When it comes to stability in the NFL, it doesn't get much better than the tight end position.  If it seems like you've been reading all about the same six to seven tight ends being head and shoulders above everyone else at the position, it's because that's exactly the case.  I wish I could tell you that this is the year you're going to start seeing some unfamiliar names pop up in the top five, but that's just not going to happen.

Here are my top five fantasy football tight ends heading in to the 2013 NFL season for standard scoring leagues:

1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

By now, everyone knows the risk you take when drafting Gronk.  Is he going to be able to play a full season or not?  Two of his first three seasons in the league, he has only started 11 games.  The one season he was able to start all 16 games (2011), he was injured in the playoffs.  As I'm sure you could guess based on the fact that I have him ranked numbers one--and for me, it's really not that close--I'm not worried about him being a player who is constantly missing time due to injuries.  If he were missing time because of a sprained ankle, dislocated finger, etc. and not legitimate, isolated injuries, I may feel differently.

Even with missing five games this past season, Gronk still recorded 85 catches (79 targets), 790 yards and 11 touchdowns, which was good enough to finish second in fantasy points among all tight ends, just three points behind Jimmy Graham.  In 2011, he led all tight ends in scoring with an unprecedented 245 fantasy points (50 points ahead of second place, Graham).  I know the 'Wild Child' has been getting all kinds of criticism for going out partying and drinking and dancing, but to me, that is completely irrelevant.  As long as he keeps producing the numbers he does, I wouldn't want him to change a single thing he's doing at this point in his career.

2. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

As I just told you, Graham led all tight ends in fantasy points this past season (148 points).  The fact that New Orleans was almost always playing from behind in 2012 really benefited Graham, who has become Drew Brees' favorite target, especially in the red zone.  Graham led all tight ends in touchdowns this past year, finishing with 11 (also caught 11 touchdowns in 2011).  New Orleans still has a very suspect defense, and will certainly have to light the score board up if they're going to be successful.  I have no doubt that's exactly what they're going to do.

3. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

As most avid fantasy players know, the toughest thing to predict before the season starts is how many times a certain player is going to find the end zone.  This has never been more obvious as it was in the case of Witten in 2012.  Witten finished fifth among all tight ends in fantasy points with 121.  However, he finished first among all tight ends in receptions with 110 (17 more than anyone else), first in receiving yards with 1,039 yards and first in targets with 150.

The reason Witten finished fifth in scoring was because he was only able to find the end zone three times all year.  Everyone knows that Witten is Tony Romo's favorite weapon.  Sure, Dez Bryant is starting to steal some balls from him, but I fully expect Witten to see at least 135+ balls come his way this season, and I would be very shocked if his touchdowns don't at least double.

4. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons

I know that it is quite possible that Gonzalez may not be an active NFL player in 2013, as he has stated that he is going to retire.  However, as of now, no paperwork has been filed and therefore Gonzalez is still Atlanta's starting tight end.  Gonzalez had a monster year in 2012, pulling down 93 catches (124 targets) for 930 yards and eight scores.  Teammate Roddy White has made no bones about the fact that they're going to give Tony the "Brett Favre treatment" this off season and recently Atlanta's Mike Smith has said he believes it's '50-50' as to whether or not Gonzalez will play this season.  IF he plays, I expect him to continue in 2013 right where he left off in 2012.

5. Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots

Much like his teammate that is number on this list, Hernandez hasn't always been able to stay on the field.  That has been a concern for Aaron dating all the way back to when he played for Urban Meyer and was teammates with Tim Tebow at the University of Florida.  However, if Hernandez is able to play a full slate of games, I full expect him to be among the top five tight ends in the league.

Sure, some people worry that with another dominant tight end lined up on the other side, there may be a ceiling to what Hernandez can produce.  I am not one of those people.  Not only does New England run almost exclusively two, and even three tight end sets, Aaron also sees some snaps at wide out as well as in the backfield.  When you have a play-maker that is capable of doing the things he is, make no mistake about it, New England will find a way to get him on the field for just about every snap.  Hernandez finished with 51 catches for 483 yards and five touchdowns this past season despite missing six games with an ankle injury.