Fantasy Football: Patience Pays When Drafting Tight Ends

It's better to address your other skill positions before you take a tight end in your fantasy draft.

The rule of thumb regarding drafting a tight end in fantasy leagues is that, in most cases, you don't want to draft them before you get to the middle rounds.

A player like Travis Kelce or Darren Waller can certainly give you the production you would expect from a top fantasy wide receiver, but after that, the production you get drops a lot. While you still need to have a good fantasy option, the lower production after the top two means you shouldn't take one too soon.

Unless you see Kelce or Waller available, be sure to fill out your starting QB, RB and WR positions before you take your first tight end. Look for a player who is a good, all-around producer first. If one is not available, wait it out a little more if you must, but focus on a player who will help you more depending on your league's scoring format.

It's not a bad idea to stash a tight end on your bench if you have a spot available. But keep in mind that there will always be a tight end who surprises, which means you can find somebody on the waiver wire if you need help.

Here are my picks for different categories when it comes to fantasy tight ends"

Boom: Darren Waller

Buyer beware: Jonnu Smith

Value pick: Mike Gesicki

Sleeper: Noah Fant

Super sleeper: Irv Smith Jr.

Top rookie: Kyle Pitts

Now for my rankings of fantasy tight ends.

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City

Kelce has hit double digit touchdowns in two of the past three seasons and has had at least 1,000 receiving yards since 2016. He's also caught 100 or more receptions in two of the past three seasons, and was close to that mark in the third. What makes Kelce unique among the top fantasy tight ends is that he's not the No. 1 target in the offense, but he still produces at a high level. His consistency makes him arguably the best fantasy tight end.

2. Darren Waller, Las Vegas

After breaking out in 2019, Waller improved his production in every category, surpassing 100 receptions and one shy of 10 receiving touchdowns. He gets a lot of attention from Derek Carr, who doesn't take many deep shots downfield. It would help if another receiver emerged to complement Waller, but fantasy owners can't complain with the production he's delivered. He should be one of the first tight ends off the board in fantasy drafts.

3. George Kittle, San Francisco

Kittle missed eight games in 2020 because of an MCL sprain and a broken foot, but was back in the lineup late in the season. He was on pace for another 1,000-yard receiving season and he's frequently targeted -- he got more than 100 targets in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. It would help if Kittle had better quarterback play, but perhaps first-round pick Trey Lance will be the guy. Kittle's injury history is a concern, but when he's healthy, he's a productive fantasy player.

4. Mark Andrews, Baltimore

Andrews was targeted 88 times in 2020, slightly down from his 98 targets in 2019, and he fell short of the 10 touchdowns he had in 2019. Still, Andrews remains one of Lamar Jackson's preferred targets. Jackson wasn't as productive last season, which impacted Andrews' numbers, but if Jackson improves and another receiver emerges, it could mean more production for Andrews. He remains a solid choice as a fantasy starting tight end.

5. Logan Thomas, Washington

Thomas bounced around the league for several seasons, but emerged as one of the top playmakers on Washington's offense, with 72 receptions on 110 targets and six touchdowns. Washington's QB situation isn't settled yet, but there's a decent chance that Ryan Fitzpatrick could bring stability. Thomas doesn't have a long track record of success in the NFL, so you don't want to take him too early, but he appears to have found a role in this offense.

6. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay

Tonyan was a pleasant surprise in 2020, catching 11 touchdown passes and getting 52 receptions on 59 targets. There is the question about what will happen with Aaron Rodgers this season, but if Jordan Love is the starter to open the season, we've seen tight ends benefit before when an inexperienced quarterback is under center. If Rodgers is the starter, Tonyan is a good fantasy tight end to have, but if Love starts, you don't need to bump Tonyan too far down your draft board.

7. TJ Hockenson, Detroit

After missing four games in 2019, Hockenson started all 16 games and finished with 67 receptions on 101 targets. The Lions are rebuilding, though, having traded Matthew Stafford for draft picks and Jared Goff. There aren't a lot of experienced players in the receiving corps, but it's possible Goff will rely on a lot on Hockenson. While you don't want to reach for Hockenson, he's a solid bet to be a productive fantasy tight end.

8. Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay

Gronk was a steady performer in 2020, with 45 receptions for 623 yards and seven touchdowns. The Buccaneers kept their offensive playmakers together, and Gronk will likely be the top tight end on the depth chart, because OJ Howard may not be 100 percent as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. The days of Gronk hitting double-digit touchdowns appear to be over, but he's still productive enough to help your fantasy team.

9. Mike Gesicki, Miami

Gesicki passed 50 receptions for the second straight season and has scored 11 touchdowns the past two seasons. The Dolphins will move forward with Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback, so what will this mean for Gesicki's production? While Gesicki's best overall game was with Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter (Week 2), but he had more consistent production with Tagovailoa. Thus, Gesicki should be a solid fantasy TE with potential to be a top option.

10. Jonnu Smith, New England

Smith scored eight touchdowns in 2020 while with the Titans, and the Patriots must have liked what they saw, because they made him one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL. However, the Patriots also signed Hunter Henry, and while there's a good chance the Pats will run a lot of two tight end sets, what does that mean for Smith's production? You might want to think of Smith as a better choice in TD-heavy formats, but don't reach for him, regardless of your fantasy league's settings.

11. Jared Cook, LA Chargers

Cook scored 16 total touchdowns with the Saints the past two seasons, but they allowed him to leave for salary cap reasons. He signed with the Chargers and will likely replace Hunter Henry atop the tight end depth chart. Justin Herbert is a star on the rise, but it's worth noting that Cook has emerged mostly into a red-zone option. He's a good player to draft in TD-heavy formats, but that means you don't want to reach for him.

12. Jimmy Graham, Chicago

After getting just five touchdowns in two seasons with the Packers, Graham was a surprisingly productive player in the red zone in 2020 with the Bears, scoring eight touchdowns. He also increased his receptions from 38 in 2019 to 50 in 2020. It remains to be seen how the Bears' QB situation plays out or if Graham can keep his production going. Don't reach for him, but Graham might be a good choice for TD-heavy formats.

13. Noah Fant, Denver

Fant saw his targets increase from 66 to 93 and his receptions increase from 40 to 62. He's scored just six touchdowns in two seasons, so he hasn't been a good option in TD-heavy formats. But his increased targets mean there's a good chance he'll see his production continue to rise in 2021, regardless of who the Broncos start at quarterback. Put Fant down on your list of fantasy sleepers at the tight end position.

14. Dalton Schultz, Dallas

Schultz was a surprise for the Cowboys in 2020 with 63 receptions on 89 targets with four touchdowns. The Cowboys' season didn't go as expected after Dak Prescott was lost for the season to a foot injury. But with a healthy Prescott in the lineup, Schultz is an intriguing fantasy player -- he had nine catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 when Prescott was healthy. This makes him a fantasy sleeper at TE going into 2021.

15. Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh

Ebron caught 56 passes on 91 targets with five touchdowns in his first season with the Steelers. He'll enter 2021 as their top tight end after he split time with Vance McDonald, who retired after the 2020 seasons. One thing to keep in mind is the Steelers have a lot of quality receivers, so Ebron might not realize a lot of fantasy production. In deeper leagues, you are likely starting him, but in leagues with fewer teams, he's better viewed as a bench player or bye-week fill in.

16. Hunter Henry, New England

After scoring eight touchdowns as a rookie, Henry has never scored more than five touchdowns in a single season. He did get targeted 93 times in 2020 and caught 60 passes with the Chargers. Now, though, he's with the Patriots and will be competing with Jonnu Smith for targets. Even if the Patriots run a lot of two tight end sets, it's not a given that Henry will produce at a high level. He's better thought of as a fantasy bench option until you know what his role will be in the offense.

17. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta

Pitts scored 12 touchdowns in 2020 in his junior season at Florida. The Falcons made him the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, so they will likely expect him to play a major role as a rookie. On one hand, Hayden Hurst was productive for the Falcons last year. On the other hand, rookie tight ends usually don't put up big production to start their careers. You shouldn't make Pitts a fantasy starter, but you can stash him on your bench in case he does make an immediate impact.

18. Austin Hooper, Cleveland

Hooper had 75 receptions on 97 targets in 2019, joined the Browns as a free agent in 2020, then saw his production dip to 46 receptions on 70 targets. The good news is that Hooper scored his three touchdowns in the second half of the season when the Browns got better on offense. It's possible Hooper could have better fantasy production in 2021, but until he shows he can do that, he's best stashed on your fantasy bench or utilized as a bye-week fill in.

19. Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota

Smith caught five touchdown passes in 2020 while sitting behind Kyle Rudolph on the depth chart. The Vikings chose to release Rudolph after the season, which means Smith has a chance to become the team's top tight end. He's best thought of as a bye-week fill in or a player to stash on the bench at this time. However, there is deep sleeper potential here for him to break out and help your fantasy team.

20. Evan Engram, NY Giants

Engram had 109 targets, the most he's had since his rookie season, and that led to 63 receptions, one shy of his rookie season total. He scored just one touchdown, though, and fantasy players need more scoring production than that. Though the Giants added Kyle Rudolph, he started the season on the physically unable to perform list and fantasy players shouldn't expect him to cut into Engram's targets. However, Engram's low TD tally means he's best stashed on the bench or used as a bye-week fill in.