risky player because of his injury history, but he’ll have more targets with Coby Fleener gone.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 58 catches. 710 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 107.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 165.
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Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys. Bye: 7. 
Jason Witten had a strong 2015 campaign, catching 77 passes for 713 yards. The problem was he found the end zone just three times because of Dallas’ ineptitude at quarterback. Things will be better with Tony Romo back, but it’s fair to wonder if Romo will be able to play all 16 games. Witten is a risk because of this.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 72 catches. 760 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 106.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 178.
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Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers. Bye: 11.
Antonio Gates reportedly chose not to retire this offseason despite turning 36. Gates had a solid 2015 campaign, snagging 56 balls for 630 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. Gates could slow down, but should still be a decent TE2.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 62 catches. 690 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 105.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 167.
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Martellus Bennett, TE, Patriots. Bye: 9.
AUG. 12 UPDATE: Martellus Bennett had a strong 2014 campaign, but did nothing last year. It appears as though he’s on track to rebounding, as he looked like he was in fantastic shape in the preseason opener. Jimmy Garoppolo targeted him four times, and Bennett caught three of those passes for 33 yards. Rob Gronkowski didn’t play, but the Patriots are planning on using a two-tight end offense like they did when Aaron Hernandez was still on the team. Bennett is worth picking up late in the draft as a high-end TE2.
JUNE 21 UPDATE: Martellus Bennett could be a “big factor” in New England’s offense, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The Patriots apparently want Bennett to be their new Aaron Hernandez – as a football player; not a killer – and Bennett has been working extremely hard this offseason. He’s more than just a backup tight end; he’ll see plenty of action in two-tight end sets.
Martellus Bennett fell out of favor with the Bears this past season, which was odd because he caught 90 passes for 916 yards in 2014. Bennett signed with the Patriots, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be productive; Aaron Hernandez was with Rob Gronkowski in the lineup. However, if Gronkowski sustains an injury, Bennett’s production would sky rocket.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 62 catches. 690 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 105.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 167.
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Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings. Bye: 6.
AUG. 28 UPDATE: Kyle Rudolph tied Stefon Diggs with five targets in one half of action against the Chargers. Rudolph looks healthy for a change, and if he stays that way, he could be a borderline TE1. Rudolph logged three receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. His only blemish was a lost fumble in the second quarter.
We’ve been waiting for Kyle Rudolph to have a breakout year for a while, yet it just isn’t happening. I think we can safely give up on him at this point.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 62 catches. 650 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 101.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 163.
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Jared Cook, TE, Packers. Bye: 4.
AUG. 24 UPDATE: Aaron Rodgers has developed a strong rapport with Jared Cook recently, per Wes Hodkiewicz, Packers.com. It wouldn’t be the most surprising thing if Cook turns into a low-end TE1 this season, considering who his quarterback is. He’s one of the many high-upside tight ends available in the final couple of rounds.
JUNE 21 UPDATE: Jared Cook will miss the rest of OTAs because of foot surgery. Not a good start to his stint with the Packers. Cook could be back for the season opener, but he could aggravate his injury. He’s only a late-round flier at best.
Jared Cook did a great job stealing money from the Rams’ organization. He’s very physically gifted, but hasn’t done anything with his talent. He sucks, but he’ll be playing with a professional quarterback for the first time in Aaron Rodgers.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 51 catches. 640 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 94.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 145.
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Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams. Bye: 8. 
AUG. 14 UPDATE: Someone new who will be appearing in my Fantasy Football Sleepers list is fourth-round rookie tight end Tyler Higbee. The Western Kentucky product is a big, athletic talent who dropped in the draft because of character concerns. Higbee dominated the preseason opener, catching five balls for 49 yards. The Rams don’t have much on offense, so Higbee could contribute right away.
AUG. 10 UPDATE: Tyler Higbee has been having a great training camp, according to Greg Bedard, Sports Illustrated. Bedard went on to compare Higbee to Travis Kelce. This might be premature, but Higbee definitely has the raw talent. I wouldn’t draft him as a rookie, but he’s someone worth monitoring for the second half of the year and 2017.
Tyler Higbee has major talent, but happens to be terrible off the field. If he can get his life together, he’ll be a solid fantasy tight end option. That’s a big “if,” but he’s worth taking a chance on in dynasty formats. He’s a non-factor in re-drafts, especially given that he might be suspended.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 54 catches. 630 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 93.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 147.
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Eric Ebron, TE, Lions. Bye: 10.
Eric Ebron hasn’t lived up to his potential as a top-10 pick, catching only 47 passes for 537 yards and five touchdowns in 2015. He needs to get the mental part of his game together to take the next step. Perhaps that’ll happen in 2016, as someone needs to step up in the wake of Calvin Johnson’s retirement.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 55 catches. 620 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 92.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 147.
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Jimmy Graham, TE, Seahawks. Bye: 5.
SEPT. 5 UPDATE: The Seahawks remain “uncertain” of Jimmy Graham’s Week 1 status, according to Bob Condotta, Seattle Times. Why do people still believe Graham will do anything this year? No one has ever fully returned from a torn patellar tendon, and I don’t expect that to change now.
SEPT. 3 UPDATE: Jimmy Graham is “no sure thing” for Week 1, according to Ian Rapoport, NFL.com. Of course he’s not. Only one player has ever come back from a torn patellar tendon, and Robert Brooks had only one quality season after that happened. Graham is undraftable unless you want to take a flier on him in the final two rounds.
SEPT. 1 UPDATE: Jimmy Graham has only been practicing “against air” since his return. There’s no way Graham is going to be a factor coming off a torn patellar tendon in less than a year. I’d only touch him in the late rounds.
AUG. 18 UPDATE: The Seahawks expressed concern about Jimmy Graham’s availability for Week 1. Finally, some realistic thinking. Graham isn’t going to be doing much this year, as almost no one has returned from a torn patellar tendon successfully.
AUG. 11 UPDATE: Jimmy Graham has been activated off the active/PUP list. This is a surprise, but it’s still not a reason to draft Graham in the first 12 rounds. He’s rushing back too quickly and will sustain other leg injuries just as Victor Cruz did last year. I’ll give Graham a stock up for now, but it’s not really worth much.
JULY 29 UPDATE: Jimmy Graham won’t be ready for the start of training camp. Graham, unfortunately, won’t be ready for a lot of things this year. He’s someone to avoid, as players just don’t have success coming off torn patellar tendons.
Remember how I warned you not to draft Victor Cruz no matter what last summer? I’ll do the same thing about Jimmy Graham. I wouldn’t take him in the first 12 rounds. Graham is coming of a torn patellar tendon, an injury which athletes simply do not recover from. Graham should sit out all of 2016, but he’ll try to rush back and will develop other leg injuries as a result.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 35 catches. 440 yards. 3 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 87.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 122.
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings - Tight Ends (Sept. 7):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-45
More 2016 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/15 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/15 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/13 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/13 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/27 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 9/1 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/31 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Real Draft - 8/29 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/25 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 8/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/24 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/13 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/11 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/4 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/4 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/2 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/28 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 7/21 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Draft - 5/13 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings - 8/26 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Articles:
2016 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/4 (Walt)
2016 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Preseason Quarterback Targets - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Targets - 8/31 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Auction Advice - 8/24 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Daily Fantasy Preseason Week 2 Streaming Options - 8/18 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Draft Queue: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends - 8/17 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Draft Queue: Quarterbacks and Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Training Camp Notes - 8/10 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers to Avoid - 8/6 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Running Backs to Avoid - 8/5 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Notes - 7/26 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Late-Round Wide Receiver Targets - 7/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Late-Round Running Back Targets - 7/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football ADP Values - 7/14 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: C.J. Anderson Profile - 7/7 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Favorite MFL Players - 6/29 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: 2016 NFL Draft Fallout: Chip Kelly - 6/23 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Marvin Jones Profile - 6/22 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Devin Funchess Profile - 6/15 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football 2-QB Draft - 6/9 (Chet)
Fantasy Football Beginner's Guide - 6/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: Running Back Drafting and ADP - 6/3 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Drafting and ADP - 6/1 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Eli Manning Profile - 5/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Jordan Matthews Profile - 5/24 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty Draft Wrap-up - 5/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: 2016 NFL Draft Fallout - 5/11 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Quarterback Values - 4/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Wide Receiver Values - 4/28 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Tight End Strength of Schedule - 4/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Strength of Schedule - 4/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Running Back Strength of Schedule - 4/20 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Strength of Schedule - 4/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 - 2/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Philip Rivers - 2/16 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback ADP vs. Reality - 2/12 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Fallout: Marshawn Lynch Retires - 2/11 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Fallout: Calvin Johnson Retires - 2/9 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Dynasty - 1/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Tight Ends - 1/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Wide Receivers - 1/14 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Running Backs - 1/13 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Quarterbacks - 1/12 (Chet)
NFL Picks - Dec. 11
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
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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