Fantasy Football Player Rankings & Projections
2010 Tight End Preseason Preview
Tony Gonzalez
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One of the greatest pass-catching tight
ends in football history needs one more catch to top 1,000
for his career and is going to get that and a lot more in
2010. |
5. Tony Gonzalez - Falcons - 2010 Preview:
Gonzales is ranked as the fifth best tight end in fantasy football,
but the fact is he could just have easily been ranked number one.
Do not draft too high on tight ends in your draft this year, because
you can pick the fifth ranked tight end and still get a tight end
who potentially can finish number one.
As mentioned, there are no more consistent tight ends over the last
three seasons than Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. Gonzo has averaged
about 92 catches for over 1,000 yards over the past three seasons.
The difference with Gonzo is he also averaged a much better seven
touchdown catches each season.
But the reason for Gonzalez being at number five and below Jason
Witten is his age. Though it is likely he has another couple of
fantasy-stud-like seasons in him, he could also begin to fade at
anytime. It simple puts some risk in drafting him over younger tight
ends.
In the end, Gonzo has had a year to adjust to his move to his Falcons
and the new offensive scheme and with a 100% healthy Matt Ryan and
Michael Turner the Falcons offense and Tony Gonzalez should have
a very good fantasy 2010 season.
2009 Statistics:
83 Rec - 867 Yds - 6 TD's
2010 Projection: 85
Rec - 901 Yds - 7 TD's
6. Brent Celek - Eagles - 2010 Preview:
A breakout season for the 2007 fifth-round draft pick is one reason
that Celek has moved up so high, but the Andy Reid offense and the
Eagles new quarterback are equal reasons.
Andy Reid has been searching for a tight end for quite sometime
and he finally got his man in Celek. Now that the Eagles have there
receivers (DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin) they can play the Andy-Reid-type
football that Reid hasn't been able to do in the past. And a big
part of that is throwing to the tight end, especially in the end
zone (Celek had eight touchdown catches).
Of course the Eagles will have a new quarterback in Kevin Kolb starting
in 2010. Usually you want a good quarterback to go along with your
high-pick receiver or tight end, but not only does it look as if
Kolb is the real deal, there also is no better help for a young quarterback
than a good tight end.
Celek's 2009 stats are good enough to argue him as a top-three tight
end coming into the 2010 season and he has the team and the ability
to finish as the number tight end in fantasy football, but he still
has to prove himself with another big year.
2009 Statistics:
76 Rec - 971 Yds - 8 TD's
2010 Projection: 81
Rec - 943 Yds - 8 TD's
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7. Owen Daniels - Texans - 2010 Preview:
If not for a season-ending injury, an argument might be made for
Owen Daniels to be the number one tight end in fantasy football.
Yes all the way down at number seven, there is yet another candidate
for the number one tight spot. This shows the great depth that there
is at tight end in fantasy football in 2010 and thus you can be
patient when drafting.
Daniels finished with 40 catches for 519 yards and five touchdowns
in eight games. Simply double those stats and you have Dallas Clark
type numbers.
With a healthy Matt Shuab at the helm there is no reason why Daniel
can't have that type of year if he plays 16 games in 2010. Having
Andre Johnson as the primary receiver in Houston means double-coverage
most of the time and this will keep the easy short-yardage catches
for Daniels over the middle. Receiver Kevin Walter plays a similar
role as Daniels, but it was clear in 2009 that Daniels is the number
two receiver down in Houston.
2009 Statistics:
40 Rec - 519 Yds - 5 TD's
2010 Projection: 85
Rec - 922 Yds - 8 TD's
8. Kellen Winslow - Buccaneers - 2010 Preview:
The mega-talented Winslow looked as if he were headed down the road
of mediocrity when he was traded by the Cleveland Browns to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers after an injury plagued 43 catch, 428 yard
2008 performance. But a quick look at his past well tell you that
Winslow is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL.
Winslow averaged 85 catches for 990 yards and four touchdowns in
the previous two seasons with the Browns.
In Tampa Bay the Bucs have the young Josh Freeman at quarterback
and as said before, there is no better friend to a young quarterback
than a good tight end and that proved to be true in 2009 and it
will again in 2010.
The Bucs had nothing else to speak of at wide receiver in 2009,
but in 2010 they have added second-round draft pick Arrelious Benn
and fourth-round draft pick Mike Williams. This means some pressure
of Winslow in the middle, but he is still the premier receiver on
this team and the offense will be built around him.
Second year quarterback Josh Freeman holds the key to Winslow's
success. As a rookie he threw for 1,857 yards, 10 touchdowns and
18 interceptions in ten starts. Not good by any means, but he showed
ability in throwing on the run and making things happen. As he builds
a rhythm with his new receivers he will improve and the Bucs will
hold on to the ball more and thus Freeman will be able to hit is
#1 target, Kellen Winslow, more often.
2009 Statistics:
77 Rec - 884 Yds - 5 TD's
2010 Projection: 82
Rec - 902 Yds - 6 TD's
