I notice as I pick through the numbers and blend them with what I have on record that we need to pay attention to tight ends as scorers. More teams are making better use of this position in the red zone. Probably 8-9 teams will be led in touchdown catches by tight ends.
That’s how it played out last year, with guys like Gary Barnidge, Delanie Walker and Jordan Reed really kicking butt. Tyler Eifert outscored A.J. Green. And Zach Miller shockingly lead the Bears in touchdown catches.
That’s how it’s been going in recent years. Over the last four years, 34 tight ends have either lead their team in touchdown catches or shared the lead. At a glance, it looks something like this.
| TIGHT ENDS LEADING TEAMS IN TOUCHDOWN CATCHES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
| Arizona | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Atlanta | WR | Gonzalez | WR | WR |
| Baltimore | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Buffalo | Chandler | WR | WR | WR |
| Carolina | Olsen | Olsen | WR | WR |
| Chicago | WR | WR | WR | Z.Miller |
| Cincinnati | WR | WR | WR | Eifert |
| Cleveland | WR | WR | WR | Barnidge |
| Dallas | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Denver | WR | WR | J.Thomas | WR |
| Detroit | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Green Bay | WR | WR | WR | Rodgers |
| Houston | O.Daniels | G.Graham | WR | WR |
| Indianapolis | WR | WR | Fleener/Allen | WR |
| Jacksonville | WR | M.Lewis | WR | WR |
| Kansas City | WR | RB | Kelce | WR |
| Miami | Fasano | C.Clay | WR | WR |
| Minnesota | Rudolph | WR | WR | Rudolph |
| New England | Gronkowski | WR | Gronkowski | Gronkowski |
| New Orleans | WR | Graham | Graham | WR |
| NY Giants | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| NY Jets | Cumberland | Cumberland | WR | WR |
| Oakland | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Philadelphia | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Pittsburgh | H.Miller | WR | WR | WR |
| San Diego | WR | WR | Gates | RB |
| San Francisco | WR | V.Davis | WR | WR |
| Seattle | WR | WR | RB | WR |
| St.Louis | WR | Cook | Kendricks | WR |
| Tampa Bay | WR | WR | WR | RB |
| Tennessee | J.Cook | D.Walker | WR | Walker |
| Washington | WR | WR | WR | J.Reed |
Now compare that to what the position looked like back at the start of the century. Back in those days, the standard was for about four teams each year to be lead in touchdown catches by tight ends. At that time, more teams were trying to get the ball to wide receivers.
The same numbers as above, only for the 2000-03 season …
| TIGHT ENDS LEADING TEAMS IN TOUCHDOWN CATCHES (2000-03) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| Arizona | WR | WR | RB-WR | WR |
| Atlanta | WR | Crumpler | WR | Crumpler |
| Baltimore | Sharpe | WR | WR | WR |
| Buffalo | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Carolina | WR | Walls | Walls | WR |
| Chicago | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Cincinnati | WR | RB | WR | WR |
| Cleveland | A.Shea | WR | WR | WR |
| Dallas | J.Harris | WR | WR | WR |
| Denver | WR | WR | WR | Sharpe |
| Detroit | WR | Sloan | WR | WR |
| Green Bay | WR | Franks | WR | WR |
| Houston | -- | -- | WR | WR |
| Indianapolis | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Jacksonville | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Kansas City | WR | Gonzalez | WR | Gonzalez |
| Miami | WR | WR | McMichael | WR |
| Minnesota | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| New England | WR | WR | Fauria | WR |
| New Orleans | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| NY Giants | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| NY Jets | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Oakland | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Philadelphia | WR | WR | WR | RB |
| Pittsburgh | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| San Diego | F.Jones | WR | WR | WR |
| San Francisco | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Seattle | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| St.Louis | WR | RB | WR | WR |
| Tampa Bay | WR | D.Moore | WR | WR |
| Tennessee | WR | WR | WR | WR |
| Washington | WR | WR | WR | WR |
This kind of trend strengthens the notion that in fantasy leagues, it doesn’t make sense to require teams to start just one tight end. With that format, there are too many good ones to go around, and it devalues the position – much as what happens with quarterbacks. So better, I think, to either have teams start two tight ends, or have them start an additional receiver, which can be either a wide receiver or a tight end.
—Ian Allan

