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Tiers 2.0: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers

Eight Fantasy points. That's it.

If your tight end scored eight or more Fantasy points in a week in your non-PPR league last year, he was actually better than the average of the Top 12 tight ends. That average, tracked over the last three seasons, has been between 7.4 and 7.8 Fantasy points per game.

Think about eight Fantasy points when you look at this up-to-date version of the tight end tiers and think to yourself who among these guys have the ability and opportunity to score at least eight points in more than half of their games.

Gronk Tier!
Round 1
Rob Gronkowski
Very Good Good
Round 4 Rounds 7, 8
Jordan Reed Coby Fleener
Greg Olsen Delanie Walker
Travis Kelce
Start-worthy Speculative
Rounds 9, 10, 11 Rounds 12+
Antonio Gates Martellus Bennett
Zach Ertz Eric Ebron
Julius Thomas Dwayne Allen
Tyler Eifert Jimmy Graham
Gary Barnidge

There's an obvious anomaly among tight ends -- Rob Gronkowski. For him, eight Fantasy points is a bad week. He puts up numbers like a quality running back or wide receiver, which is why he's drafted among the elite players in football. One way to rid yourself of the nuisance of finding a reliable tight end is to make Gronk your first pick. And if you see him in Round 2 -- ditch any strategy you have and get him!

There's Gronk ... and then there's everyone else. Yeah, Jordan Reed and Greg Olsen will get drafted between 35th and 65th depending on the size and scoring of your league, and Fantasy owners should expect good numbers from them week in and week out, but they're not Gronk.

It didn't seem this way last season. Gronkowski did his thing but ... what the heck happened? Where are the studs from 2015? Where did they go?!

Some are hurt ( Tyler Eifert, Gary Barnidge, Eric Ebron), some got older (Antonio Gates, Benjamin Watson) and some didn't do anything (Delanie Walker, Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz, Julius Thomas). But for whatever reason, legit or not, they've all lost the confidence of the Fantasy community, causing their draft stock to sink.

In fact, the most tantalizing non-top-three Fantasy tight end is a guy who changed teams, which means Fantasy owners are hopeful of changed fortunes. Coby Fleener landed with a Saints offense that has produced great tight end numbers for years, but Fleener has been a colossal disappointment time after time for Fantasy owners.

Another tight end who changed teams -- Ladarius Green -- seems to be dealing with an issue involving headaches that seems serious. A potential top-five Fantasy tight end with the Steelers if healthy, Green might end up starting the year on the PUP list or, even worse, miss the 2016 season. Fantasy owners can't draft him until his situation is cleared up.

Yeah, it's not exactly a great year for tight ends, but you have to draft someone.

That's when you should remember those eight Fantasy points. That's all you need to have an acceptable week. Tight ends who can deliver eight Fantasy points are not only in mild demand but available late in Fantasy drafts.

And how do tight ends typically get eight Fantasy points? They score, of course.

If you can't get a dominator like Gronkowski or a major contributor like Reed or Olsen, then target someone who is known for scoring or will play in an offense that will put him in position to score. Suddenly, a bunch of tight ends begin to look a lot better, and they all should be found past 60th overall. Better yet, if we're settling for any tight end to start the season with, then just about every player in the last two tiers qualifies as a touchdown-or-bust candidate. And they should all get attention long after most owners collect starters at other positions.

A few things to keep in mind when it comes to tight ends:

  • Eifert's injury could keep him off the field to start the year and could limit him once he's able to play. Drafting him means eventually carrying two tight ends. He's ranked low because most owners don't want to do that.
  • Barnidge was the Cinderella of the 2015 Fantasy season, but it came with Josh McCown at quarterback and a weak Browns receiving corps. Since last season the Browns have changed quarterbacks and added a slew of receivers. Barnidge shouldn't be counted on for the 125 targets and 79 catches he had.
  • Eric Ebron suffered a mysterious foot/ankle/Achilles injury during training camp. He's not worth drafting until his situation is cleared up, which is too bad because he's long had potential to make a difference in Detroit's offense. With Calvin Johnson retired, the door is (was?) open for him to emerge.
  • Martellus Bennett is a very interesting pick. He'll work as the No. 2 tight end in New England, but he admitted recently he's become familiar with the Patriots offense when they had two athletic, matchup-breaking tight ends on the field at the same time. Evaluate Bennett as if he's the Patriots' No. 2 receiver, not the No. 2 tight end. He's going to play a lot and get a nice amount of targets, making him the biggest sleeper among tight ends this year.
  • If you draft Jimmy Graham, better do it with a late throw-away pick. No one is sure when he'll be back on the field for the Seahawks, nor is anyone sure he'll ever be the player he once was with the Saints.