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Factoid

Short-range tight ends

Fewer teams using tight ends on downfield routes

I notice that more tight ends are running shorter routes nowadays, with Austin Seferian-Jenkins leading the way. He averaged only 7.1 yards per catch last year, the lowest average by any tight end with 50-plus catches in the last 25 years.

And he’s not the only one. Jack Doyle and Benjamin Watson both caught a lot of balls last year and averaged only 8.6. Three other tight ends with over 50 catches averaged under 10 yards per catch – Jason Witten, Jimmy Graham and Kyle Rudolph.

Most of these tight ends are older players, and maybe they don’t run quite as well as they used to. But I think it’s more a reflection of how they’re being used. In the last four years, 20 tight ends have caught 50-plus passes and averaged under 10 yards per catch.

In the first 14 seasons of this century, only 23 tight ends caught 50-plus balls and averaged under 10 yards per catch. More teams (I think) are utilizing their tight ends more often as short-range targets.

The 43 tight ends in question are listed below. The guys from last year are in bold. The others from the last four years have a black dot by their name.

TIGHT ENDS UNDER 10 YARDS PER CATCH
YearPlayerNoYdsAvgTD
2017Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ503577.13
2014• Jermaine Gresham, Cin.624607.45
2002Bubba Franks, G.B.544428.27
2005Jermaine Wiggins, Minn.695688.21
2015• Martellus Bennett, Chi.534398.33
2016• Dennis Pitta, Balt.867298.52
2017Jack Doyle, Ind.806908.64
2017Benjamin Watson, Balt.615228.64
2015• Richard Rodgers, G.B.585108.88
2016• Ryan Griffin, Hou.504428.82
2017Jason Witten, Dall.635608.95
2015• Heath Miller, Pitt.605358.92
2015• Coby Fleener, Ind.544919.13
2017Jimmy Graham, Sea.575209.110
2010Jermaine Gresham, Cin.524719.14
2000Frank Wycheck, Tenn.706369.14
2014• Mychal Rivera, Oak.585349.24
2015• Jason Witten, Dall.777139.33
2017Kyle Rudolph, Minn.575329.38
2014• Jordan Reed, Wash.504659.30
2012Kyle Rudolph, Minn.534939.39
2012Jason Witten, Dall.11010399.43
2011Brandon Pettigrew, Det.837779.45
2010Tony Gonzalez, Atl.706569.46
2010Jacob Tamme, Ind.676319.44
2006Jeremy Shockey, NYG666239.47
2003Freddie Jones, Ariz.555179.43
2013Delanie Walker, Tenn.605719.56
2012Aaron Hernandez, N.E.514839.55
2012Brandon Pettigrew, Det.595679.63
2005Ben Troupe, Tenn.555309.64
2016• Charles Clay, Buff.575529.74
2008Bo Scaife, Tenn.585619.72
2008Jeremy Shockey, N.O.504839.70
2005Randy McMichael, Mia.605829.75
2016• Jason Witten, Dall.696739.83
2011Ed Dickson, Balt.545289.85
2007Vernon Davis, S.F.525099.84
2006Kellen Winslow, Clev.898759.83
2005Erron Kinney, Tenn.555439.92
2016• Jack Doyle, Ind.595849.95
2014• Larry Donnell, NYG636239.96
2004Jermaine Wiggins, Minn.717059.94

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index