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) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Team | Player | Age |
1. | PHI | Zach Ertz | 28 |
2. | KC | Travis Kelce | 29 |
3. | SF | George Kittle | 25 |
4. | IND | Eric Ebron | 25 |
5. | TB | O.J. Howard | 24 |
6. | CLE | David Njoku | 22 |
7. | LAC | Hunter Henry | 24 |
8. | NYG | Evan Engram | 24 |
9. | CHI | Trey Burton | 27 |
10. | PHI | Dallas Goedert | 23 |
11. | NE | Rob Gronkowski | 29 |
12. | NYJ | Chris Herndon | 22 |
13. | ATL | Austin Hooper | 24 |
14. | IND | Jack Doyle | 28 |
15. | MIN | Kyle Rudolph | 29 |
16. | OAK | Jared Cook | 31 |
17. | PIT | Vance McDonald | 28 |
18. | LAR | Gerald Everett | 24 |
19. | BAL | Mark Andrews | 22 |
20. | WAS | Jordan Reed | 28 |
21. | TB | Cameron Brate | 27 |
22. | ARI | Ricky Seals-Jones | 23 |
23. | GB | Jimmy Graham | 32 |
24. | TEN | Delanie Walker | 34 |
25. | CAR | Greg Olsen | 33 |
26. | HOU | Jordan Thomas | 22 |
27. | MIA | Mike Gesicki | 23 |
28. | CAR | Ian Thomas | 23 |
29. | BAL | Hayden Hurst | 25 |
30. | LAR | Tyler Higbee | 25 |
31. | SEA | Will Dissley | 22 |
32. | DET | Michael Roberts | 24 |
33. | NO | Dan Arnold | 23 |
34. | BUF | Charles Clay | 29 |
35. | CIN | C.J. Uzomah | 25 |
36. | HOU | Jordan Akins | 26 |
37. | CHI | Adam Shaheen | 25 |
38. | DEN | Jake Butt | 23 |
39. | CIN | Tyler Eifert | 28 |
40. | DAL | Dalton Schultz | 22 |
41. | NE | Jacob Hollister | 25 |
42. | PIT | Jesse James | 24 |
43. | SEA | Nick Vannett | 25 |
44. | TEN | Jonnu Smith | 23 |
45. | BAL | Maxx Williams | 24 |
46. | GB | Lance Kendricks | 30 |
47. | NYJ | Jordan Leggette | 23 |
48. | DAL | Geoff Swaim | 25 |
49. | SEA | Ed Dickson | 31 |
50. | KC | Demetrius Harris | 27 |
51. | TEN | Anthony Firkser | 23 |
52. | WAS | Vernon Davis | 34 |
53. | DEN | Matt LaCosse | 26 |
54. | DAL | Blake Jarwin | 24 |
55. | HOU | Ryan Griffin | 29 |
56. | BUF | Jason Croom | 24 |
57. | MIA | Nick O’Leary | 26 |
58. | NO | Josh Hill | 28 |
59. | IND | Mo Alie-Cox | 25 |
60. | DEN | Jeff Heuerman | 26 |
I hit one position for dynasty purposes each weekend.
Last week: running backs.
Next week: wide receivers.
—Ian Allan