Fantasy Index

header banner img
OUR FANTASY BASEBALL MAGAZINE IS BACK! PRE-ORDER NOW
Win here.

Factoid

Robert Tonyan

Green Bay doesn't look like one-year wonder

I like the look of Robert Tonyan. He was the biggest surprise at the tight end position last year, with 11 touchdowns, and I think he’s going to continue being a good player.

Tonyan was a wide receiver at Indiana State, so he’s used to catching the ball. And after a few seasons of development, it looks like he’s comfortably made the switch to the tight end position.

Remarkably, Tonyan caught 52 of the 59 passes thrown his way last year. That’s 88 percent.

The NFL started tracking targets in 1992, and since that time, only two other tight ends (with at least 50 targets) have been able to sneak past 80 percent. Austin Hooper did it in 2018 with the Falcons, and Irv Smith (father of the Irv Smith who now plays with the Vikings) did it with the Saints in 1995.

I would think Tonyan in 2021 will play an even bigger role in the passing game, probably catching over 60 passes, with a healthy role inside the red zone.

TIGHT ENDS WITH HIGHEST CATCH RATES (1992-2020)
YearPlayerTgtRecYdsAvgTDPct
2020Robert Tonyan, G.B.595258611.31188.1
1995Irv Smith, N.O.554546610.4381.8
2018Austin Hooper, Atl.88716609.3480.7
2019George Kittle, S.F.107851,05312.4579.4
2016Jack Doyle, Ind.75595849.9578.7
2014Jermaine Gresham, Cin.79624607.4578.5
1995Frank Wycheck, Hou.514047111.8178.4
1998Jackie Harris, Ten.55434129.6278.2
2018Kyle Rudolph, Min.82646349.9478.0
1997Troy Drayton, Mia.503955814.3478.0
2008Donald Lee, G.B.50393037.8578.0
2003Jim Kleinsasser, Min.59464018.7478.0
1996Frank Wycheck, Hou.68535119.6677.9
2009Heath Miller, Pitt.987678910.4677.6
2019Tyler Higbee, LAR896973410.6377.5
1994Irv Smith, N.O.53413308.1377.4
2019Austin Hooper, Atl.977578710.5677.3
2017Benjamin Watson, Balt.79615228.6477.2
2004Jermaine Wiggins, Min.92717059.9477.2
2007Heath Miller, Pitt.614756612.0777.0
2014Travis Kelce, K.C.876786212.9577.0
2019Darren Waller, Oak.117901,14512.7376.9
1998Frank Wycheck, Ten.917076811.0276.9
2014Jordan Reed, Was.65504659.3076.9
2010Antonio Gates, S.D.655078215.61076.9
1993Steve Jordan, Min.73565429.7176.7
2000Dwayne Carswell, Den.644949510.1376.6
2009Jermichael Finley, G.B.725567612.3576.4
2005Erron Kinney, Ten.72555439.9276.4
1995Ken Dilger, Ind.554263515.1476.4
2015Jordan Reed, Was.1148795210.91176.3
2013Jordan Reed, Was.594549911.1376.3
2020George Kittle, S.F.634863413.2276.2
2007Donald Lee, G.B.634857512.0676.2
2007Eric Johnson, N.O.63483787.9276.2
2002Bubba Franks, G.B.71544428.2776.1
2019Jason Witten, Dall.83635298.4475.9
2009Jason Witten, Dall.124941,03011.0275.8
2020Drew Sample, Cin.53403498.7175.5
2017Austin Hooper, Atl.654952610.7375.4

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index