Fantasy Index

Factoid

Jace Amaro

I have some interest in Jace Amaro. He caught an awful lot of balls at Texas Tech; 106 receptions last year. In the last five years, no other tight end drafted in the first three rounds has even caught 70 (in their final season).

So there’s that.

And the Jets have a need for a pass catcher. They added Eric Decker, but they could use somebody who could catch the short, tough balls over the middle. Their holdover tight end, Jeff Cumberland, doesn’t have that kind of receiving ability.

But this is a rookie we’re talking about, and we must be careful not to get too excited about rookies and not to overhype college production. Let’s not forget James Casey, who caught 111 passes one year at Rice. He hasn’t done much of anything thus far as a pro.

I also have some interest in hand size with tight ends. In the last five years, there have been 24 selected in the first three rounds. The three guys with the largest hands also are the same three who are the best goal-line receivers – the best at catching balls on jump-ball kind of situations. Rob Gronkowski, Kyle Rudolph and Jimmy Graham.

Amaro fails the hand size test. He measures at only 9 inches, the lowest of all tight ends in that group. In fact, that’s less than a half inch larger than mine, and I’m just a 5-foot-10, 170-pound guy writing about fantasy football. We’ll see what he looks like on the field in the preseason games, but for now I’m guessing Amaro won’t be a good pro in terms of trying to throw him lob-type balls in the red zone.

In college, Amaro lined up primarily as a slot receiver. He didn’t do much in-line blocking, but that might not be an issue in New York – the Jets still have Cumberland. They probably will flex him out on most plays, as the Ravens do with Dennis Pitta.

TIGHT ENDS / HAND SIZE
YearTeamTight endHand
2011Minn.Kyle Rudolph10.75
2010N.E.Rob Gronkowski10.75
2010N.O.Jimmy Graham10.63
2014Balt.Crockett Gillmore10.38
2014Hou.C.J. Fiedorowicz10.25
2014G.B.Richard Rodgers10.13
2013S.F.Vance McDonald10.13
2010K.C.Tony Moeaki10.13
2014Det.Eric Ebron10.00
2014Ariz.Troy Niklas10.00
2013Wash.Jordan Reed10.00
2012Ind.Coby Fleener10.00
2014T.B.Austin Seferian-Jenkins9.75
2013Dall.Gavin Escobar9.75
2013Phil.Zach Ertz9.75
2012Mia.Michael Egnew9.75
2011Ariz.Rob Housler9.75
2010Balt.Ed Dickson9.75
2013K.C.Travis Kelce9.63
2012Ind.Dwayne Allen9.63
2011Stl.Lance Kendricks9.63
2010Cin.Jermaine Gresham9.63
2013Cin.Tyler Eifert9.13
2014NYJJace Amaro9.00
TIGHT ENDS / COLLEGE PRODUCTION
YearTeamTight endNoYardsAvgTD
2014NYJJace Amaro1061,35212.87
2014Det.Eric Ebron6297315.73
2010Cin.Jermaine Gresham6695014.414
2013Phil.Zach Ertz6989813.06
2013K.C.Travis Kelce4572216.08
2013Cin.Tyler Eifert5068513.74
2010N.E.Rob Gronkowski4767214.310
2012Ind.Coby Fleener3466719.610
2011Stl.Lance Kendricks4366315.45
2014G.B.Richard Rodgers3960815.61
2012Ind.Dwayne Allen5059812.08
2014Balt.Crockett Gillmore4757712.32
2014Ariz.Troy Niklas3757315.56
2013Wash.Jordan Reed4555912.43
2010Balt.Ed Dickson4255113.16
2013Dall.Gavin Escobar4254312.96
2011Ariz.Rob Housler3251916.24
2013S.F.Vance McDonald3645812.72
2014T.B.Austin Seferian-Jenkins3645012.58
2010K.C.Tony Moeaki3038712.94
2011Minn.Kyle Rudolph2832811.73
2012Mia.Michael Egnew503236.53
2014Hou.C.J. Fiedorowicz3029910.06
2010N.O.Jimmy Graham1721312.55

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index