Chicago Bears Tight End: Cole Kmet
2021 Ranking: TE25 (Overall ADP: 191.3)
With Cole Kmet having a less-than-impressive rookie season, it’s no question that he will have a bigger role in this offense than he did in the inaugural season for the Notre Dame product.
In fantasy football, having an elite tight end is crucial to winning a championship. Having one of the top guys like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Darren Waller, T.J. Hockenson, etc., is able to give your team a big boost over a position where the gap between elite and good is pretty large.
Elite tight end is the way 💯 pic.twitter.com/VKh0XADfG0
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 5, 2021
Now, Cole Kmet isn’t at the elite stage, and only time will tell if he ever reaches that stage, but with the stock Kmet holds now, it’s silly not to buy high on him.
Even head coach Matt Nagy commented on how Kmet will be utilized more often this season than he was last season, and I think part of that was, again, due to poor quarterback play.
Cole Kmet’s 2020 Stats:
16 games, 44 targets, 28 receptions, 243 yards, 2 TDs
Looking at those numbers, it’s easy to see why Kmet gets overlooked on draft boards. However, with the way Nagy’s offense is coming together on paper — minus the very unfortunate injury bug on the offensive line — all skill players should see a noticeable increase in fantasy value.
Now, how high should Kmet be bought in fantasy? Let’s look at who has a higher ADP than Cole Kmet going into the 2021 season.
Similar players above Cole Kmet’s 2021 ADP:
- Rob Gronkowski (TE13, overall ADP: 129.0)2020 Season:
16 games, 77 targets, 45 receptions, 623 yards, 7 TDS - Austin Hooper (TE24, overall ADP: 175.8)2020 Season: 1
3 games, 70 targets, 46 receptions, 435 yards, 4 TDs - Jordan Akins (TE25, overall ADP: 181.0)2020 Season:
13 games, 49 targets, 37 receptions, 403 yards, 1 TD
I know Gronkowski was a stretch on here, but let me explain why I think drafting Cole Kmet over Rob Gronkowski could be a good idea.
Only twice in Gronkowski’s 10-year career has Rob Gronkowski been able to play all 16 games, and six times he has played less than 12 games. Yes, Gronkowski has upside, but in a game that relied so much on availability, Kmet could be a more likable option, especially at his price.
I still think it’s beneficial to buy high on Cole Kmet, as he’s someone that a lot of people don’t consider a threat, and he’s someone you can get in your league at a pretty low price.