Fantasy Index

Factoid

Jimmy Graham

How early should New Orleans tight end be selected?

How early would you select Jimmy Graham? On the one hand, there are more good tight ends than ever before. Chances are there will be a tight end who isn’t even selected in your league who’ll put up 600-plus yards and a half dozen touchdowns.

On the other hand, Graham has been pretty darn special. He’s a difference maker – gives you an edge at that position.

Here’s the list of the most productive tight ends of the last 30 years, using the scoring system of 6 points for touchdowns and 1 for every 10 yards. I’m listing 25 guys. And Graham’s last three years all show up on the list. He had a wrist injury in 2012, otherwise those numbers probably would have been a lot higher?

Late first round for Graham? Second round?

Or is that just too early for a tight end?

TOP TIGHT ENDS IN LAST 30 YEARS
YearTmPlayerNoYardsAvgTDPoints
2011N.E.Rob Gronkowski90132714.718240.7
2013N.O.Jimmy Graham86121514.116217.5
2011N.O.Jimmy Graham99131013.211197.0
2009S.F.Vernon Davis7896512.413174.5
2004S.D.Antonio Gates8196411.913174.4
2000K.C.Tony Gonzalez93120312.99174.3
2009Ind.Dallas Clark100110611.110170.6
2005S.D.Antonio Gates89110112.410170.1
2004K.C.Tony Gonzalez102125812.37167.8
1996Den.Shannon Sharpe80106213.310166.2
2008K.C.Tony Gonzalez96105811.010165.8
2009S.D.Antonio Gates79115714.68163.7
1986Rai.Todd Christensen95115312.18163.3
2013S.F.Vernon Davis5285016.313163.0
1994N.E.Ben Coates96117412.27159.4
2007Dall.Jason Witten96114511.97156.5
2010Dall.Jason Witten94100210.79156.2
1999Car.Wesley Walls6382213.012154.2
1993Den.Shannon Sharpe8199512.39153.5
2007S.D.Antonio Gates7598413.19152.4
2012N.O.Jimmy Graham8598211.69152.2
2003K.C.Tony Gonzalez7191612.910151.6
1999K.C.Tony Gonzalez7684911.211150.9
2013Den.Julius Thomas6578812.112150.8
2007K.C.Tony Gonzalez99117211.85147.2

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index