In any fantasy draft, there are only a handful of tight ends good enough to reach up to draft. After those guys are gone, you are better off waiting and taking a high-risk, high-reward tight end late in the draft.
This year is no different. Antonio Gates, Dallas Clark and Jason Witten can give you huge production, but if you don't get one of those three, wait until late in the draft and take one of the following three tight ends.
Jimmy Graham- Saints
As a rule, I generally try to stay away from players that are getting a ton of preseason buzz, but I can't resist when it comes to Jimmy Graham. The second year tight end out of Miami had a solid season last year and with Jeremy Shockey out of the picture, he is the unquestioned starter in New Orleans.
With so many good receiving options already in place, there are concerns about how many passes Graham will get in a game, but with how often the Saints throw the ball, those concerns are unwarranted.
Graham will be targeted often and at 6'6", he is an ideal red zone receiver for Drew Brees.
Tony Gonzalez- Atlanta Falcons
There was a point in time where it would be considered blasphemous to consider Gonzalez a sleeper, but it's true. Gonzalez's production has steadily declined and fantasy owners are always ready to write him off as unproductive and over the hill.
To completely write him off would be a huge mistake, though. Last season, he caught 70 passes for 656 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers are well down from where they were in his prime, but they are still more than adequate for a tight end.
Gonzalez will be no more than a third receiving option in Atlanta behind Roddy White and Julio Jones, meaning he will be overlooked by the defense. Gonzalez is not what he once was, but he still has the athleticism to take advantage of mismatches when a defense pays him no mind.
Jermaine Gresham- Cincinnati Bengals
As a fantasy player, I always look for tight ends that play on a team with an uncertain quarterback situation or a rookie quarterback. That certainly applies here with the Bengals and their rookie quarterback, Andy Dalton.
A solid tight end is a young quarterback's best friend as he gives him someone to dump the ball off to quickly if they are in trouble in the pocket.
It also helps that the Bengals don't have a lot of other receiving options. Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens are gone and rookie A.J. Green will need some time to get adjusted to the NFL. Last season, Gresham caught 52 passes for 471 yards with Carson Palmer at quarterback. Even with a downgrade in quarterback, I think he'll get to those numbers or surpass them in 2011.
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