2015 Fantasy Football: TIght End Rankings
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
25.) Ladarius Green, Chargers – Was everyone’s sleeper last season after a strong finish in 2013, but Green never got a chance to do much last year due to Gates big season. With Gates out for four games, Green has a chance to prove he deserves more snaps. He’s got all the physical tools be a beast at TE, but was inconsistent in limited snaps in 2013. I may stash Green on a bench or two and see how he starts the season. He has top-5 TE tools if he can put them together, but will lose significant snaps to Antonio Gates regardless of how well he plays.
26.) Mychal Rivera, Raiders – Didn’t get much publicity on an awful Raiders team last season, but Rivera had some useful fantasy lines in his 2nd season including five games with six or more catches, a 109 yard game, and a 2 TD game. I owned him in a deep, full point PPR league and was happy with the experience more often than not. Rivera will be pushed by rookie Clive Walford but has already developed a good rapport with Derek Carr and will be tough to unseat as the starter. I wouldn’t consider Rivera as a starter in 12-team leagues, but in 2-TE league or ones with a deep bench, he is a solid backup with upside.
27.) Eric Ebron, Lions – It was a disappointing rookie season for Ebron, but it is for most rookie TEs. He should see more snaps this year and hopefully more targets as well. Ebron has the physical traits to be a weapon in the passing game, but needs to run better routes and learn the offense. He’s a decent stash candidate who could blow up in the 2nd half of the season.
28.) Jermaine Gresham, Cardinals – Only signed a couple of weeks ago so is probably well behind in learning the offense, but the Cardinals really don’t have much else at the position. Gresham has been a reliable safety-valve option for the Benglas but splitting snaps and targets with Tyler Eifert has kept his fantasy value low. With no real competition on the Cards, Gresham could put up respectable low-end start fantasy stats.
29.) Vernon Davis, 49ers – Was worthless in fantasy last year with career lows across the board in all counting stats. He’s not young at 31, but not so old that he should be falling apart. I don’t know what the issue was last season but he was so bad that I’m not going anywhere near him this year, especially with all the dysfunction in San Fran.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
30.) Virgil Green, Broncos – Owen Daniels is the popular sleeper TE for the Broncos, but Daniels will be 34 this season and has missed 12 games over the last two years. Peyton Manning has always been one of the most TE-friendly QBs in the league and whoever is the Broncos TE1 will have significant fantasy value. Their were a lot of suitors for Green in the offseason (including the Bears) but the Broncos made re-signing him a priority. Green’s had a stellar start to the preseason, but has been running exclusively with the 2nd team. He’s a better run blocker than Daniels and a more athletic receiver. I’ve been hearing good things about Green for two years now and I wouldn’t be shocked if he is running with the starters by mid-season and finishes among the top-12 fantasy TEs.
31.) Maxx Williams, Ravens – There has been talk about Williams struggling to learn the Ravens offense, but he has an ideal mix of blocking and receiving skill and only has to beat out Crockett Gilmore, a 3rd round pick last year. Joe Flacco is one of the most TE-friendly QBs in football and Williams could have sneaky fantasy value by the second half of this season.
32.) Clive Walford, Raiders – 3rd year TE Mychal Rivera is the current starter, but he was the worst run blocker among all starting TEs according to Pro Football Focus. Rivera had a solid year as a receiver (58/524/4) but Walford is already a better blocker and may be a more dynamic receiver as well. Reports out of Raiders camp are glowing so far on Walford and he could end up winning the starting TE gig and becoming Derek Carr’s safety valve.
Next: 2015 Fantasy Football: Tight End Busts