Doing some of the preliminary work on the update that will go out on Monday, I’m comparing our rankings versus ADP numbers – providing an overview of some of the notable players you’ll either be picking or avoiding. At tight end, Kyle Rudolph looks like the key guy.
Rudolph, recall, got in the contract squabble with management a few months back. It looked like he might either be traded or even released. I think that was the driver behind him falling about 10 spots at his position in drafts.
But that is all now in the rearview mirror. Rudolph has agreed to a four-year extension worth $36 million, and he’s going to be Minnesota’s starting tight end. A trade in 2019 doesn’t look like much of a possibility.
Yet, Rudolph hasn’t yet recovered from the ADP hit he took. The ADP numbers right now suggest he’ll be the 19th tight end selected in PPR leagues. He’s the No. 8 tight end on our board, making him the best value (by far) at this position. So if you walk into a draft using our materials, there’s a good chance Rudolph will be the guy you select at the tight end position (if not as a starter, then perhaps as a backup).
Rudolph has good hands; he’s dropped only 2 of 121 catchable passes over the last two years, best among tight ends. He’s also tended to be a good option in the red zone over the years.
Rudolph didn’t’ post monster numbers last year, but his best game came late in the year, after the team fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. Rudolph then went off for 9 catches for 122 yards and 2 TDs against the Lions.
Rudolph also caught 78 percent of the passes thrown his way last year. Since 2000, 600 tight ends have seen at least 40 targets in a season. Only five others have caught a higher percentage of the passes thrown their way.
| TIGHT ENDS CATCHING 75% OF TARGETS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Pct |
| 2011 | Scott Chandler, Buff. | 46 | 38 | 389 | 10.2 | 6 | 82.6% |
| 2018 | Austin Hooper, Atl. | 88 | 71 | 660 | 9.3 | 4 | 80.7% |
| 2016 | Jack Doyle, Ind. | 75 | 59 | 584 | 9.9 | 5 | 78.7% |
| 2014 | Jermaine Gresham, Cin. | 79 | 62 | 460 | 7.4 | 5 | 78.5% |
| 2006 | Steve Heiden, Clev. | 46 | 36 | 249 | 6.9 | 2 | 78.3% |
| 2018 | Kyle Rudolph, Min. | 82 | 64 | 634 | 9.9 | 4 | 78.0% |
| 2008 | Donald Lee, G.B. | 50 | 39 | 303 | 7.8 | 5 | 78.0% |
| 2003 | Jim Kleinsasser, Min. | 59 | 46 | 401 | 8.7 | 4 | 78.0% |
| 2009 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | 98 | 76 | 789 | 10.4 | 6 | 77.6% |
| 2017 | Benjamin Watson, Balt. | 79 | 61 | 522 | 8.6 | 4 | 77.2% |
| 2004 | Jermaine Wiggins, Min. | 92 | 71 | 705 | 9.9 | 4 | 77.2% |
| 2007 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | 61 | 47 | 566 | 12.0 | 7 | 77.0% |
| 2014 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 87 | 67 | 862 | 12.9 | 5 | 77.0% |
| 2014 | Jordan Reed, Was. | 65 | 50 | 465 | 9.3 | 0 | 76.9% |
| 2010 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 65 | 50 | 782 | 15.6 | 10 | 76.9% |
| 2000 | Dwayne Carswell, Den. | 64 | 49 | 495 | 10.1 | 3 | 76.6% |
| 2009 | Jermichael Finley, G.B. | 72 | 55 | 676 | 12.3 | 5 | 76.4% |
| 2005 | Erron Kinney, Ten. | 72 | 55 | 543 | 9.9 | 2 | 76.4% |
| 2015 | Jordan Reed, Was. | 114 | 87 | 952 | 10.9 | 11 | 76.3% |
| 2013 | Jordan Reed, Was. | 59 | 45 | 499 | 11.1 | 3 | 76.3% |
| 2007 | Donald Lee, G.B. | 63 | 48 | 575 | 12.0 | 6 | 76.2% |
| 2007 | Eric Johnson, N.O. | 63 | 48 | 378 | 7.9 | 2 | 76.2% |
| 2018 | Benjamin Watson, N.O. | 46 | 35 | 400 | 11.4 | 2 | 76.1% |
| 2002 | Bubba Franks, G.B. | 71 | 54 | 442 | 8.2 | 7 | 76.1% |
| 2009 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 124 | 94 | 1030 | 11.0 | 2 | 75.8% |
| 2012 | James Casey, Hou. | 45 | 34 | 330 | 9.7 | 3 | 75.6% |
| 2017 | Austin Hooper, Atl. | 65 | 49 | 526 | 10.7 | 3 | 75.4% |
| 2007 | Tony Scheffler, Den. | 65 | 49 | 549 | 11.2 | 5 | 75.4% |
| 2016 | Martellus Bennett, N.E. | 73 | 55 | 701 | 12.8 | 7 | 75.3% |
| 2012 | Brandon Myers, Oak. | 105 | 79 | 806 | 10.2 | 4 | 75.2% |
| 2009 | Dallas Clark, Ind. | 133 | 100 | 1106 | 11.1 | 10 | 75.2% |
—Ian Allan