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The tight ends really surprised me last week. Jack Doyle topped the list, which begs the question... who is Jack Doyle? He didn't even have a reception in the preseason and here he is scoring two touchdowns. No TE in my top-five actually scored in the top five this week. That is to say that Gronkowski didn't play when I ranked him as my number one, knowing his injury woes would only be announced closer to gametime. But the example shows that tight end a tough position to predict. I said it last week and it really showed here. This week should be better for a lot of the marquee TE's. So let's get to the rankings.
Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
1 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | MIA |
2 | Jordan Reed | WAS | DAL |
3 | Greg Olsen | CAR | SF |
4 | Delanie Walker | TEN | @DET |
5 | Travis Kelce | KC | @HOU |
6 | Julius Thomas | JAC | @SD |
7 | Antonio Gates | SD | JAC |
8 | Jason Witten | DAL | @WAS |
9 | Eric Ebron | DET | TEN |
10 | Coby Fleener | NO | @NYG |
11 | Gary Barnidge | CLE | BAL |
12 | Dwayne Allen | IND | @DEN |
13 | Zach Miller | CHI | PHI |
14 | Jesse James | PIT | CIN |
15 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | GB |
16 | Clive Walford | OAK | ATL |
17 | Virgil Green | DEN | IND |
18 | Martellus Bennett | NE | MIA |
19 | Jacob Tamme | ATL | @OAK |
20 | Charles Clay | BUF | NYJ |
21 | Brent Celek | PHI | @CHI |
22 | Vance McDonald | SF | @CAR |
23 | Jared Cook | GB | @MIN |
24 | Dennis Pitta | BAL | @CLE |
25 | Larry Donnell | NYG | NO |
26 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins | TB | @ARI |
27 | C.J. Uzomah | CIN | @PIT |
28 | Jordan Cameron | MIA | @NE |
29 | Jimmy Graham | SEA | @LA |
30 | Cameron Brate | TB | @ARI |
Eric Ebron - If you've followed my post from last year you'll know that I love Eric Ebron. He's had trouble living up to his 10th overall draft pick that the Lions used on him in 2014. But I think this is the year for Ebron and I'm starting him almost every week. He's finally the main tight end in Detroit because they have switched to a one-TE system and not to mention Megatron is gone. Ebron is now the go to goal line option because he is the height on this offense Before Calvin Johnson would get three fade attempts close to the endzone, but that should change. Stafford now will be looking to Ebron (who scored a TD last week). Big things ahead for this man.
Clive Walford - Maybe I jumped the gun on him last week. He had the matchup and he had the starting pass catching TE role, but he flopped. He produced only five points in PPR, but he did get targeted on over 20% of his routes. It's hard to carve a niche into the offense when balls are being thrown to Cooper and Crabtree left and right. But don't give up on Walford, if he can develop rapport with Carr he should become more useful in your lineup. But for now he can take a seat on your bench if you have a better option.
Coby Fleener - Another misfire with a bad week after I ranked him as #5 in Week One. But it's just the beginning of the season woes that Fleener may be going through. The Saints did not shell out $36 million to have Fleener make one grab a game. I think the plan against Oakland was to take advantage of their slow secondary with their speed (hence the Brandin Cooks 98-yard TD and Willie Snead going wild), which caused Fleener to fall into the shadows. I don't think this will be a theme for the season. Fleener is still a top-10 option for me this week and should be in your starting lineup.
Brent Celek/Zach Ertz - As I write this, Ertz is listed as doubtful for this week, which means Brent Celek will take his place if he is ruled out (which I think will happen, although the Eagles haven't made anything official). When Ertz is healthy, I think he is very close to a top-five option let alone a must start player. But Celek is another story. He's six years older than Ertz and may be used more as a blocking tight end. He will be the primary passing TE, but I don't how much Wentz will throw his way. He is a boom-or-bust candidate this week and I don't think the boom will be very loud if he makes one. He's outside the top-20 for me, which is a nicer way of saying "avoid him."