2018 Fantasy Football – Tight Ends Better Than ADP





By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.

As I prepare for my own drafts, I’m looking at what players I’ve ranked higher than their Average Draft Position to see if I still like them at that spot and to see who I’m liking more than the public at large. Below is a portion of that list, highlighting the Tight Ends I’ll most likely own just based on the law of averages and personal preference.

Delanie Walker (TE7), Titans
Walker should remain Marcus Mariota’s favorite receiver due to his consistency, and he should continue to be a favorite for fantasy footballers for the same reason. Walker has finished as the seventh-best or better tight end in fantasy over the last three seasons and should get an uptick in efficiency and scoring with Frank Reich as offensive coordinator this season.



George Kittle (TE13), 49ers
The 49ers have a great offensive coordinator in Kyle Shanahan, but they aren’t flush with top targets for their up-and-coming quarterback. Yes, Pierre Garcon will return, and they picked Austin Pettis, but I see Kittle as being a big part of this offense after putting together a solid rookie season for a tight end.

Vance McDonald (TE21), Steelers
McDonald flashed when healthy last season and really picked things up with a big game in the Steelers’ playoff loss. He’s a much better receiver and runner than Jesse James and can out-shoot Billy The Kid. He has had plenty of health trouble that has kept him off the field, so he will remain a risky pick, but I’ll take that risk at his current ADP.



David Njoku (TE15), Browns
The Browns have too much talent to feel confident about who gets what targets, but in his second year, Njoku has the starting job wrapped up, and he showed me enough last season to be excited about his prospects in his new role.

Charles Clay (TE29), Bills
Clay and Kelvin Benjamin are the two most reliable targets in Buffalo and whoever is quarterback will need to rely on them. Clay is risky due to his prematurely aged knees, but as the 29th tight end off the board, I don’t see how you can lose.

Jared Cook (TE18), Raiders
Cook was inconsistent last season, but he did finish as the ninth-best fantasy tight end and this season won’t battle Michael Crabtree for red-zone looks. Cook had just nine red-zone looks in 2017 compared to 10 for Amari Cooper and 14 for Crabtree, while Crabtree also missed four games and wasn’t 100 percent for others. Jordy Nelson is on the downswing of his career; Seth Roberts is on the roster bubble; and Cooper hasn’t shown great red zone prowess; so I’m okay with Cook, especially as the 18th tight end off the board.





Ben Watson (TE26), Saints
Watson’s best season as a pro came two seasons ago with the Saints, when he finished as the eight-best fantasy tight end. He will have trouble getting the targets he did that season, but he will also be on a great offensive team and set up for good touchdown numbers. We know Drew Brees likes throwing to the tight end, and even with Jimmy Graham getting traded in 2014, the Saints still have ranked fifth in red-zone targets to the position.

Eric Ebron (TE20), Colts
Ebron’s inconsistency got him shipped out of Detroit, but when you look at the numbers, there is plenty to be hopeful for, especially when you consider that he just turned 25 and Frank Reich, the Colts new offensive coordinator, loves targeting tight ends. Unfortunately, Jack Doyle, who is not inconsistent, is going to hurt Ebron’s total numbers. The question is, how badly will he hurt them and can Ebron win the 1a job and push Doyle to 1b? I don’t have a definitive answer, but I do think Ebron is a better offensive weapon than Doyle and can beat him out for the target lead this year.

Jake Butt (TE36), Broncos
Butt had all the makings to be an early pick in the 2016 NFLraft but ended up suffering a torn ACL in his last bowl game. He now has worked his way back and is getting praise for his ability during the offseason program. The starting tight end job is up for grabs, and Butt could quickly take the lead and then sit on it all the way to a healthy 2018 fantasy season.

For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.










More 2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings

2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)



2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)



2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)

2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)






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