Hello everyone! All week I have been going over my top players at each position. So far I’ve covered running backs and wide receivers. Now let’s take a look at my top 12 tight ends!

Tier 1: Elite AF

1. Travis Kelce: Being connected to the best quarterback in the league helps. Being a dominant player in his own right helps even more. What more can you really say about Kelce? As Tina Turner would say, he’s simply the best.
2. George Kittle: Honestly, this is probably more of a 1a 1b situation. You can certainly make the argument for Kittle as TE1 and I actually had him there in my early rankings. You can’t go wrong with either.

Tier 2: Studly Studs

1. Mark Andrews: I actually debated putting Mandrews in Tier 1. He was the TE3 last year as a part time player, only topping 50% of the snaps in six games. His upside is sky high, especially if the Ravens pass more this year.
2. Zach Ertz: I’ve seen a lot of people down on Ertz this year and I just don’t really understand why. His upside isn’t super high but he’s still a very safe pick at TE.
   

Tier 3: Upside Guys with Question Marks

1. Darren Waller: Waller was great last year. I am concerned with the number of weapons the Raiders have added. He might see a decrease in targets but should see an increase in touchdowns. He’s going a little earlier than I’d like though so I’m probably off him at his ADP.
2. Mike Gesicki: Hyper athletic and a clear path to targets, Gesicki seems like an obvious breakout candidate. Developed some nice chemistry with Ryan Fitzpatrick as last season went on. If Tua Tagavailoa takes over at any point it likely won’t hurt him much.
3. Hayden Hurst: Yes, he is unproven. But he has flashed some upside in the past and now moves into a huge role with a QB with a history of heavily targeting his tight end.
4. Tyler Higbee: Perhaps the most polarizing tight end this season. We saw what he could do towards the end of last year. But there are so many questions about the Rams scheme changes and personnel. He could conceivably finish in the top three or outside the top 12 tight ends.
5. Evan Engram: Health is obviously the biggest issue here. If he can stay healthy his upside is massive. Too bad he never does. But he is available later in drafts than he has been in the past so I think he’s worth a shot.
6. Jared Cook: He will probably find his way into the top 12 tight ends, but I’m not touching him at his ADP. He does have some upside though, as shown by last season. I just don’t trust him to be as efficient this year.

Tier 4: Safe-ish Picks That Might Be Undervalued

1. Austin Hooper: Baker Mayfield likes targeting his tight end. There are reports out of camp that the Browns will play more heavy sets. Hooper is likely the third option on the offense, but he should be a safe pick considering where you can draft him.
2. Hunter Henry: I’m down on the Chargers offense as a whole, but Tyrod Taylor has a history of targeting his tight end (Charles Clay, anyone?). Mike Williams might miss some games which would open up a few targets.

Sleepers!

1. Chris Herndon: His ADP is rising quickly but you can still get him relatively cheap. I’ve been on the Herndon train in best ball leagues since mid-June or so. I miss the days of getting him in the last round. Could lead the Jets in targets.
2. Jonnu Smith: Unreal run after catch ability for a guy his size. Will the targets rise at all? The occasional handoff is a nice bonus.
3. Dawson Knox: Flashed as a rookie, if he can become more consistent he could have a breakout year. Drops are an issue.

That wraps up my top 12 tight ends as well as a few sleepers! Follow me on Twitter @JimJamFF and let me know what you think! Don’t forget to check out my running back and wide receiver rankings as well as all the other great content at Belly Up! Happy drafting!