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We haven't hit the 2009 NFL draft and already we have major shake-ups in the fantasy world with the blockbuster trade just completed by the Broncos and Bears. And if you think it will end there, you will surely be mistaken, for this is just the beginning my friends. It's what we call a prelude of things to come. While the trade will seem to have some immediate impact in both towns, one position that will be directly affected in this deal will be the tight end position.
The Men over the middle....
In Denver, tight end Tony Scheffler did very well with Cutler throwing him the pill, but with the arrival of Kyle Orton could he do even better? With Brandon Marshall expected to miss extended time, Scheffler because of size and athleticism could be featured more the team's new "Patriots" style offense, much more so than the team's other option Daniel Graham. Last season Orton developed very good chemistry with his tight ends in Chicago (they caught 95 balls in 2008), so fantasy owners could see the same in Denver.
(Photo by John Leyba/Denver Post)
Cutler's arrival to the windy city will only mean good things for the Bear's tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen considered a very good pass catching tight end has yet to scratch the surface of his potential as a playmaker in the passing game. With Cutler under center to deliver the rock, 2009 could be a very big year for the former Miami Hurricane, who caught 54 passes and scored five touchdowns last season.
While Olsen and Scheffler figure to be ever more relevant in fantasy in 2009, check out a few more names that could add their resume's to the list.
In Philly, the Eagles passing game struggled at times to get off the ground last season with inconsistency at the tight end position and injuries to starter L.J. Smith (now in Baltimore). It wasn't until late in the season when the team turned to then backup tight end Brent Celek. In the team's final game of the 2008 season, Celek only caught three passes, one for a score. This was just the beginning of an impressive run into the playoffs for the backup tight end. In the team's three post season contests, Celek caught 19 passes for 151-yards and three touchdowns. In 2009 he's expected to be McNabb's primary target over the middle and could be a nice sleeper pick in the coming fantasy drafts.
(Photo by Ross D Franklin / AP)
Another tight end worth mentioning as a possible sleeper pick in 2009 could the Cleveland Brown's Steve Heiden. With Kellen Winslow Jr traded to Tampa Bay, Heiden inherits the starting gig in the dawg-pound. In 2008 Heiden was relative irrelevant in a passing game that ranked near the bottom. Only the Raiders passing offense was worse. While Heiden was not spectacular, he did have flashes of being a capable receiving option over the middle. With the team having been decimated this offseason with the losses of Winslow(traded), Jeurevicius (released), and Stallworth (arrest), at this point Heiden could figure prominantly in the team's passing game plans this coming season (if he returns healthy from his late season ACL and MCL surgery).
It may be a bit early to make any bold predictions, but a couple of note-worthy tight ends to watch in 2009 could be the Cowboys Martellus Bennett (no T.O. will mean more balls to go around) and the Jets Dustin Keller (last season showed some flashes of brilliance, but could play a bigger role in a more conservative offense).
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