Tight Ends
August 22, 2005
Prior to the weekly rankings, here is the fourth in a series of pre-season rankings for the 2005 season. The schedule for the remaining positions would be:
Quarterbacks -- Thursday, Aug. 18
Running Backs -- Friday, Aug. 19
Wide Receivers -- Saturday, Aug. 20
Tight Ends -- Monday, Aug. 22
Kickers and Defenses -- Tuesday, Aug. 23
Individual Defensive Players -- Wednesday, Aug. 24
1 Tony Gonzalez, KC-- Year-in, year-out, Gonzalez is the No. 1 TE. But someone will reach for him way too early. Not the worst move, but, in the last couple of years, there have been some quality tight ends available several rounds later. Just don't forgo another position just to grab him. If you miss him, don't fret.
2 Antonio Gates, SD-- When someone grabs Gonzalez, Gates will soon follow. But, again, don't worry if someone uses a third- or fourth-round pick on either of them. Quality remains.
3 Jason Witten, DAL-- With the lack of quality WRs in Dallas, Witten thrived last season. The WR situation hasn't improved, and Bledsoe had some of his best seasons with a Pro-Bowl quality TE to throw to. Expect another solid year from Witten, and you can get him a round or two later than the top two.
4 Jeremy Shockey, NYG-- No doubt that Shockey has the talent -- he just hasn't produced as expected. With the expected improvement from Manning, expect Shockey to approach his best production so far. He caught half of the TD passes thrown from the Giant QBs last season. Expect that number to rise.
5 Alge Crumpler, ATL-- Shockey was going to go here, but with the recent elbow injury to Eli Manning, the nod goes to Crumpler. While Vick doesn't provide much of an aerial assault, Crumpler remains as the Falcons' leading receiver. He has soft hands and runs very well for a TE after the catch. He is a great outlet for Vick.
6 Todd Heap, BAL-- Without any other options and when healthy, Heap was easily a top 3 or 4 TE, but that is not the case this season. The jury is still out on his surgery-repaired ankle, and the Ravens added Mark Clayton through the draft and Derrick Mason through free agency. Plus, Boller is horrible.
7 Dallas Clark, IND-- Clark is behind Heap only because Heap is the more talented TE, but Clark could easily overtake him. He doesn't have to share duties with Marcus Pollard anymore, and Manning has shown increasing confidence in him. He has had an injury-plagued career, however, which overshadows his fine athleticism. And he has been inconsistent at times. If the Colts don't utilize Ben Hartsock as strongly as they did Clark as the No. 2 TE, Clark could leap over Heap and challenge Crumpler to be the fourth-ranked TE.
8 Randy McMichael, MIA-- This is where the value in this draft really starts to pay off. McMichael is a tremendous physical specimen, has always been well within the top-10 in fantasy production, and led his team in receptions last season -- all with mediocre QB production. Without much competition from the WRs, and if the Dolphins could find a little boost from their QB, McMichael could jump up 2-3 spots.
9 L.J. Smith, PHI-- Smith proved to be a solid red-zone target last season, and will get most of the TE production this year. Without WR competition (other than TO), Smith is primed for another improvement this season. If TO holds out, that would bump up his value even more.
10 Jermaine Wiggins, MIN-- Wiggins may be the guy most hurt by the departure of Randy Moss. Wiggins came out of nowhere last season, and took advantage of all the attention Moss garnered. That attention now will be spread out, and the return of 2003 starter Jim Kleinsasser will result in fewer opportunities. With a healthy WR core and a new emphasis on the running game, Wiggins won't be a top-10 TE.
11 Eric Johnson, SF-- Johnson is yet another TE that is better than his team's WRs. After missing most of 2002-03 with injuries, Johnson was healthy for most of the season and produced solid receiving numbers. If one of the young QBs can find him in the end zone more than twice this season, his value would continue to improve. But question marks regarding his durability, how he will be used with the new coordinator, and the probable poor QB play keep him from being placed any higher.
12 Chris Cooley, WAS-- In the end, Cooley will justify this high placement. There are bigger names with more entrenched TE-involved offenses, but Cooley is an intriguing red-zone target. He won't get the yardage most tight ends will get, but he should make up for that with TDs. In addition, there's a sizeable drop-off at this point of the draft, so he's like the best of the rest, but he could easily finish in the top 10.
13 Bubba Franks, GB-- Franks has been a solid TD scorer throughout his career, but that is his main value as he doesn't get a lot of receptions or yardage.
14 Daniel Graham, NE-- It's hard to enthusiastically support anyone in the Patriot passing game, the way they spread the ball around (even to a LB). He did catch five TDs in his first four games last season before injuries began to take its toll. If healthy for the entire season, he's a top-10 TE.
15 Marcus Pollard, DET-- Pollard is getting up in years, and losing Manning as his QB will hurt. But he's going into a similar-style offense in Detroit that, if used properly, would make him a good back-up or bye-week player.
16 Jerramy Stevens, SEA-- Stevens is an athletic TE, but he had been competing with Itula Mili for time. This may be when the Seahawks will hand over the starting job to him for good and he may become a potential starting fantasy TE.
17 Heath Miller, PIT-- Miller was the top TE in the draft, and he is going to a great situation in Pittsburgh, as Burress leaves a void in the passing game. That is if the Steelers utilize him to his utmost. While you can't expect a lot from rookie tight ends, he is a guy to watch out for in the future.
18 Jeb Putzier, DEN-- Putzier made a solid debut last season, with nearly 600 yards receiving and a pair of TDs, and last year was considered an off-year as far as Denver's TE usage goes. He is another solid back-up with starter potential.
19 Ben Troupe, TEN-- Troupe and Erron Kinney should be involved more in the Titan passing game, with Bennett as the team's only dependable target. After a strong rookie season, Troupe may be ready to take over.
20 Erron Kinney, TEN-- Kinney is the lesser of the two choices for a productive fantasy tight end because he is more of a blocker than a receiver. However, he remains a prime red zone target due to his size and efficiency.
21 Doug Jolley, NYJ
22 Ben Watson, NE
23 Courtney Anderson, OAK
24 Stephen Alexander, DEN
25 Mark Campbell, BUF
26 Desmond Clark, CHI
27 Alex Smith, TB
28 Matt Schobel, CIN
29 Jim Kleinsasser, MIN
30 Chris Baker, NYJ
31 Anthony Becht, TB
32 Steve Heiden, CLE
33 Itula Mili, SEA
34 Ernie Conwell, NO
35 Kris Mangum, CAR
36 Aaron Shea, CLE
37 Kyle Brady, JAX
38 Kris Wilson, KC
39 Teyo Johnson, FA
40 Ben Hartsock, IND
41 Brandon Manumaleuna, STL
42 George Wrighster, JAX
43 Billy Miller, CLE
44 Christian Fauria, NE
45 Roland Williams, STL
Fantasy Football 
There are several small tics up and down, but here are the bigger ones:
UP:
Doug Jolley, NYJ and Chris Baker, NYJ -- Both adapting well to the new TE set, which allows them to work down the field.
Stephen Alexander, DEN -- Alexander is getting most of the work in single-TE sets; ahead on the depth chart.
Roland Williams, STL -- Now the No. 1 TE, over Brandon Manumaleuna.
DOWN:
Daniel Graham, NE -- Watson caught six passes last week, to one for Graham; don't think he's getting pushed out, but Watson's presence is having an effect.
DROPPED OUT:
Brandon Manumaleuna, STL -- Lost job to Roland Williams.
There are several small tics up and down, but here are the bigger ones:
UP:
Bubba Franks, GB -- Franks ended his holdout and is eager to play.
Ben Watson, NE -- Watson outperformed Daniel Graham last weekend (6 receptions for 49 yards, compared to two for 10). Graham still has the job, but Watson is in the process of making a season-long run for the job.
Jerramy Stevens, SEA -- Stevens has continued to prove that he deserves to unseat incumbent starting TE Itula Mili.
Alex Smith, TB -- Becht is the starter, but Smith is too talented to ignore; Becht is getting more chances, which bodes well for Smith as he's the better receiver.
Aaron Shea, CLE -- Shea had three receptions for 32 yards against CArolina and should be the team’s most productive tight end.
Anthony Becht, TB -- Getting the opportunity to contribute in the passing game; had four catches for 40 yards, including a 27-yarder, against the Dolphins.
Ernie Conwell, NO -- With Williams out for the season, Conwell inherits the job, but he's not the receiver he once was. With Shad Meier out for now, 6-8 Zack Hilton might get some opportunities.
DOWN:
Doug Jolley, NYJ -- The tight end game has been non-existent of late.
Teyo Johnson, OAK -- Still in the doghouse.
DROPPED OUT:
Billy Miller, HOU -- Released.
Boo Williams, NO -- Williams tore both the ACL and MCL in his right knee and is out for the year.
There are several small tics up and down, but here are the bigger ones:
UP:
Heath Miller, PIT -- Turned a short pass into a 29-yard gain in the last preseason game; first big play of the preseason.
Chris Baker, NYJ -- Took over as the Jets' No. 1 TE.
Steve Heiden, CLE -- With Aaron Shea's injury, Heiden is clearly the No. 1 TE in Cleveland.
DOWN:
Eric Johnson, SF -- Johnson has a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot whick probably will keep him out of the team's Sept. 11 opener. There has been some improvement but that he needs more recovery time.
Doug Jolley, NYJ -- The player involved in the much ballyhooed Draft Day trade has failed to win the starting TE job coming out of camp; Chris Baker will be the starter.
Aaron Shea, CLE -- He strained a chest muscle in the preseason finale at Chicago, and his status for the opener Sunday against Cincinnati is unknown.
Teyo Johnson, OAK -- He was released by the Raiders; having gone from the doghouse to the outhouse; talented enough that he should get picked up.
DROPPED OUT:
Billy Miller, CLE -- Signed with Cleveland, but he's third on the depth chart.