2021 Top 50 TE Rankings
Looking at just the Tight End position I wanted to give a quick rundown of my Top 50 ranked players at the position. I have been currently drafting teams at both Underdog Fantasy and Drafters and after about 100 drafts these are the rankings I have settled in on at the TE position.
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TOP 50 BEST BALL 2021 - TIGHT ENDS
Travis Kelce KC - You will have to take in the 1st Round. Not a bad strategy at the back end of 1st.
George Kittle SF - It is debatable if you go with Kittle or Waller.
Darren Waller LV - Maybe on Full PPR sites you bump him over Kittle.
Mark Andrews BAL - Some what down season last year and not in the same tier as the top three guys ahead of him.
T.J. Hockenson DET - Detroit looks to be in a big rebuild but with Marvin Jones likely out and another season in the books for TJ, good upside pick.
Noah Fant DEN - We want to know the QB situation in Denver. Drafting Fant in February comes with some question marks but could work in favor.
Dallas Goedert PHI - Ertz looks to be out of favor in Philly. Goedert could be Hurts safety net.
Logan Thomas WAS - Huge bright for Washington in 2020, why not similar in 2021? Hoping for QB upgrade as well.
Robert Tonyan GB - Rodgers likes Tonyan a lot and we saw spike weeks from Tonyan. Spike weeks are good in Best Ball.
Kyle Pitts ROOKIE - If you like Pitts you better draft him before he gets drafted in the NFL Draft. I can see his ADP jumping 20+ spots come draft day.
Mike Gesicki MIA - Sneaky play in the mid/later rounds. Miami might have a breakout in 2021 and Gesicki is just getting started.
Hunter Henry LAC/Free Agent - Free Agent TE’s never seem to hit at a great rate. Some risk in taking Henry but not the worst pick.
Evan Engram NYG - Giants were bad, Engram also struggled in 2020. He is at a discount compared to one year ago.
Jonnu Smith TEN/Free Agent - Much like Henry it will depend on the landing spot but I think there is upside with Jonnu in any situation.
Tyler Higbee LAR - Everett is likely gone. When that news hits twitter - Higbee’s ADP will rise. Be aggressive drafting him now.
Irv Smith MIN - He had a slow start to 2020 but picked up steam with Cousins at the end of the year. Good upside TE.
Hayden Hurst ATL - The Falcons have big named WR’s ahead of him which drops Hurst’s value. I like him as a nice value TE to build around.
Austin Hooper CLE - Very similar to Hurst. If I can get one of these guys to fall a round or two I am pretty happy with the selection.
Zach Ertz PHI - Oh how the mighty have fallen. I still think Ertz has upside at this ADP price and if he lands with a new team he could bump a couple rounds.
Eric Ebron PIT - Ebron has a decent floor for a late round TE and does give you some TD equity and that is what you want in a TE this late in the game.
Cole Kmet CHI - Jimmy Graham is likely out of town and when official word hits, Kmet will rise. Good guy to bet on this late.
Rob Gronkowski TB/Free Agent/Retire? - I generally rank older players further down the line in Best Ball. I don’t really want to draft Gronkowski this year but I can’t blame you if you do.
Dawson Knox BUF - Knox is one of my favorite late round selections at any position. Great team, Great QB, Strong 2020 finish, younger player and no competition at the position in Buffalo.
Blake Jarwin DAL - I always have a hard time being aggressive with players coming off of injury. I like him in 3 TE builds.
Adam Trautman NO - Jared Cook looks like a goner in New Orleans. Trautman gets the young gun bump for me. Chase that potential upside.
Gerald Everett LAR/Free Agent - I think the ADP value on Everett is great right now. If he lands on a new team as their TE1 you are in business.
Donald Parham LAC - Henry looks to be gone so why not take a chance on Parham who had some chemistry with Herbert?
Christopher Herndon NYJ - This is a player I hate to draft, but I have to rank him. So here he is. Enjoy!
Dalton Schultz DAL - With Jarwin going down Week 1, Shultz put together a solid season. He helped win me my Pros vs Joes Best Ball league so he gets a bump into top 30 for me.
Dan Arnold ARI/Free Agent - Reserve Arnold for a 3TE build type of team. He could see an ADP boost when he signs his 2021 contract.
Anthony Firkser TEN - Smith looks to be chasing the money and will be out for the Titans this year so Firkser gets a bump.
O.J. Howard TB - I want Howard to be healthy and get back to where he was a couple of years ago. Feels like a forgotten man at this point.
Brevin Jordan ROOKIE - Rookie TE’s are never a great investment in 18-20 man Best Ball builds. Save him for deeper rosters. Or maybe you take a gamble and he lands with the Patriots or something.
Jared Cook NO/Free Agent/Retire? Will he play in 2021? Maybe if a contender wants to give him one more year and he wants to play football.
Cameron Brate TB - Brate was sneaky good to down the stretch and playoffs for the Bucs. Not the worst roster spot in 3 TE builds.
David Njoku CLE - Talent always seems to be there but seems like it doesn’t translate to the field.
Mo Alie-Cox IND/Free Agent - Where will his landing spot be? Take some shots in 3 TE builds.
Jordan Akins HOU - Houston has to have a starting TE on the field right?
Harrison Bryant CLE - Lots of names on the Cleveland TE depth chart.
Will Dissly SEA - Seems like a guy you want to bet on every year for that breakout.
Pat Freiermuth ROOKIE - Same as Brevin Jordan above. It is hard to bank on Rookie TE’s that get drafted outside of Round 1 in the NFL Draft.
Albert Okwuegbunam DEN - I feel like there is hype and love for Albert O out there. I don’t hate it but I don’t love it.
Trey Burton IND/Free Agent - Digging deep now as Burton seems to be a busted player after his Super Bowl win.
Drew Sample CIN - Stepped in last year but only really stepped in as just a guy.
Kyle Rudolph MIN - Writing is starting to stick to the wall at this point in Rudolph’s career. Great career but coming to an end.
Jimmy Graham CHI - Showed some rebirth in 2020 but also some death. Not much upside here.
Tyler Eifert JAC/Free Agent - Another year and blah. Hard to invest a late round pick on Eifert.
Jack Doyle IND - If Andrew Luck was still playing maybe. Nah pass.
Ian Thomas CAR - I only listed Thomas here as I invested so much in him in 2020 so I just wanted to remind myself of that.
Adam Shaheen MIA - I had to put someone at #50.
Others to monitor: Darren Fells, Jordan Reed, Jacob Hollister, James O’Shaughnessy, Tyler Kroft, Nick Boyle, Jace Sternberger, C.J. Uzomah, Kaden Smith, Josh Oliver, Jordan Thomas
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