2015 Fantasy Football: Rookie Tight Ends
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MyCole Pruitt, Vikings – Kyle Rudolph is the clear TE1 in Minnesota, but he has missed 17 games over the last two seasons. Pruitt was a surprise 5th round pick out of Southern Illinois, but showed the best overall athleticism among TEs at the combine. He’s already flashed some talent in the Hall of Fame Game with a 34-yard TD and is the Vikings leading candidate for the H-back position. If Rudolph were to get hurt again, Pruitt could become fantasy relevant.
Tyler Croft, Bengals – Well rounded tight end who can block and is fast enough (4.67) to be a weapon in the passing game. Kroft was used as more of a blocker his senior year at Rutgers which hurt his draft value as did an ankle injury that kept him out of the combine. As of today Croft is the Bengals #2 TE and should see the field often as a rookie. It’s doubtful he will see enough targets to have any fantasy value barring an injury.
Jesse James, Steelers – Like the two players above him on this list, James is one injury away from being a starting tight end. James has struggled in the preseason, but was a dangerous red zone weapon in college (11 TDs) and has ideal size (6’7, 261) to be one for the Steelers.
Blake Bell, 49ers – A former QB who only played TE for one season in college. Bell is still learning the position, but was a powerful short-yardage back in college and could have a similar role with the Niners. They got very little production out of the tight end position last year and Bell could eventually replace the disappointing Vance McDonald as the Niners TE2.
¹ Rookie TE stats from CBS Sports
² Rookies Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Cooper Helfet also had 2 receiving TDs
Next: 2015 Fantasy Football: Tight End Busts