Fantasy Index

Factoid

Vernon Davis

49ers looking to get their speedy tight end deep

Here are the top 40 tight ends of this century, using the scoring system of 6 points for touchdowns and 1 point for every 10 yards. These are per-game numbers, showing all guys who started at least half the season.

Vernon Davis is on here twice, but notice that he’s not catching many passes. He averaged just 3.3 receptions last year, and he averaged only 3.5 back in 2010 (his first really big season).

Those are the two lowest catch averages on here. Only one other tight end, in fact, finishes below 4 catches per game (Dallas Clark caught 58 balls in 15 games in 2007). Over half of these guys average over 5 catches per game.

The 49ers are using Davis differently than other tight ends. Rather than settling in to soft spots in zones to catch short passes underneath, they’re trying to get him deep for big plays.

TOP 40 TIGHT ENDS SINCE 2000
YearPlayer, TeamStNoYardsTDPts
2011Rob Gronkowski, N.E.165.682.91.1315.0
2010Antonio Gates, S.D.105.078.21.0013.8
2013Jimmy Graham, N.O.165.475.91.0013.6
2012Rob Gronkowski, N.E.115.071.81.0013.2
2011Jimmy Graham, N.O.166.281.9.6912.3
2004Antonio Gates, S.D.155.464.3.8711.6
2005Antonio Gates, S.D.155.973.4.6711.3
2009Vernon Davis, S.F.164.960.3.8110.9
2000Tony Gonzalez, K.C.165.875.2.5610.9
2013Julius Thomas, Den.144.656.3.8610.8
2009Dallas Clark, Ind.166.369.1.6310.7
2004Tony Gonzalez, K.C.166.478.6.4410.5
2008Tony Gonzalez, K.C.166.066.1.6310.4
2009Owen Daniels, Hou.85.064.9.6310.2
2009Antonio Gates, S.D.164.972.3.5010.2
2013Vernon Davis, S.F.163.353.1.8110.2
2012Jimmy Graham, N.O.155.765.5.6010.1
2007Jason Witten, Dall.166.071.6.449.8
2010Jason Witten, Dall.165.962.6.589.8
2007Antonio Gates, S.D.164.761.5.569.5
2011Aaron Hernandez, N.E.145.665.0.509.5
2003Tony Gonzalez, K.C.164.457.3.639.5
2011Antonio Gates, S.D.134.959.8.549.2
2007Tony Gonzalez, K.C.166.273.3.319.2
2006Antonio Gates, S.D.164.457.8.569.2
2009Brent Celek, Phil.164.860.7.509.1
2004Jason Witten, Dall.155.664.2.429.0
2013Jordan Cameron, Clev.155.361.1.478.9
2007Kellen Winslow, Clev.165.169.1.338.9
2005Jeremy Shockey, NYG154.359.4.498.9
2012Tony Gonzalez, Atl.165.858.1.508.8
2012Heath Miller, Pitt.154.754.4.568.8
2010Jacob Tamme, Ind.106.763.1.408.7
2007Dallas Clark, Ind.153.941.1.738.5
2013Tony Gonzalez, Atl.165.253.7.528.5
2010Vernon Davis, S.F.163.557.1.468.5
2003Shannon Sharpe, Den.154.151.3.538.3
2013Jason Witten, Dall.164.653.2.508.3
2011Fred Davis, Wash.124.966.3.258.1
2006Tony Gonzalez, K.C.154.960.0.368.1

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index