FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 1st, 2023

Friday Late-Evening Edition

My Top 10 Fantasy Football 

TE Rankings for 2023

Often considered the safety blanket for the quarterback position, today’s tight ends have morphed into much more than that. Viable weapons in the passing game, many of today’s tight ends are proving to be exceptional pass catchers with big fantasy upside.

Here’s my Top-10 at the tight end position:

The Top-10

1. Travis Kelce

2. Mark Andrews

3. TJ Hockenson

4. Darren Waller

5. George Kittle

6. Evan Engram

7. Dallas Goedert

8. David Njoku

9. Kyle Pitts

10. Dalton Schultz

The Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has separated himself into his own tier at the position. Kelce has finished as the No.1 fantasy scoring tight end four out of the last five seasons. He is King of the Hill until someone comes along and knocks him down.

With his arrival to New York in the off-season, the Giants tight end Darren Waller has a chance to return to his elite play. If Waller stays healthy, he has the tools and ability to produce at a high level. Back in 2020 Waller was the No.2 fantasy scoring tight end catching 107 passes (led all tight ends), finishing right behind Kelce.

My number 10 ranked tight end is Dalton Schultz. The former Cowboys tight end finds himself in Houston with very little competition for the leading receiver spot. Schultz finished 2022 as the No.13 fantasy scoring tight end and could easily improve his position this season with a young rookie quarterback (C.J. Stroud) under center.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 28th 2017

Saturday Late Night Edition

Week 8 TE Rankings

Gronk will top my Week 8 list in a matchup that has the potential of being a Sunday Shootout at Foxboro. Gronk has been up and down some this season and this game has the potential of being one of his up games.

I have Redskins tight end Jordan Reed climbing the board to No.6 this week. The Cowboys defense has been solid against opposing tight ends, but the Redskins and Reed will be a big test. Reed has quiet numbers this season as the No.14 fantasy TE (PPR), but over his last two games he’s been targeted 15 times, turning in a stat line of 12/101/2.

TE Rankings

1. Rob Gronkowski

2. Zach Ertz

3. Travis Kelce

4. Hunter Henry

5. Kyle Rudolph

6. Jordan Reed

7. Jimmy Graham

8. Austin Seferian-Jenkins

9. Cameron Brate

10. Jason Witten

11. Tyler Kroft

12. Jared Cook

13. Jack Doyle

14. Zach Miller

15. George Kittle

16. Austin Hooper

17. Nick O’leary

18. Vernon Davis

19. Ed Dickson

20. OJ Howard

That's My Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 21st 2017

Saturday Evening Edition

Week 7 TE Rankings

As no surprise, once again Gronk leads the way for tight ends in my rankings this week with a marquee matchup on Sunday night against the Falcons, but another heavy favorite in my opinion is Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham. The lack of a stable running game may force the Seahawks with Graham to take advantage of the Giants struggles with opposing tight ends.

TE Rankings

1. Rob Gronkowski

2. Zach Ertz

3. Jimmy Graham

4. Evan Engram

5. Hunter Henry

6. Delanie Walker

7. Austin Seferian-Jenkins

8. Kyle Rudolph

9. Jordan Reed

10. George Kittle

11. Cameron Brate

12. Jason Witten

13. Austin Hooper

14. Jack Doyle

15. Zach Miller

16. Benjamin Watson

17. Tyler Kroft

18. Martellus Bennett

19. Ed Dickson

20. Vernon Davis

That's My Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 14th 2017

Saturday Late Night Edition

Week 6 TE Rankings

Despite what on paper looks like a tough matchup this Sunday against the Steelers, I have Travis Kelce in as my No.2 tight end this week. He’s a primary weapon in an offense that’s running in high gear. The Steelers have good numbers against tight ends, but they have yet to face this caliber of a tight end. Kelce cleared the concussion protocol and was left on the Chiefs injury report. He’s good to go.

Sliding up to the No.6 spot this week is the Chargers tight end Hunter Henry. He’s moved past Gates in productivity this season and has scored in two straight contests. He’s got a good shot at making it three in a row with a matchup against the Raiders on Sunday. Last season against the Silver and Black, Henry found the end zone in both games played.

TE Rankings

1. Rob Gronkowski

2. Travis Kelce

3. Delanie Walker

4. Jordan Reed

5. Austin Seferian-Jenkins

6. Hunter Henry

7. Martellus Bennett

8. Evan Engram

9. Cameron Brate

10. Kyle Rudolph

11. Coby Fleener

12. Jared Cook

13. Zach Miller

14. George Kittle

15. Benjamin Watson

16. Jack Doyle

17. AJ Derby

18. Ryan Griffin

19. Austin Hooper

20. Vernon Davis

That's My Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 7th 2017

Saturday Afternoon Edition

Week 5 TE Rankings

(does not include Thursday’s game)

Last week the Packers tight end Martellus Bennett, currently the No.16 fantasy tight end in PPR, saw a slight bump in activity with 7 targets going for 6 receptions and 39 yards. His yardage total was his typical disappointing production, but his catches and targets were a nice sign of more involvement in the pass game. With the potential of no Ty Montgomery (ribs) and possibly receiver Davante Adams (concussion) out this week, Bennett could be in line for larger role and even more targets making him my No.6 fantasy TE this week; I like the odds.

There’s a good chance this week fantasy owners will finally see the Chargers tight end Hunter Henry from 2016. This week the Bolts fly across the country to take on the Giants and their defense that allow the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. The Giants allow the 2nd most receptions (29), 3rd most receiving yards (309), and the most touchdowns at five. Henry has been quiet so far this season with a couple of goose eggs and just one score in four games. This could be the week he makes a bang and breaks out. He’s my No.10 fantasy TE, definitely a worthy start.

Creeping in at No.12 is the Bengals Tyler Kroft. The 3rd year tight end is a big target at 6’5” and with starter Tyler Eifert out for week 5, Kroft will again get some play. The Bengals will square off with Buffalo this Sunday and the Bills do a good job against opposing tight ends, but I am playing the odds. Kroft at his size is a red-zone threat and the Bills have yet to allow a touchdown to opposing tight ends. I have Kroft in as my No.12 fantasy tight end; I say he scores Sunday.

Here are my TE rankings for Week 5;

1.Travis Kelce

2. Zach Ertz

3. Delanie Walker

4. Charles Clay

5. Jimmy Graham

6. Martellus Bennett

7. Kyle Rudolph

8. Jason Witten

9. Evan Engram

10. Hunter Henry

11. Jared Cook

12. Tyler Kroft

13. Austin Seferian-Jenkins

14. Jesse James

15. Zach Miller

16. Eric Ebron

17. Benjamin Watson

18. Julius Thomas

19. Ryan Griffin

20. Antonio Gates

That’s My Take for Week 5.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 29th 2017

Friday Late Night Edition

Week 4 TE Rankings

Tight Ends

1. Rob Gronkowski

2. Travis Kelce

3.  Zach Ertz

4. Jimmy Graham

5. Delanie Walker

6. Jared Cook

7. Jordan Reed

8. Jason Witten

9. Charles Clay

10. Kyle Rudolph

11. Eric Ebron

12. Cameron Brate

13. Coby Fleener

14. Ryan Griffin

15. Julius Thomas

16. Jack Doyle

17. Benjamin Watson

18. Evan Engram

19. Jesse James

20. Antonio Gates

21. Austin Hooper

22. Austin Seferian-Jenkins

23. Hunter Henry

24. Vernon Davis

25. David Njoku

As long as he’s healthy and playing Rob Gronkowski tops the list. He’s scored in two straight games and even though by normal standards he doesn’t have a great matchup, this is Gronk. He’s coming off a 10 target game in week 3 and should be in line for a similar workload and that’s why he tops the list.

Travis Kelce, A.K.A Zuess is my number two this week. He’s coming off a very disappointing week 3 (1 target, 1 catch for 1 yard), but don’t let that deter you from rolling with him in week 4. Kelce will definitely see more than a single target this week going up against a Redskins defense that have allowed the most receiving yards to opposing tight ends.

I moved Redskins tight end Jordan Reed into my 7 spot this week. Reed is typically a tough matchup for any defender; his biggest obstacle is usually his health. If Reed plays, expect him to be involved in the passing game. He’s been quiet thus far this season, so there will be no better time for Reed to make noise than Monday night.

I have Coby Fleener seated at the No.13 spot this week. He’s a borderline starter taking on a Dolphins defense that has allowed the 7th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and a better than 78 percent completion rate. It’s a great matchup, but always tough to gauge since Brees can really distribute the ball and has a lot of mouths to feed.

I have moved Chargers tight end Hunter Henry down to the 23rd spot. Rivers is a gunslinger and with receivers like Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams, Travis Benjamin, running back Melvin Gordon, and the other tight end Antonio Gates, just too many cooks in the kitchen. Henry will be tough to trust until we see more consistent involvement in the pass game; zero catches and zero targets.

That’s My Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 20th 2017

Thursday Morning Edition

My Week 3 TE Rankings (PPR)

1. Rob Gronkowski

2. Travis Kelce

3.  Zach ERtz

4. Delanie Walker

5. Kyle Rudolph

6. Martellus Bennett

7. Jordan Reed

8. Coby Fleener

9. Jason Witten

10. Jared Cook

11. Jimmy Graham

12. Eric Ebron

13. Charles Clay

14. Hunter Henry

15. Evan Engram

16. Jack Doyle

17. Austin Hooper

18. Tyler Eifert

19. Cameron Brate

20. Benjamin Watson

21. Julius Thomas

22. Zach Miller

23. Antonio Gates

24. Jesse James

25. George Kittle

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski exit last Sunday’s game with a groin injury and he’s questionable to play. We’ve seen this before, so it’s a risky play for owners. But if Gronk is available, he always has the potential for a boom Sunday, but then again you better beware.

I’ve dropped Redskins tight end Jordan Reed a couple of spots; he’s dinged up and no question it’s affected his effectiveness on the field. Be cautious if you have him going this weekend.

At No.10, I’ve given Raiders tight Jared Cook a boost this week. Cook has a Prime Time quarterback in Derek Carr, and his 11 targets indicate a steady weekly diet in the passing game. This week Cook meets a Redskins defense that has allowed the 8th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, including the 3rd most receptions and the most receiving yards through two weeks.

The running theme seems to be injured tight end, with the Seahawks Jimmy Graham coming in at No. 11. Other options like the Chargers Hunter Henry, Giants Evan Engram, and Colts Jack Doyle would be the most logical inserts for some of the depleted spots.

That’s My Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

September 14th 2017

Thursday Edition

My Week 2 TE Rankings (PPR)

1. Rob Gronkowski

2. Travis Kelce

3.  Zach Ertz

4. Jordan Reed

5. Delanie Walker

6. Jimmy Graham

7. Greg Olsen

8. Kyle Rudolph

9. Charles Clay

10. Martellus Bennett

11. Tyler Eifert

12. Coby Fleener

13. Jason Witten

14. Jesse James

15. Jared Cook

16. Austin Hooper

17. Hunter Henry

18. Antonio Gates

19. Cameron Brate

20. Eric Ebron

21. Julius Thomas

22. Evan Engram

23. Jack Doyle

24. Zach Miller

25. George Kittle

He’s the consensus best tight end in the game today and after an uneventful week one, Rob Gronkowski has a mouth-watering matchup this week. He should be featured quite a bit on Sunday and make up for owners his lack of production in week one. The Saints defense has already allowed one touchdown to tight ends this season, I’d expect them to yield at least another.

The biggest riser in my TE rankings this week is Eagles tight end Zach Ertz and the biggest reason was his week one 8 targets. Ertz has a great rapport with his quarterback and is going to see a steady volume of targets week in and week out.

Charles Clay is my No.9 tight end this week. It seems pretty clear he’s going to be Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s security blanket in the passing game. Clay was targeted 9 times in week and was Taylor’s go to in the red-zone connecting for a week 1 score. As long as Clay see’s this kind of action each week, he’s going to be a Top-10 mainstay.

A new name in the Top-20 this week is Raiders tight end Jared Cook; 5 targets, 5 receptions, and 56 yards in week 1. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but paired with quarterback Derek Carr if he can see this kind of work each week, he has a chance to be a viable streaming tight end option and possible low-end TE1 in deep leagues (14-16 teams).

I’ve downgraded both of the both from Los Angeles (Chargers); Hunter Henry and Antonio Gates. Week one was a tough matchup against the Broncos vaunted No Fly Zone, but one thing is clear, there are other weapons available to quarterback Philip Rivers. With the abundance of receivers (and eventual return of rookie WR Mike Williams), the tight ends could be on the short end of the stick when it comes to opportunities (targets).

That’s My Take.

~David Ortega