Jimmy Graham (TE, CHI) - 2020 Fantasy Football Draft Sleeper

4 years ago by Antonio Losada

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TESTING NEW WIDGET hide

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~170 Overall

CURRENT ADP: 180+ (Undrafted)

ANALYSIS: Graham's two-year tenure in Green Bay was far from great. He kept up his playing time by not missing any game but his statistics dropped all across the board. While Graham was able to rack up 636 receiving yards in 2018 he could only muster 447 last season while catching three touchdowns. He only logged 38 receptions (the lowest number since his rookie season) and barely reached 60 targets. Entering his age-34 season, Graham's best days are truly over.

That being said, though, there is no position like that of the tight end in fantasy football. Outside of the Big Three of Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Zach Ertz, there is nothing sure about what any TE will do in any given year. Even Graham's middling 2019 was good for him to end as the TE21 on the year with 100.7 fantasy points becoming one of only 18 tight ends to top 445 yards (while logging the fewest targets among them with just 63). That, in deep leagues, is pretty much a TE1 in all senses of the concept.

To that, I must add that Graham has flipped Green Bay for Chicago this offseason and that, for one more year, he will be the TE1 of an NFL offense and there is not even a discussion about that--the Bears other tight ends are Cole Kmet and Demetrius Harris. While the quarterback position is far from established in Chicago, with an ongoing battle between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles, Graham shouldn't suffer a great impact in his numbers with either of the two.

Even if Graham doesn't surpass his 2019 numbers (PFF projects him for 400+ yards on 35+ receptions and four touchdowns), he is one of only five tight ends in the league expected to get 55+ targets with an ADP above 180 (undrafted in 12-team leagues). Graham is projected to reach 96+ PPR next year, which should be good for a TE if you punt on the position during the early-/mid-rounds of your draft and go with a lesser option or plan to stream the position.