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Davis Allen

Rams might have dynasty TE stash

Somewhat overshadowed in the Rams' narrow playoff loss at Detroit was a significant personnel loss, with Tyler Higbee tearing both his ACL and MCL in that late January game. Very unlikely he'll be ready for the start of the season, giving Davis Allen some appeal.

Higbee barely snuck into the top 25 at the position last year, but is just a year removed from finishing as the No. 6 tight end in PPR leagues. The Rams had given him a two-year, $17 million extension last September, but they'll probably need a new starter at least the first month to six weeks of the season (should Higbee start out on the PUP list). That's where Allen, the team's fifth-round pick last year, comes in.

Allen didn't do much as a rookie, catching only 10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. But he seems to be a capable enough receiver, catching 39 passes for 443 yards and 5 touchdowns in his final season at Clemson. And his rookie-year production all came when he got the opportunity to play. Just twice did he play even half the snaps last year, and in each of those games he caught 4 passes, for a total of 75 yards and a score. Only one of the 11 passes thrown his way last season was incomplete.

We tend to regard fifth-round picks lightly, but tight end is one position where hits occasionally happen. George Kittle, obviously, but he's not the only one.

This century, a tight end drafted in the fifth round has ranked in the top 20 in PPR leagues 25 times, so just over once a year. Seven different fifth-rounders have done it multiple times. Kittle is the headliner, but most fantasy coaches have a passing familiarity with some of the others: Brent Celek, Gary Barnidge and perhaps Kevin Boss or Donald Lee. (Most recently Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah, albeit with a slightly lower ceiling.)

5TH-ROUND TES IN THE TOP 20, 2000-PRESENT
YearPlayerTgtRecYdsTDRk
2022George Kittle, S.F.8660765113
2019George Kittle, S.F.10785105353
2018George Kittle, S.F.13688137753
2009Brent Celek, Phil.1127697184
2015Gary Barnidge, Cle.12579104394
2021George Kittle, S.F.947191064
2023George Kittle, S.F.9065102066
2007Donald Lee, G.B.634857569
2011Brent Celek, Phil.9862811511
2009Kevin Boss, NYG6942567516
2021Tyler Conklin, Min.8761593316
2022Tyler Conklin, NYJ8758552316
2012Brent Celek, Phil.8857684117
2008Kevin Boss, NYG5533384617
2018C.J. Uzomah, Cin.6443439318
2010Kevin Boss, NYG7035531518
2023Tyler Conklin, NYJ8761621018
2010Brent Celek, Phil.7942511419
2021C.J. Uzomah, Cin.6349493519
2016Gary Barnidge, Cle.8255612219
2020George Kittle, S.F.6348634219
2017George Kittle, S.F.6343515219
2007Jeff King, Car.8046406219
2013Brent Celek, Phil.5132502620
2008Donald Lee, G.B.5039303520

Dynasty league with an open waiver wire or early best-ball draft? There are worse fliers than Davis Allen.

--Andy Richardson

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