In the middle of December, it’s roster adjustment time in dynasty leagues – time to pick up a few speculative players who might play larger roles in 2020. There are plenty of those at the tight end position.

In the middle of December, it’s roster adjustment time in dynasty leagues – time to pick up a few speculative players who might play larger roles in 2020. There are plenty of those at the tight end position.

Two tight ends were selected in the first round, and while neither crushed it as a rookie, they both seem to be on the right track. I’m putting both Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson in my top 10. I would rather have one of those guys in a dynasty league, rather than an older veteran who’s better right now (Jared Cook and Kyle Rudolph, for example).

Three other rookies make my top 25 (and I’ve got the first-year players tagged with black dots). Irv Smith hasn’t done too much for the Vikings, but he looks like he’s for real. I would rather have 21-year-old Smith rather than his 30-year-old teammate, Rudolph. Dawson Knox has made a couple of really nice downfield catches for the Bills (he had probably the best tight end catch of the week on Sunday).

And I’m ranking Jace Sternberger 23rd, despite him not playing much at all this year. He was a pass-catching tight end at Texas A&M, and the Packers liked him enough to select him in the third round. I doubt that Jimmy Graham will be back, so it could be Sternberger as their starting tight end next year. That potential is enough (I think) to make him the 2nd tight end for a fantasy team in a 12-team dynasty league.

Chris Herndon is probably the most forgotten tight end in the top 20. Injuries and a league suspension made him a washout in 2019, but he’ll be back. If we wind back the clock a few months, many considered him a good candidate for top-10 tight end numbers. I think he’ll be back.

In these kind of ratings, I’m cool on the old guys. Maybe even too cool. I’ve got Greg Olsen, Delanie Walker and Jason Witten outside my top 40. With each guy, I’m not confident they’ll even be playing in 2020.

For dynasty leagues, I hit one position each weekend. It was wide receivers last week. It will be quarterbacks next time.

Rankings assume PPR scoring, with franchises keeping players indefinitely.

DYNASTY TIGHT ENDS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.SFGeorge Kittle26
2.KCTravis Kelce30
3.PHIZach Ertz29
4.ATLAustin Hooper25
5.BALMark Andrews23
6.LACHunter Henry25
7.DEN• Noah Fant 22
8.OAKDarren Waller27
9.NYGEvan Engram25
10.DET• T.J. Hockenson 22
11.PHIDallas Goedert24
12.CLEDavid Njoku23
13.MIAMike Gesicki24
14.MIN• Irv Smith 21
15.NOJared Cook32
16.MINKyle Rudolph30
17.INDEric Ebron26
18.NYJChris Herndon23
19.TBO.J. Howard25
20.SEAJacob Hollister26
21.BUF• Dawson Knox 23
22.PITVance McDonald29
23.INDJack Doyle29
24.GB• Jace Sternberger 23
25.LARGerald Everett25
26.TBCameron Brate28
27.SEAWill Dissly23
28.CARIan Thomas24
29.DALBlake Jarwin25
30.CINTyler Eifert29
31.GBJimmy Graham33
32.HOUJordan Akins27
33.LARTyler Higbee26
34.BALHayden Hurst26
35.TENJonnu Smith24
36.JAC• Josh Oliver 22
37.CHITrey Burton28
38.HOUDarren Fells33
39.NYJRyan Griffin30
40.OAK• Foster Moreau 22
41.CARGreg Olsen34
42.TB• Tanner Hudson25
43.CIN• Drew Sample 23
44.INDMo Alie-Cox26
45.TENAnthony Firkser24
46.JACGeoff Swaim26
47.HOUJordan Thomas23
48.BALNick Boyle26
49.TENDelanie Walker35
50.DALJason Witten37

—Ian Allan