Most offseason reports about Dolphins second-round tight end Mike Gesicki have been unfavorable. "Looks lost" was one from earlier this summer. This week, he's been reportedly working with deep reserves, at times even behind fourth-round tight end Durham Smythe. Disappointing, but not a surprise.
Evan Engram was a revelation last year, but his top-10 fantasy finish was the exception rather than the rule. Only four other rookie tight ends have ranked that highly this century (at least one was a former Dolphin). So, select company.
| ROOKIE TIGHT ENDS, 2000-2017 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | No | Yds | TD | FF Pts | Rk |
| 2010 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 42 | 546 | 10 | 114.6 | 5 |
| 2017 | Evan Engram, NYG | 64 | 722 | 6 | 108.2 | 5 |
| 2002 | Jeremy Shockey, NYG | 74 | 894 | 2 | 101.4 | 3 |
| 2016 | Hunter Henry, S.D. | 36 | 478 | 8 | 95.8 | 11 |
| 2008 | John Carlson, Sea. | 55 | 627 | 5 | 92.7 | 7 |
| 2010 | Aaron Hernandez, N.E. | 45 | 563 | 6 | 92.3 | 13 |
| 2005 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | 39 | 459 | 6 | 81.9 | 11 |
| 2017 | O.J. Howard, T.B. | 26 | 432 | 6 | 79.2 | 16 |
| 2010 | Jermaine Gresham, Cin. | 52 | 471 | 4 | 73.1 | 21 |
| 2002 | Randy McMichael, Mia. | 39 | 485 | 4 | 72.5 | 9 |
| 2008 | Dustin Keller, NYJ | 48 | 535 | 3 | 71.5 | 14 |
| 2013 | Zach Ertz, Phil. | 36 | 469 | 4 | 70.9 | 20 |
| 2012 | Dwayne Allen, Ind. | 45 | 521 | 3 | 70.1 | 23 |
| 2013 | Jordan Reed, Wash. | 45 | 499 | 3 | 67.9 | 23 |
| 2004 | Chris Cooley, Wash. | 37 | 314 | 6 | 67.4 | 14 |
| 2010 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 31 | 356 | 5 | 65.6 | 23 |
| 2006 | Owen Daniels, Hou. | 34 | 352 | 5 | 65.2 | 14 |
| 2013 | Mychal Rivera, Oak. | 38 | 407 | 4 | 64.7 | 26 |
| 2015 | Will Tye, NYG | 42 | 464 | 3 | 64.4 | 25 |
| 2017 | George Kittle, S.F. | 43 | 515 | 2 | 63.5 | 21 |
| 2017 | David Njoku, Clev. | 32 | 386 | 4 | 62.7 | 22 |
| 2007 | Zach Miller, Oak. | 44 | 444 | 3 | 62.4 | 16 |
| 2013 | Tyler Eifert, Cin. | 39 | 445 | 2 | 56.5 | 29 |
| 2001 | Eric Johnson, S.F. | 40 | 362 | 3 | 56.2 | 15 |
| 2008 | Martellus Bennett, Dall. | 20 | 283 | 4 | 52.3 | 24 |
| 2001 | Alge Crumpler, | 25 | 330 | 3 | 51.0 | 18 |
| 2003 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 24 | 389 | 2 | 50.9 | 19 |
| 2015 | Clive Walford, Oak. | 28 | 329 | 3 | 50.9 | 30 |
| 2014 | Jace Amaro, NYJ | 38 | 345 | 2 | 46.5 | 29 |
| 2006 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 20 | 265 | 3 | 44.5 | 23 |
| 2000 | Bubba Franks, G.B. | 34 | 363 | 1 | 42.3 | 22 |
| 2003 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 35 | 347 | 1 | 40.7 | 23 |
| 2003 | Dallas Clark, Ind. | 29 | 340 | 1 | 40.0 | 25 |
Table shows all rookie tight ends to rank in the top 30 at their position since 2000. Works out to about 2 per season, and unless you're in a league that starts two of them, most weren't fantasy starters.
On Gesicki's behalf, note that 2017 was an unusually good year for rookie tight ends. In addition to Engram, O.J. Howard, George Kittle and David Njoku at least snuck into the top 25. Maybe Gesicki picks things up in August and becomes one of those players.
But doesn't sound like anyone should be counting on that so far.
--Andy Richardson