Fantasy Football Player Rankings & Projections

2010 Tight End Preseason Preview

 

Dallas Clark

While Clark may not be your prototypical, bulky-blocking tight end, he is arguably the best receiving tight end in the NFL and thus the #1 tight end in fantasy football.

1. Dallas Clark - Colts - 2010 Preview:

You can't ask for more from a tight end than what Dallas Clark has to offer. 100 receptions, 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns are about the best numbers a tight end has put up in the history of fantasy football.
Being Peyton Manning's number one target makes Clark head's above the rest. The Colts have great wide receivers including Reggie Wayne who too could top 100 receptions, Anthony Gonzalez who returns from injury and 2009 breakouts, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. While all these hands will take away looks from Clark, it will also let him roam the middle of the field, often with linebacker coverage.
The bottom line with Clark is that Manning calls the plays in the offense and Manning loves to throw to Clark and trust's his abilities. This should assure fantasy owners that Dallas Clark will continue to put up huge fantasy numbers in 2010.

2009 Statistics: 100 Rec - 1,106 Yds - 10 TD's

2010 Projection: 88 Rec - 962 Yds - 9 TD's

 

2. Antonio Gates - Chargers - 2010 Preview:

Gates has had some injury problems over the last few years that prevented him from returning to the top of the heap at the tight end position, but 2009 he saw his highest totals in yards and catches in four years. In fact, it was his highest yardage total of his career. Gates, even when battling injuries remains onse of the most consistent tight ends in football and he is playing in a contract year which makes him a safe high-pick in your fantasy football draft.
Having a great quarterback insures your fantasy tight end will get plenty of catches. Gates has been Rivers' main target since a rookie, so the development of receiver Vincent Jackson (suspended for the first three games of 2010) and Malcom Floyd will only help take the pressure of Gates by drawing extra coverage to the sidelines and down the field.
The offensive line had excellent pass-blocking in 2009 so Phillip Rivers should have the time to find all his receivers including Gates. The hope is the offensive line improves its run-blocking for the Chargers #1 draft pick, running back Ryan Mathews, to really get double-coverage away from Gates and allow him to work over the middle and have another big fantasy season in 2010.

2009 Statistics: 79 Rec - 1,157 Yds - 8 TD's

2010 Projection: 80 Rec - 948 Yds - 9 TD's

 

3. Vernon Davis - 49ers - 2010 Preview:

The sixth-pick in the 2006 draft finally came through with a breakout 2010 fantasy season. Blame it on injuries, bad quarterbacks or whatever, but we can now see that indeed, Vernon Davis is the real-deal at tight end. Davis did post 52 receptions for 501 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games in 2007, which adds legitimacy to his 2009 performance.
Of course Davis' success will greatly depend on the 49er's quarterback play which has been dismal most of his career. But Alex Smith, the 1st overall pick of the 2005 draft, finally showed signs of being at least a decent NFL quarterback. The better he plays, the more Davis will produce.
The development of mega-talent receiver Michael Crabtree is key to Alex Smith's success as well as Vernon Davis'. It can't be said enough, having a big-play receiver to attract double-coverage away from the middle of the field will give the tight ends more opportunity to get open and get big yards. Though you would imagine that Davis' touchdown numbers would decrease from his phenomenal 13 in 2009.
Davis does carry some risk because of his inconsistent quarterback and thus Gates, who is essentially tied with Davis, is ranked ahead of him going into preseason. If you want to take a small gamble, select Davis and you may just get the number one tight end in fantasy football.

2009 Statistics: 78 Rec - 965 Yds - 13 TD's

2010 Projection: 84 Rec - 1,010 Yds - 10 TD's

 

4. Jason Witten - Dallas - 2010 Preview:

Arguably the best all-around tight end in football simply doesn't see the end zone looks necessary to be the best tight end in fantasy football. Nevertheless, the All-Pro tight end has averaged about 90 catches for one thousand yards over the last three seasons. Only the Atlanta Falcon's Tony Gonzalez can make such claims as a tight end.
The end zone looks are not likely to increase anytime soon for Jason Witten. First, the fact is the Dallas Cowboys run the ball a lot once in they are in red zone with Marion Barber and Felix Jones. Second, having deep threats like Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton and now #1 draft pick Dez Bryant will keep Witten's end zone looks to a minimum. In addition, even though tight end Martellus Bennett was a major disappointment in 2009, he did catch four touchdowns as a rookie in 2008 and he is yet another reason why Witten will not score a lot of touchdowns in 2010.
The good news is with all those talented players surrounding Witten, he is likely to find openings in the defense to make a ton of five to ten yard catches. Having a great quarterback like Tony Romo, who grew as a quarterback throwing to Jason Witten, is a guarantee that Witten will put up another great fantasy season at tight end in 2010.

2009 Statistics: 94 Rec - 1,030 Yds - 2 TD's

2010 Projection: 87 Rec - 911 Yds - 4 TD's