September 8th 2017
Friday Late Night Edition
That’s My Take 2017
Fantasy Player Notes
It’s time to talk about the big boy
receivers, affectionately known as the tight ends. Now normally I might have
included the Chiefs Travis Kelce, but we all got a good look at him Thursday;
tremendous size and its apparent head coach Andy Reid is going to get him the
ball. Kelce could be another Gronk this season. Now here are few names of
players that are not like Gronk, but will have fantasy impact.
Fantasy Tight Ends
Kyle Rudolph
There’s little conversation going on about
Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, at least I am not hearing much, but there
should be talk. Last season with first year in Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford,
Rudolph turned in a stat line of 83-840-7. I have to be honest, that was the
quietest stat line I remember from last season and it was good enough for the
No.3 fantasy tight end. The Vikings biggest problem last season was their
O-line and lack of running game; two things they addressed in the offseason.
Any improvements in these areas will likely reflect with improvement in the pass
game and Rudolph’s numbers. He may not have been drafted top five at his
position in your draft, but there’s a good chance he finishes there.
Hunter Henry
Yes, the Chargers still have the future
Hall-of-fame tight end Antonio Gates, but no doubt tight end Hunter Henry is a
name on the rise. In his rookie campaign he started 10 games for the Chargers
and finished as the league’s No.11 fantasy tight end (standard leagues). His
2016 numbers were touchdown dependent, but this season he should carve out a
larger role in the offense and greatly improve on his 19th ranking in PPR last
season. He’s a starting TE1 in 12-team leagues (bottom half) for me this
season.
Jack Doyle
With the prospect of quarterback Andrew
Luck throwing passes to him again this season, I believe Doyle can pick up
right where he left off in 2016. A season ago Doyle finished as the No.13
fantasy tight end (PPR) with 59 receptions, 584 yards receiving, and 5
touchdowns. Doyle is probably going to be slow out of the gate with Luck sidelined
the first couple of weeks, but he could be a strong sneaky play in the second
half of the season. He’s got great fantasy value coming late off the draft
boards.
Julius Thomas
After two productive seasons in Denver,
the Dolphins tight end Julius Thomas has not been very fantasy relevant since;
last season in standard leagues he was the 29th ranked fantasy tight end.
Thomas arrived in Miami this offseason, enter head coach Adam Gase (Thomas’ old
OC in Denver) and new quarterback Jay Cutler. Thomas is a big body tight end
the team believes could finish with double figure touchdowns; add the
Gase-Cutler factor. In 2015 when these two (Cutler & Gaes) were paired in
Chicago, Cutler targeted his tight ends 127 times, for 88 receptions, and 8
touchdowns. Thomas is a sleeper tight end this season, with potential huge
upside if he stays healthy!
That’s My Take. ~David Ortega
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