Jason Witten is back, signing a one-year deal to play for Dallas in 2019. Witten was not exactly crushing it in the broadcast booth, unless you count accidentally busting the Pro Bowl MVP trophy while presenting it. And the Cowboys didn't get great production out of the tight end position a year ago, so it's not like he wasn't missed.
It's a one-year deal. Dallas' leading receiver at the position in 2018 was Blake Jarwin, who caught all of 27 passes. About 40 percent of Jarwin's 307 yards and all 3 of his TDs came in the meaningless Week 17 contest with the Giants. He stepped in after Geoff Swaim (26 catches) got hurt. Fourth-rounder Dalton Schultz (12 catches) was a non-factor.
A report from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram indicates that Dallas intends for Witten to play 25 snaps a game, but we'll see. It's February and the team probably isn't drawing up game plans just yet. Witten's a future Hall of Famer who probably isn't coming back to spend a lot of time on the sideline.
Witten turns 37 in May, but he shouldn't be just dismissed in fantasy leagues. Even in his last season, he was a significant part of the Dallas passing game. Only four tight ends accounted for a larger percentage of their team's receptions that year.
| TIGHT END RECEPTION/YARDS, PERCENT OF TEAM (2017) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | I.Rec | I.Yds | T.Rec | T.Yds | %Rec | %Yds |
| Jack Doyle, Ind. | 80 | 690 | 285 | 3226 | 28% | 21% |
| Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 74 | 807 | 306 | 3394 | 24% | 24% |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 83 | 1038 | 363 | 4326 | 23% | 24% |
| Zach Ertz, Phil. | 74 | 824 | 341 | 3967 | 22% | 21% |
| Jason Witten, Dall. | 63 | 560 | 309 | 3326 | 20% | 17% |
| Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 69 | 1084 | 386 | 4334 | 18% | 25% |
| Evan Engram, NYG | 64 | 722 | 373 | 3680 | 17% | 20% |
| Charles Clay, Buff. | 49 | 558 | 289 | 3086 | 17% | 18% |
| Benjamin Watson, Balt. | 61 | 522 | 363 | 3235 | 17% | 16% |
| Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 57 | 520 | 340 | 3979 | 17% | 13% |
| Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 57 | 532 | 357 | 3929 | 16% | 14% |
| Jared Cook, Oak. | 54 | 688 | 347 | 3761 | 16% | 18% |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ | 50 | 357 | 323 | 3501 | 15% | 10% |
| Austin Hooper, Atl. | 49 | 526 | 343 | 4146 | 14% | 13% |
| Eric Ebron, Det. | 53 | 574 | 374 | 4470 | 14% | 13% |
| Tyler Kroft, Cin. | 42 | 404 | 304 | 3386 | 14% | 12% |
| Cameron Brate, T.B. | 48 | 591 | 378 | 4607 | 13% | 13% |
| Vernon Davis, Wash. | 43 | 648 | 347 | 4093 | 12% | 16% |
| Hunter Henry, LAC | 45 | 579 | 366 | 4551 | 12% | 13% |
| George Kittle, S.F. | 43 | 515 | 362 | 4235 | 12% | 12% |
| Jesse James, Pitt. | 43 | 372 | 384 | 4534 | 11% | 8% |
| Julius Thomas, Mia. | 41 | 388 | 373 | 3792 | 11% | 10% |
| Seth Devalve, Clev. | 33 | 395 | 312 | 3537 | 11% | 11% |
| David Njoku, Clev. | 32 | 386 | 312 | 3537 | 10% | 11% |
| Ed Dickson, Car. | 30 | 437 | 293 | 3319 | 10% | 13% |
| Jermaine Gresham, Ariz. | 33 | 322 | 339 | 3979 | 10% | 8% |
| Stephen Anderson, Hou. | 25 | 342 | 299 | 3644 | 8% | 9% |
| Antonio Gates, LAC | 30 | 316 | 366 | 4551 | 8% | 7% |
| Tyler Higbee, LAR | 25 | 295 | 320 | 4023 | 8% | 7% |
| Jordan Reed, Wash. | 27 | 211 | 347 | 4093 | 8% | 5% |
| Nick Boyle, Balt. | 28 | 203 | 363 | 3235 | 8% | 6% |
| Nick O'Leary, Buff. | 22 | 322 | 289 | 3086 | 8% | 10% |
| Marcedes Lewis, Jac. | 24 | 318 | 316 | 3716 | 8% | 9% |
| O.J. Howard, T.B. | 26 | 432 | 378 | 4607 | 7% | 9% |
| Zach Miller, Chi. | 20 | 236 | 291 | 3085 | 7% | 8% |
| Martellus Bennett, G.B. | 24 | 233 | 352 | 3532 | 7% | 7% |
| Trey Burton, Phil. | 23 | 248 | 341 | 3967 | 7% | 6% |
| Rhett Ellison, NYG | 24 | 235 | 373 | 3680 | 6% | 6% |
| Jonnu Smith, Tenn. | 18 | 157 | 306 | 3394 | 6% | 5% |
| Greg Olsen, Car. | 17 | 191 | 293 | 3319 | 6% | 6% |
| Garrett Celek, S.F. | 21 | 336 | 362 | 4235 | 6% | 8% |
| A.J. Derby, Den. | 19 | 224 | 332 | 3668 | 6% | 6% |
| Coby Fleener, N.O. | 22 | 295 | 389 | 4619 | 6% | 6% |
| Dion Sims, Chi. | 15 | 180 | 291 | 3085 | 5% | 6% |
| Lance Kendricks, G.B. | 18 | 203 | 352 | 3532 | 5% | 6% |
| Gerald Everett, LAR | 16 | 244 | 320 | 4023 | 5% | 6% |
| Demetrius Harris, K.C. | 18 | 224 | 363 | 4326 | 5% | 5% |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz, Hou. | 14 | 127 | 299 | 3644 | 5% | 3% |
| Brandon Williams, Ind. | 13 | 121 | 285 | 3226 | 5% | 4% |
| Darren Fells, Det. | 17 | 177 | 374 | 4470 | 5% | 4% |
Witten has never been a big scorer. Only once in his last seven seasons did he catch more than 5 TDs, and his separation skills probably aren't better now.
But even with very little at the position, Dallas tight ends combined to catch 68 passes last year. Whatever they're saying about snap counts in February, Witten will probably be the main tight end this season, and probably inherit most of that production. If you're drafting now in best-ball leagues (particularly the ones where TEs get 1.5 points per reception), he shouldn't be underestimated.
As far as where to rank him, it probably isn’t realistic to think of him as a top 12 tight end anymore, especially if the snap count information is correct. But somewhere between 15 and 20 is possible. I think he’s a spot starter or good No. 2 in PPR leagues.
And at the least the Pro Bowl MVP trophy will be safe.
--Andy Richardson