We’re heading into the third week of the preseason, which means that it’s time to get down to business. Not only is real football right around the corner, but so is fantasy football!
If you haven’t drafted already, there’s a good chance you’re drafting this week. And if you’re more of a daily fantasy guy, those competitions are already open.
So with that said, we’ll be running through our top-30 positional rankings this week. On Monday, we covered the defenses, and today we’ll be running through tight ends:
2. Jordan Reed
Gronk is clearly the No. 1 tight end. There’s no doubt about that, but Jordan Reed is really, really good, guys.
Last year he pulled in 87 receptions for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he did so in just nine starts. The only thing holding Reed back from being in discussion for best tight end in the NFL is his health, and that’s a serious concern.
Still, if Reed can stay healthy for an entire season, even just the majority of the season, you’re going to be happy he’s on your team. He’s about as talented as they come.
3. Greg Olsen
4. Coby Fleener
Broncos fans are supremely aware of Julius Thomas’ talents. There also well acquainted with his faults, mainly a tendency to be sidelined with nagging injuries.
His success or failure this season will come down to his ability to stay on the field, because he’s in the perfect position to succeed.
Like the Peyton Manning-led offenses that propelled Thomas towards superstardom in ’13 and ’14, this year’s Jacksonville Jaguars offense looks to be explosive. If he can get on the same page with Blake Bortles, Thomas will put up plenty of numbers.
8. Travis Kelce
9. Jimmy Graham
10. Zach Ertz
11. Antonio Gates
12. Tyler Eifert
13. Ladarius Green
Ladarius Green is falling down draft boards thanks to his mysterious absence from Steelers training camp — rumors have begun to swirl that headaches and concussions could be leading towards an early retirement — but if Green gets on the field, he has as much upside as anyone outside the top five.
He’s a risk, for sure, but sometimes you have to go big or go home.
In a high-powered Steelers offense, the speedy Green could do serious damage next to Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. He’ll have to get on the field first, but Green made it clear over the weekend that he’s not contemplating anything other than returning to the field, and especially not retirement. Right now, it’s his surgically-repaired ankle that is holding him back — which is worrisome — but he should be making a return to the field sooner than later.
14. Eric Ebron
15. Dwayne Allen
16. Virgil Green
It’s just preseason, but Virgil Green looks like a different tight end. Once known as the “blocking” tight end on the Broncos offense, Green has been a focal point through Denver’s first two games, hauling in seven receptions for 83 yards in what amounts to not much more than two drives of action.
Whether it was Mark Sanchez in game one or Trevor Siemian in game two, Denver’s quarterbacks have targeted Green seemingly every chance they’ve had.
If Green can keep up the pace, there’s no doubt that he’ll be a relevant fantasy tight end; Gary Kubiak has made plenty of those before.
18. Zach Miller
19. Jason Witten
20. Jordan Cameron
21. Kyle Rudolph
22. Clive Walford
23. Vance McDonald
24. Jared Cook
Jared Cook, Jared Cook, Jared Cook … If you haven’t been screwed by Jared Cook before, you probably haven’t been playing fantasy all that long.
For years, Cook has been praised as a breakout fantasy star, a guy with so much talent he can’t help but succeed. And for years, Cook has busted, both with the Titans and Rams.
Well, now he’s on the Green Bay Packers, and people are getting excited again. Is Aaron Rodgers the quarterback to finally pull the best out of Cook? I’m not sure, but if he isn’t, nobody is.
25. Charles Clay
26. Will Tye
27. Hunter Henry
29. Maxx Williams
30. Jesse James
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