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Stop me if you've heard this before: 2016 was not a great year for tight ends. Nobody at the position scored double-digit touchdowns and only two had 1,000 receiving yards. Thanks to serious injuries to major players at the position, fantasy owners were scrambling like Tyrod Taylor to find tight end help throughout the season.
But there is plenty of talent for fantasy owners to go after for the 2017 season, especially if the injury-prone veterans stay healthy and the young up-and-comers take their games to the next level.
Here are the top 12 tight ends in standard fantasy football leagues heading into 2017:
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Standard Tight End Rankings
1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
You knew Gronkowski could not go three seasons in a row without a major regular-season injury. A hamstring strain made him miss games and forced him to be a decoy during the first month, then a back injury sidelined him for the final month of the season. During the eight games he suited up, he was the typical Gronk, piling up 540 receiving yards and averaging 21.6 yards per catch like he was DeSean Jackson.
When he is healthy, no tight end can put up the numbers Gronkowski can. With Tom Brady returning as his quarterback and Gronk as a centerpiece in Bill Belichick’s potent passing attack, he can roll up 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns if he can make it on the field 14 times. Just know that while he is the top tight end, he should not be drafted in the first couple rounds due to his dubious track record with injuries.
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce topped all tight ends in 2016 with 1,125 yards and was second at the position with 85 receptions. This was doubly impressive considering Alex Smith was his quarterback. Smith helps the fantasy values of his pass catchers about as much as a single square of toilet tissue when... you get the idea. Kelce does not score enough TDs (14 in three seasons) to be No. 1, but his consistency, durability and volume of targets make him a solid choice for No. 2.
3. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks
Graham rebounded nicely from the knee surgery that cut short his 2015 campaign to give fantasy owners 65 receptions for 923 yards and a half-dozen touchdowns this past year. But has he reached his ceiling at age 30? Father Time and having Russell Wilson as his quarterback and not Drew Brees will probably prevent Graham from ever having another amazing 1,200-yard, 16-TD season like he did in 2013, yet being another year removed from knee surgery could help him get over the 1,000-yard barrier and score eight touchdowns.
4. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
Olsen and the aforementioned Kelce were the only tight ends to top 1,000 yards this year, and Olsen could still be considered a disappointment because his three touchdowns were his lowest total since his rookie year back in 2007. Olsen will be 32 next season so he may start slowing down, but since he is coming off three straight 1,000-yard years and because he has not missed a game in a decade, he has to be ranked this high.
5. Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins
Reed was a reception monster when he was healthy and on the field in 2016, racking up 66 for 686 yards and six scores in just a dozen starts. Unfortunately, Reed graduated from the Gronkowski School of Fragility. He has missed 18 games over his four NFL seasons and due to countless concussions and is one helmet-to-helmet hit away from his career being over and his fantasy value being zilch. Draft Reed next season with the risk that he could end up being worthless to your fantasy team and hope you get rewarded with the 900 yards and 10 touchdowns he is capable of posting when he stays injury-free.
6. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
Eifert’s 2016 campaign was dented thanks to hip surgery that caused him to sit out Cincinnati’s opening eight contests. If you double his numbers from the second half of the season, though, Eifert would have had around 60 catches for 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has a Pinocchio-like nose for the end zone (13 TD in 2015), but he has never had 650 yards in a season thanks to a multitude of injuries and top target A.J. Green getting the bulk of Andy Dalton’s attention.
7. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
Ertz did squat for fantasy owners early on in 2016 thanks to a severe rib injury and because he needed time to foster chemistry with rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. Once Ertz got going, though, he was a fantasy stud, especially down the stretch when he supplied 443 yards and three touchdown catches over the last five weeks of the season, typically the most important weeks in fantasy leagues. With Wentz improving and clicking with his tight end, Ertz is primed to have the best season of his career in 2017. 950 yards and seven touchdowns is realistic.
8. Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
The 32-year-old Walker lost 29 receptions and 288 yards from his career-year 2015 totals in 2016, but 65 catches for 800 yards and seven touchdowns is nothing to complain about receiving from your tight end. Before you assume Walker will continue to decline in 2017, just remember how long Antonio Gates and Jason Witten have kept being relevant among fantasy tight ends at their advanced ages.
9. Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions
Ebron has all the talent in the world. He also has more question marks surrounding him than the Riddler. Can Ebron stay healthy for 16 games? Can Ebron score more than one lone touchdown? He set career-highs with 61 receptions for 711 yards this season and has the skills to be a 1,000-yard fantasy force, but the jury is still out on whether he can put it all together. Don't count on him as a starter, but he may be worth a flier as a later pick.
10. Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brate was one of the breakout stars at tight end this year as he tied for tops at the position with eight touchdowns and added 57 receptions for 660 yards. All-World wideout Mike Evans will still monopolize the targets in Tampa, but Brate can still have 65 receptions for 800 yards and eight touchdowns with the leftovers.
11. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
Rudolph had the best year of his six-year career with 83 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016. This was thanks in large part to him being targeted an unbelievable 132 times. Sam Bradford and Rudolph had great chemistry in Minnesota’s dink-and-dunk offense, but do not be shocked if Rudolph’s stats take a hit in 2017.
12. Hunter Henry, San Diego Chargers
All Henry did in his rookie season was tie with Brate for the tight end lead in touchdown grabs with eight. If 700-year-old Antonio Gates steps aside and allows Henry to be the starting tight end, this kid could be the serious sleeper at the position in 2017. He won't be overlooked in fantasy drafts this season, so plan accordingly if you want to secure him as your TE.
Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
