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Dynasty Leagues

Revised tight end rankings

Zach Ertz looks like top tight end option

I’ve been posting a dynasty list each weekend, focusing not on 2017 but the long term – looking for guys with breakout potential and considering how many good years players have left. I’ve been cycling through the four key positions, and I’m back to tight ends this week.

I believe Zach Ertz is the easy No. 1 at this position. He’s really good, the Wentz-Ertz combo will be in place for years, and I think Ertz is less of an injury risk than some of the other elite guys.

I’ve got Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce next in line. With Gronkowski, you get the insane production, but I’m not sure how long his career will list. Kelce is probably a better long-term investment, and I don’t think he’ll be hurt if Alex Smith moves on in the offseason. We’ll find out more about Patrick Mahomes this weekend, but I think he help Kelce in short order.

After those three veterans, I would turn my attention to the young guys. Hunter Henry, Evan Engram and O.J. Howard are all 23 years old, and I think they’ll all have great careers.

Eric Ebron has been playing a lot better in recent weeks, so I’m putting him in the top 10. I think he’s the biggest upwards climber since I last looked at tight ends (about a month ago).

Jimmy Graham has been scoring a lot of touchdowns, but he’s a 31-year-old who’ll be a free agent and I’m not sure where he’s playing next year. Not in Seattle, I think.

Immediately outside the top 10, I’m going with a pair of really young tight ends who haven’t done much of anything yet – Jonnu Smith and David Njoku. You might not be able to count on those guys for good production in 2018, but they should eventually get there.

About 30 tight ends in, I’ve got a pair of young prospects who are probably available in the vast majority of leagues. Nick Vannett might start for Seattle (assuming Jimmy Graham leaves), and I think there’s some chance New England develops Jacob Hollister into a good pass-catching tight end. I saw him go over 100 yards in a preseason game.

With dynasty rankings, I try to hit a different position each weekend. For previous installments (QB, RB, WR) click on the “Previous Issues” link on the right side of the screen.

DYNASTY RANKINGS, TIGHT ENDS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.PHIZach Ertz27
2.NERob Gronkowski28
3.KCTravis Kelce28
4.LACHunter Henry23
5.NYGEvan Engram23
6.TBO.J. Howard23
7.INDJack Doyle27
8.MINKyle Rudolph28
9.DETEric Ebron24
10.SEAJimmy Graham31
11.TENJonnu Smith22
12.CLEDavid Njoku21
13.NYJAustin Seferian-Jenkins25
14.TBCameron Brate26
15.CINTyler Eifert27
16.WASJordan Reed27
17.BUFCharles Clay28
18.CARGreg Olsen32
19.TENDelanie Walker33
20.ATLAustin Hooper23
21.CHIAdam Shaheen24
22.INDErik Swoope25
23.LARGerald Everett23
24.OAKJared Cook30
25.DALRico Gathers23
26.PITVance McDonald27
27.SFGeorge Kittle24
28.LARTyler Higbee24
29.ARIRicky Seals-Jones22
30.SEANick Vannett24
31.NEJacob Hollister24
32.MIAJulius Thomas29
33.CINTyler Kroft25
34.HOUC.J. Fiedorowicz26
35.NOCoby Fleener29
36.DALJason Witten35
37.SEALuke Willson27
38.BALMaxx Williams23
39.PITJesse James23
40.ARIJermaine Gresham29
41.DETMichael Roberts23
42.SFGarrett Celek29
43.GBRichard Rodgers25
44.CLESeth DeValve24
45.DENJake Butt22
46.MINDavid Morgan24
47.HOURyan Griffin28
48.JACMarcedes Lewis33
49.NYJJordan Leggette22
50.WASVernon Davis33
51.DENAustin Traylor24
52.NEMartellus Bennett30
53.PHITrey Burton26
54.BUFNick O’Leary25
55.KCDemetrius Harris26
56.GBLance Kendricks29
57.HOUStephen Anderson24
58.NOJosh Hill27
59.BALBenjamin Watson37
60.NEDwayne Allen27

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index