I have some interest in Austin Seferian-Jenkins. I don’t think I would draft him today (given the way tight ends are valued), but it might not be long before he’s showing up on my fantasy teams as a late-round choice.
Seferian-Jenkins was a disaster in Tampa Bay, where he partied his way into the doghouse, couldn’t stay healthy and didn’t spend enough time studying the offense. Dirk Koetter threw him out of a practice a year ago, and they waived him after a DUI arrest. Because of that incident, Seferian-Jenkins is suspended for the first two weeks of this season.
But he has some talent – rare athleticism that caused the Bucs to select him early in second round. In the last 10 years, only 14 other tight ends have been selected with top-40 picks.
And getting released by Tampa Bay seems to have given ASJ a much needed wakeup call. He’s lost 30 pounds (according to the team’s website) and says he’s not drinking anymore. The Jets don’t have much else at tight end, and that’s a position they’ll use a lot more now. Chan Gailey didn’t use their tight ends much at all in the passing game, but their new coordinator, John Morton, is installing a new offense, with the team in the mix to maybe finish above-average in production at that position.
As poorly as Seferian-Jenkins has played thus far, he at least has shown some ability to get downfield. He averaged 16.1 yards per catch in 2015. In the last 10 years, only 10 other tight ends have caught 20-plus passes and averaged 16 yards reception.
As luck would have it, he’s also in a contract year. If he plays well this season, he could haul in a nice pile of cash next spring.
Let’s see what he looks like in the practice games, but there’s a chance Seferian-Jenkins will work his way into my top 20 among tight ends before the start of the season.
| TIGHT ENDS AVERAGING 15 YARDS PER CATCH (2007-) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | No | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2016 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 25 | 540 | 21.6 | 3 |
| 2014 | Jordan Cameron, Clev. | 24 | 424 | 17.7 | 2 |
| 2014 | Luke Willson, Sea. | 22 | 362 | 16.5 | 3 |
| 2012 | Delanie Walker, S.F. | 21 | 344 | 16.4 | 3 |
| 2015 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 72 | 1176 | 16.3 | 11 |
| 2016 | Vance McDonald, S.F. | 24 | 391 | 16.3 | 4 |
| 2013 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 52 | 850 | 16.3 | 13 |
| 2010 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 56 | 914 | 16.3 | 7 |
| 2009 | Marcedes Lewis, Jac. | 32 | 518 | 16.2 | 2 |
| 2015 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins, T.B. | 21 | 338 | 16.1 | 4 |
| 2008 | Tony Scheffler, Den. | 40 | 645 | 16.1 | 3 |
| 2011 | Jake Ballard, NYG | 38 | 604 | 15.9 | 4 |
| 2013 | Brent Celek, Phil. | 32 | 502 | 15.7 | 6 |
| 2010 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 50 | 782 | 15.6 | 10 |
| 2011 | Jared Cook, Tenn. | 49 | 759 | 15.5 | 3 |
| 2013 | Jeff Cumberland, NYJ | 26 | 398 | 15.3 | 4 |
| 2014 | Coby Fleener, Ind. | 51 | 774 | 15.2 | 8 |
| 2013 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 39 | 592 | 15.2 | 4 |
| 2010 | Kevin Boss, NYG | 35 | 531 | 15.2 | 5 |
| 2010 | Todd Heap, Balt. | 40 | 599 | 15.0 | 5 |
| 2010 | Fred Davis, Wash. | 21 | 316 | 15.0 | 3 |
—Ian Allan