Sometimes it's like these guys just don't care about fantasy teams at all. Eric Ebron was by far the most intriguing free agent tight end out there, a still-young pass catcher who could go somewhere and put up starting-caliber production. So naturally he signs on with a team that already has a quality starter, damaging the appeal of both players.
Yes, the Colts will use plenty of two-tight end sets in new coach Frank Reich's offense. But there's still only one football, and Ebron will be vying for targets with -- taking some away from -- Jack Doyle. Needless to say, it also kills the sleeper value of Erik Swoope, who was supposed to break out as that No. 2 a year ago, and now looks pretty buried on the depth chart.
A year ago Doyle was fantasy's 9th-ranked tight end (1 point for every 10 yards receiving and 6 points for touchdowns). That's with Andrew Luck shelved for the season. Ebron, in Detroit, was 14th. On the same team, very unlikely either player sneaks into the top 10 at the position.
If you're not a believer in Ebron, maybe Doyle surprises. A year ago, after all, he led all tight ends in percent of team receptions, helping him achieve that top-10 ranking. But with a viable No. 2 on the roster now (last year that guy was Brandon Williams in Indianapolis), he definitely takes a hit. And Ebron doesn't look appealing at all.
| TE PERCENT OF TEAM, 2017 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | I.Rec | I.Yds | I.TD | %Rec | %Yds | %TD |
| Jack Doyle, Ind. | 80 | 690 | 4 | 28% | 21% | 31% |
| Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 74 | 807 | 3 | 24% | 24% | 21% |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 83 | 1038 | 8 | 23% | 24% | 31% |
| Zach Ertz, Phil. | 74 | 824 | 8 | 22% | 21% | 21% |
| Jason Witten, Dall. | 63 | 560 | 5 | 20% | 17% | 23% |
| Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 69 | 1084 | 8 | 18% | 25% | 35% |
| Evan Engram, NYG | 64 | 722 | 6 | 17% | 20% | 30% |
| Charles Clay, Buff. | 49 | 558 | 2 | 17% | 18% | 13% |
| Benjamin Watson, Balt. | 61 | 522 | 4 | 17% | 16% | 20% |
| Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 57 | 520 | 10 | 17% | 13% | 29% |
| Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 57 | 532 | 8 | 16% | 14% | 32% |
| Jared Cook, Oak. | 54 | 688 | 2 | 16% | 18% | 9% |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ | 50 | 357 | 3 | 15% | 10% | 16% |
| Austin Hooper, Atl. | 49 | 526 | 3 | 14% | 13% | 14% |
| Eric Ebron, Det. | 53 | 574 | 4 | 14% | 13% | 14% |
| Tyler Kroft, Cin. | 42 | 404 | 7 | 14% | 12% | 28% |
| Cameron Brate, T.B. | 48 | 591 | 6 | 13% | 13% | 23% |
| Vernon Davis, Wash. | 43 | 648 | 3 | 12% | 16% | 11% |
| Hunter Henry, LAC | 45 | 579 | 4 | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| George Kittle, S.F. | 43 | 515 | 2 | 12% | 12% | 13% |
| Jesse James, Pitt. | 43 | 372 | 3 | 11% | 8% | 10% |
| Julius Thomas, Mia. | 41 | 388 | 3 | 11% | 10% | 13% |
| Seth Devalve, Clev. | 33 | 395 | 1 | 11% | 11% | 7% |
| David Njoku, Clev. | 32 | 386 | 4 | 10% | 11% | 27% |
| Ed Dickson, Car. | 30 | 437 | 1 | 10% | 13% | 5% |
| Jermaine Gresham, Ariz. | 33 | 322 | 2 | 10% | 8% | 10% |
| Stephen Anderson, Hou. | 25 | 342 | 1 | 8% | 9% | 4% |
| Antonio Gates, LAC | 30 | 316 | 3 | 8% | 7% | 11% |
| Tyler Higbee, LAR | 25 | 295 | 1 | 8% | 7% | 4% |
| Jordan Reed, Wash. | 27 | 211 | 2 | 8% | 5% | 7% |
| Nick Boyle, Balt. | 28 | 203 | 0 | 8% | 6% | 0% |
| Nick O'Leary, Buff. | 22 | 322 | 2 | 8% | 10% | 13% |
| Marcedes Lewis, Jac. | 24 | 318 | 5 | 8% | 9% | 24% |
| O.J. Howard, T.B. | 26 | 432 | 6 | 7% | 9% | 23% |
| Zach Miller, Chi. | 20 | 236 | 2 | 7% | 8% | 15% |
| Martellus Bennett, G.B. | 24 | 233 | 0 | 7% | 7% | 0% |
| Trey Burton, Phil. | 23 | 248 | 5 | 7% | 6% | 13% |
| Rhett Ellison, NYG | 24 | 235 | 2 | 6% | 6% | 10% |
| Jonnu Smith, Tenn. | 18 | 157 | 2 | 6% | 5% | 14% |
| Greg Olsen, Car. | 17 | 191 | 1 | 6% | 6% | 5% |
| Garrett Celek, S.F. | 21 | 336 | 4 | 6% | 8% | 27% |
| A.J. Derby, Den. | 19 | 224 | 2 | 6% | 6% | 11% |
| Coby Fleener, N.O. | 22 | 295 | 2 | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Dion Sims, Chi. | 15 | 180 | 1 | 5% | 6% | 8% |
| Lance Kendricks, G.B. | 18 | 203 | 1 | 5% | 6% | 4% |
| Gerald Everett, LAR | 16 | 244 | 2 | 5% | 6% | 7% |
| Demetrius Harris, K.C. | 18 | 224 | 1 | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz, Hou. | 14 | 127 | 0 | 5% | 3% | 0% |
| Brandon Williams, Ind. | 13 | 121 | 0 | 5% | 4% | 0% |
| Darren Fells, Det. | 17 | 177 | 3 | 5% | 4% | 10% |
--Andy Richardson