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Long-term tight end rankings

Will Gronkowski still be a top-10 tight end a year from now?

In a dynasty league, do you select Rob Gronkowski? Or do you go with a guy like Dallas Goedert or Chris Herndon – players who are 6-7 years younger but who might not ever develop into difference-making players?

With Gronkowski, the hope is that he’s maybe got one more top-5 season in him, but I don’t think that’s likely. His body seems to be breaking down. He’s not as fast or athletic as he used to be. I’m not even sure he’s playing in 2019. The Patriots could release him, or he could decide he’s done with football. To me, he doesn’t seem like a guy who would want to hang around and be a mediocre player.

I’m not sure how things are going to shake out for Goedert. He’s on a team that already has a dominant, crushing tight end. But to me, Goedert has shown enough that I will take his remaining career before Gronkowski’s. I’m not sure how it’s going to happen, but I think Goedert will be good – Eagles potentially could use lots of formations with two tight ends.

Herndon and Austin Hooper, I think, are close. I’ve got them just behind Gronkowski. With those guys, I don’t have as much confidence that they’ll ever have top-10 seasons.

Zach Ertz (pictured) and Travis Kelce, I think, are the top two tight ends on the board, but George Kittle and Eric Ebron don’t seem to be too far behind. They’re maybe not quite as good or proven, but they’re younger. Kittle has shown me enough that I’m confident he’s not going away.

I’ve got four other young tight ends in my top 8 that I think will have good careers: O.J. Howard, David Njoku, Hunter Henry and Evan Engram. Henry’s coming off a knee injury, but that’s not an issue – he’s practicing right now. With the others, they have great physical ability but haven’t quite put it together yet.

My top 60 for the position appears below. These are dynasty rankings, using standard scoring and assuming fantasy teams would have the ability to retain players indefinitely.

This list was compiled before the start of the two games today. If a tight end today catches 4 TDs or blows out his knee, that’s not reflected in the list you see below. The Ravens, playing tonight, have three talented young tight ends that I would be higher on if they were on different rosters – Mark Andrews, Hayden Hurst and Maxx Williams.

DYNASTY RANKINGS (tight ends)
RkTeamPlayerAge
1.PHIZach Ertz28
2.KCTravis Kelce29
3.SFGeorge Kittle25
4.INDEric Ebron25
5.TBO.J. Howard24
6.CLEDavid Njoku22
7.LACHunter Henry24
8.NYGEvan Engram24
9.CHITrey Burton27
10.PHIDallas Goedert23
11.NERob Gronkowski29
12.NYJChris Herndon22
13.ATLAustin Hooper24
14.INDJack Doyle28
15.MINKyle Rudolph29
16.OAKJared Cook31
17.PITVance McDonald28
18.LARGerald Everett24
19.BALMark Andrews22
20.WASJordan Reed28
21.TBCameron Brate27
22.ARIRicky Seals-Jones23
23.GBJimmy Graham32
24.TENDelanie Walker34
25.CARGreg Olsen33
26.HOUJordan Thomas22
27.MIAMike Gesicki23
28.CARIan Thomas23
29.BALHayden Hurst25
30.LARTyler Higbee25
31.SEAWill Dissley22
32.DETMichael Roberts24
33.NODan Arnold23
34.BUFCharles Clay29
35.CINC.J. Uzomah25
36.HOUJordan Akins26
37.CHIAdam Shaheen25
38.DENJake Butt23
39.CINTyler Eifert28
40.DALDalton Schultz22
41.NEJacob Hollister25
42.PITJesse James24
43.SEANick Vannett25
44.TENJonnu Smith23
45.BALMaxx Williams24
46.GBLance Kendricks30
47.NYJJordan Leggette23
48.DALGeoff Swaim25
49.SEAEd Dickson31
50.KCDemetrius Harris27
51.TENAnthony Firkser23
52.WASVernon Davis34
53.DENMatt LaCosse26
54.DALBlake Jarwin24
55.HOURyan Griffin29
56.BUFJason Croom24
57.MIANick O’Leary26
58.NOJosh Hill28
59.INDMo Alie-Cox25
60.DENJeff Heuerman26

I hit one position for dynasty purposes each weekend.

Last week: running backs.

Next week: wide receivers.

—Ian Allan

10 Reader Comments:

Jim Biltz

Strongsville, OH
2018-12-23T04:28:02Z
You guys we’re way off on Phillip Rivers ranking this week, just sayin.

Paul Desimone

Hayward, CA
2018-12-23T06:12:26Z
It's hard to project when one team has a great deal to win/lose while the opponent doesn't have quite the urgency. I think that was the case tonight. Urgency beat the daylights out of the ones with less to lose. Tough call before it happens, if you're not in the locker rooms with these guys.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2018-12-23T12:19:04Z
In the rankings, Rivers was 11th among QBs. Too high certainly given how poorly he fared, but it's not like we were saying "You should start him he'll be great." Text was actually pretty accurate; warning people the Ravens could hold him to a poor game. Reading that it sounds like he should have showed up a few spots lower.

John Ruppe

Fort Myers, FL
2018-12-23T14:02:44Z
Just curious if the outcome of that game changes your thoughts on Big Ben at all? I have him and Prescott and even though you have Prescott higher was leaning towards Big Ben. Just wondering if the game, now holding more urgency for the Steelers, changes your perspective?

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2018-12-23T14:28:39Z
Reading the text, Ian says motivation/urgency isn’t part of the projection.

Dennis Salisbury

Cranston, RI
2018-12-23T14:33:45Z
Paul: We have been talking about urgency and sort of must win games all week...you explained it well! Its pretty clear now as we were all waiting on the Balt-LA Chargers result. Pitt has in a MUST WIN game today. I expect a very competive game in the Superdome today. Thinking you have to upgrade some Pitt guys this week especially Big Ben.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2018-12-23T14:46:18Z
Sure it’s must win now for Pittsburgh. But it’s also very important to the Saints, their defense has been playing very well of late, and Pittsburgh’s offense hasn’t. I don’t think anything changes in the projection (beyond the fact that now JuJu is gutting it out running on an injured groin).

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2018-12-23T16:39:46Z
Gurley is gutting it out also.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2018-12-23T16:58:55Z
That one's not official but yes sounds like he'll be active if OK in warmups.

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2018-12-23T17:48:50Z
After Ravens win over Chargers, I would be more comfortable starting Steelers like Big Ben and Smith-Schuster. That's a must-win for them now. If they lose, the division is gone and they're probably not even making the playoffs (Titans or more likely Colts will finish 10-6, beating them for the wild card)
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