Week 1 Tight End Rankings - PPR Leagues

Every football fan has been counting down the days, but we are finally here! Football is back in action tonight, which means one thing, you don't have much more time left until some players in your lineup get locked in. Tight end is one of the hardest position to predict in fantasy. The elite top-five tight ends are in a tier off their own, but then after them it gets a little fuzzy. Unless you have a reliable top tier tight end, it's hard to pick who will hit pay dirt that week out of the masses. But that's why I'm here, to give you insight on who I think will perform this week.

Quick note: I will start the first couple of weeks ranking 30 TE's. But as the season goes on I will drop to around 25 because around there a lot for those guys are just fighting for scraps.

Coby Fleener - If you drafted Fleener you are going to get a HUGE return on your investment. The Colts offense didn't fit him even though they had his Stanford teammate at the helm. The Saints paid Fleener $36 million to suit up in New Orleans for five years. This is the same offense that turned Jimmy Graham into a pro bowler and even a 35-year-old Benjamin Watson into a top-10 tight end last season. Expect big things from Fleener.

Clive Walford - If you are unsure at the tight end position, Walford is a top-10 option for me this week. He is listed behind Lee Smith on the depth chart, but Smith is going to be used primarily a blocking TE. That leaves the door open for Walford. I think he can have a breakout season. If not that, then a breakout game here in Week 1. He faces New Orleans, which gave up the most points to tight ends last season, and he's available in nearly 80% of ESPN leagues. It will take some time to see where he fits but I think he will be a solid option going forward.

Jesse James - also known as Ladarius Green's backup. But not anymore. He will start the first six weeks of the season as green Green has been placed on the regular season PUP list. But I don't see much value here regardless. Big Ben has way too many weapons to use and I think James will get lost in the mix till he finds his way back on the bench in Week 7.

Jimmy Graham - If you have a guy on your team after #20 on my list, you most likely drafted Jimmy Graham. You're probably hoping he will become the animal he was in the Superdome. And if that happens you're probably going to rub it in everyones face because you took him with you're second to last pick and are calling it the "steal of the century." Let's face it, getting traded to the Seahawks was the worst thing that could ever happen to Jimmy Graham. His insane talent is rotting away while he pretends to block for the Seattle backfield. When he went down last season that is when Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin and the rest of the Seahawks offense exploded. Their offense doesn't run through the tight end and that isn't going to change. Plus, Graham may not even play much in Week 1 due to injury. Get ready Jimmy, it's gonna be a looong season.