Fantasy Index

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Factoid

Rookie tight ends

Tough for tight ends to star right away

There were five tight ends chosen in the first three rounds, but it’s not a position where players tend to have much success right away. If you tended to operate under the rule that no rookie tight end should ever be drafted, your team would be better off.

In the last 10 years, 49 tight ends have been chosen with picks in the first three rounds. But only three put up top-10 numbers in their first season. Two others at least went top 15. That’s using standard scoring.

I’ve got all five of those players in bold in the chart below, and they represent about 10 percent of the total.

If you’re drafting a rookie tight end, it should be because something about the player or the team makes you believe there’s some chance he’ll be an exception.

Four of the tight ends picked this year, at least, are going to teams where they might play right away. Baltimore tends to throw lots of passes to its tight ends and chose both Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews. Houston needs a tight end and picked Jordan Akins. Mike Gesicki (pictured) might play right away in Miami and is very much a receiving tight end.

Dallas Goedert looks like more of a long-term prospect for the Eagles. Once he’s learned the offense, he’ll be a high-upside backup behind Zach Ertz. If Ertz gets hurt in 2019 or 2020, Goedert could step in and maybe put up top-5 tight end numbers.

TIGHT ENDS CHOSEN IN FIRST THREE ROUNDS
YearPkPlayerNoYardsTDPtsRk
200838John Carlson, Sea.55627592.77
200830Dustin Keller, NYJ48535371.514
200861Martellus Bennett, Dall.20283452.324
200891Jermichael Finley, G.B.674113.456
200876Brad Cottam, K.C.76306.372
200848Fred Davis, Wash.32702.782
200885Craig Stevens, Tenn.190.995
200920Brandon Pettigrew, Det.30346246.625
200989Jared Cook, Tenn.97407.472
2009100Travis Beckum, NYG85505.580
200964Richard Quinn, Den.000.0--
200998Chase Coffman, Cin.000.0--
201093Tony Moeaki, K.C.47556373.620
201042Rob Gronkowski, N.E.4254610114.65
201021Jermaine Gresham, Cin.52471473.121
201095Jimmy Graham, N.O.31356565.623
201070Ed Dickson, Balt.11152121.251
201147Lance Kendricks, St.L.28352035.238
201143Kyle Rudolph, Minn.26249342.936
201169Rob Housler, Ariz.12133013.357
201264Dwayne Allen, Ind.45521370.123
201234Coby Fleener, Ind.26281240.138
201278Michael Egnew, Mia.000.0--
201385Jordan Reed, Wash.45499367.923
201335Zach Ertz, Phil.36469470.920
201321Tyler Eifert, Cin.39445256.529
201347Gavin Escobar, Dall.9134225.450
201355Vance McDonald, S.F.8119011.963
201363Travis Kelce, K.C.000.0--
201449Jace Amaro, NYJ38345246.530
201410Eric Ebron, Det.25248130.845
201498Richard Rodgers, G.B.20225234.541
201438Austin Seferian-Jenkins, T.B.21221234.142
201499Crockett Gillmore, Balt.10121118.157
201452Troy Niklas, Ariz.33803.894
201465C.J. Fiedorowicz, Hou.42818.876
201568Clive Walford, Oak.28329350.930
201555Maxx Williams, Balt.32268132.843
201585Tyler Kroft, Cin.11129118.956
201592Jeff Heuerman, Den.000.0--
201635Hunter Henry , S.D.36478895.811
201681Austin Hooper , Atl.19271345.135
201694Nick Vannett , Sea.33203.293
201723Evan Engram, NYG647226109.65
201719O.J. Howard, T.B.26432679.216
201729David Njoku, Clev.32386462.722
201744Gerald Everett, LAR16244237.737
2017100Jonnu Smith, Tenn.18157227.747
201745Adam Shaheen, Chi.12127330.744
201825• Hayden Hurst, Balt.?????
201842• Mike Gesicki, Mia.?????
201849• Dallas Goedert, Phil.?????
201886• Mark Andrews, Balt.?????
201898• Jordan Akins, Hou.?????

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index