Jared Cook ended 2011 with a bang, totaling 21 catches for 335 yards and two touchdowns with two 100-yard games in his final three outings. That could set him up to be a factor in the Titans' offense in 2012. Cook fits the mold of the big, matchup-breaking tight end that dominated a number of defenses last year. After posting career-highs last season (49 catches for 759 yards and three touchdowns), Fantasy owners should consider him a sleeper this season with a real chance to top those numbers. If you're not into spending an early- or middle-round pick on a tight end, then Cook's one to check out as a sleeper starting in Round 10. Pairing him with another sleeper tight end might be a successful plan for owners.
If two years of evidence is anything to go by then we should have Dustin Keller pegged. He will get off to a hot start -- he's got five touchdowns in September the past two years -- before pulling a disappearing act. He'll have a two-touchdown game against Buffalo, something he's done twice the last two seasons. And he should finish the year with five touchdowns. Keller has the potential to be a star, and he's entering a contract year this season so he could be motivated to play well. But his production tends to be mediocre, especially after September. The good news for Keller is the Jets need help in their passing game with no credible weapons beyond Santonio Holmes, so he might see more targets by default. Still, you should only view Keller as a good No. 2 Fantasy tight end at best with a late-round pick. Perhaps he's a good tight end to start the season with before replacing him when (if) he turns cold.
Despite producing five touchdowns and 540 yards in his first year with Cam Newton and the Panthers, tight end Greg Olsen still left a lot to be desired. When Olsen landed in Carolina, expectations were so high that Fantasy owners believed he'd top nearly all of his career-best numbers, but he didn't come close. Injuries might have played a part, but his ugly finish (two scores in his last 11 games) will scare off Fantasy owners. We'd eyeball him with a late-round pick as either a low-end starter or a quality reserve with the potential to do what we thought he'd do last season.
Martellus Bennett has long been thought of as one of the best No. 2 tight ends in the NFL, but now he's escaping Jason Witten's shadow in Dallas to become the potential starter for the Giants. He signed a one-year deal this offseason with New York, and he could start with Jake Ballard (knee) and Travis Beckum (knee) likely not ready for the start of the year. Thanks to his size (6 foot 7), Bennett has a ton of upside, but he's often not had the right frame of mind to play effectively, something that turned coaches off in Dallas. In New York, things could be very different. He is worth drafting with a late-round flier in deep leagues, and he is definitely someone to monitor if he goes undrafted in your league.
The NFL saw a slew of tight ends put up some good numbers in 2011. Kellen Winslow wasn't one of them. He did catch 75 passes for 763 yards in his eighth season, but he scored twice and had one game with double-digit Fantasy points (standard scoring). Now Winslow finds himself in Seattle, where he'll spend the summer jockeying for playing time with the Seahawks' other tight ends. Winslow hasn't missed a game in three years and has at least 66 catches in each of those three years, so he can be productive without missing time. But he's also slowing down, as evidenced by his 10.2 yards per catch average last season. Tack on the less-than-ideal quarterback situation in Seattle and Winslow isn't very appealing even with the change of scenery. He's fine as a No. 2 Fantasy TE worth a late pick, but don't expect him to put up huge numbers. Consider taking a sleeper tight end like Jared Cook or Martellus Bennett instead of Winslow.
In a league full of playmaking tight ends, Heath Miller stands out as a declining option for Fantasy purposes. Miller scored twice last year on 51 catches for 631 yards (12. 4 yard average). He did plenty of work as a blocker, which kept him on the field, but his receiving totals aren't where they were from his breakout 2009 season. Now he'll have to fend off Leonard Pope in training camp for the reps he's used to having. Miller's stuck at the bottom of a very deep position in Fantasy and shouldn't be taken as anything more than a late-round flier, if at all. If there's a silver lining, it's that he should be available as a one-week replacement off waivers during the season, a role he's fit for.
Kyle Rudolph figures to be a trendy late-round sleeper in Fantasy drafts this season. That's because he finished his rookie campaign with three touchdowns in his final seven games. But the guy never had more than three catches or more than 44 yards in any of his 16 games. The Vikings added John Carlson to their roster, and he could potentially hurt Rudolph's production. But the 6-foot-6 Rudolph reminds a lot of folks of Rob Gronkowski, and he might be used as such in 2012. He's worth a late-round pick in all drafts; if he does well, he's a steal. If he struggles, just cut him.
Ed Dickson has the size to be a playmaking tight end, but opportunities and inconsistent play have hurt him in the past and might limit him in the future. Dickson's second season produced some good numbers - 54 grabs for 528 yards and five scores, but outside of a career game against Seattle he really wasn't great for Fantasy owners while sharing time and targets with Dennis Pitta. Expect Dickson to get taken late in some drafts, but don't count on him to be anything more than a one-week replacement option for owners in 2012.
Fantasy owners should hope that Marcedes Lewis is over his big-money hangover after going from 10 touchdowns in 2010 to zilch in 2011. Lewis was a colossal disappointment but figures to rebound in new head coach Mike Mularkey's offense, which has featured the tight end prominently. Lewis is worth a late-round gamble in deeper Fantasy formats but probably will best serve owners as a potential waiver-wire player during the season. If he can start to find the end zone again, he'll regain some relevance in Fantasy.
Dallas Clark signed a one-year deal with the Bucs in late May, replacing Kellen Winslow and giving quarterback Josh Freeman a decent short-area target. A recent history of injuries along with declining production (352 yards in 11 games) makes Clark fairly unappealing for Fantasy owners. He's fine as a low-risk, late-round pick but no one should expect Clark to put up huge numbers.
Scott Chandler went from an unknown to a decent Fantasy tight end in 2011, and he will look to build on his performance this year. Prior to last year, Chandler had one catch for 8 yards in his career, but he ended 2011 with 38 catches for 389 yards and six touchdowns. He didn't score after Week 8, and the Bills don't quite have a dynamic passing attack. But Chandler has the chance to be a useful bye-week replacement for Fantasy owners this season. The "poor man's Rob Gronkowski" is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues, but Chandler should be added off the waiver wire if you need a tight end during a bye, especially with the right matchup.
Zach Miller was a tremendous disappointment with the Seahawks in 2011 after he signed a huge contract prior to the season. Miller had just 25 catches for 233 yards and no touchdowns, which were all career lows. He suffered going to a new team after four years in Oakland, but he could rebound this year with a new quarterback in Matt Flynn, who should take over for Tarvaris Jackson. Miller is not worth drafting in the majority of leagues, but he is someone to keep your eye on. If he starts out the season playing well then he would be worth adding off the waiver wire as a bye-week or injury replacement.
Lance Kendricks was a star last preseason, but he forgot to keep playing at a high level once the real games started. Kendricks had just 28 catches for 352 yards and no scores as a rookie in 2011, struggling between drops, injury woes and inconsistent quarterback play in St. Louis. He does have plenty of potential and now coach Jeff Fisher envisions him playing a prominent role. We're excited for Kendricks this year but he has a lot to prove. Don't plan on drafting him in the majority of leagues, but he could be a great bye-week or injury replacement. If he gets off to a hot start then he is definitely worth adding off the waiver wire.
It wasn't until late in 2011 that Dennis Pitta started to get more work in the Ravens offense. In his first 12 games last season he had 28 catches for 289 yards and one touchdown. In his final six (including two postseason games), Pitta had 19 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns, and that includes a game where he didn't even make a catch. Pitta has all sorts of upside, but he would need to land regular playing time to become reliable for our needs. That would mean he'd have to unseat Ed Dickson as the primary tight end for the Ravens. Until that happens, Pitta isn't worth a roster spot outside the deepest of Fantasy leagues.
Kevin Boss left Oakland this offseason after one disappointing year to sign a three-year deal in Kansas City. Boss, who had two consecutive years with at least 35 catches, 530 yards and five touchdowns with the Giants, struggled with the Raiders in 2011 with 28 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns. With the Chiefs, Boss should start ahead of Tony Moeaki, but he has a lot to prove to Fantasy owners. We consider Boss a reserve Fantasy tight end at best, and he should not be drafted in most formats. If he starts out the season playing well then add him off the waiver wire, or he can be a one-week replacement during the season.
