1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
This shouldn’t be surprising. Not only is Gronk the best tight end in football, he is the best tight end in fantasy football as well. Finishing last year as the best tight end in PPR leagues with 255.6 points (17 points per game average), he led all tight ends in receiving yards (1,176), yards per reception (16.3) and tied for the second-most touchdowns (11). Gronk is coming into 2016 with the chance to have a monster start as Jimmy Garoppolo’s “safety blanket” for the first four games. Gronk is the unquestioned No. 1 tight end in fantasy football.
2. Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins
Despite only playing in 14 games in 2015, Jordan Reed was fantasy football’s third best tight end in PPR leagues. He led all PPR tight ends in average points per game (17.4) and tied Gronk for second most touchdowns (11). A dynamic playmaker who is a match-up nightmare, Reed’s only drawback is his inability to stay healthy. Before 2015, Reed had only managed to play 20 out of a possible 32 games. Reed is a very high-risk/high-reward player but could threaten to finish with even more points in 2016.
3. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
Last year’s number five tight end in fantasy football, Olsen stepped up after the Panthers lost Kelvin Benjamin and had a monster season with over 225 points in PPR. He played in all 16 games and had the second most receiving yards to Gronk. Despite Benjamin being back and Devin Funchess being a possible sleeper, I believe Olsen has a better 2016 as their main red-zone threat and chain-mover. The Panthers are one running back injury away from starting Mike Tolbert. This team will throw a solid amount in 2016 and Olsen will benefit.
4. Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
Last year’s number two tight end in PPR leagues, Walker was a man on a mission with Tennessee. Finishing just over ten points behind Gronk, Walker was a stud in 2015. I expect him to be Marcus Mariota’s main target in 2016 but there is reason for some regression. His 94 receptions are going to be hard to replicate, the team added some depth at wide receiver with Tajae Sharpe and Rishard Matthews, and new head coach Mike Mularkey seems set on running the ball more. Walker will be a top five tight end again in 2015, but don’t be expecting the same stat-line again this season.
5. Gary Barnidge, Cleveland Browns
The man, the myth, the legend. Gary Barnidge came out of nowhere in 2015 to have over 70 receptions, 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015. Finishing as the fourth best tight end in PPR leagues last year, Barnidge had a breakout season. And there is reason to believe he could do just as well in 2016. With new head coach Hue Jackson at the helm (who was fellow breakout Tyler Eifert’s offensive coordinator in 2015), Barnidge will be heavily featured in the offense as a solid short-to-intermediate target and the top red zone target for the Browns.
6. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Finishing as the eighth best tight end in 2015 for PPR, Kelce had another solid season. He was inconsistent however, as he was the 3rd best tight end through the first half of the season (weeks one-eight) and the 15th best tight end in the second half (weeks nine-seventeen). He is going to have big weeks and he’ll have his bad weeks as well on a very run-oriented team. He’ll have another great season overall most likely, but I wouldn’t call him a top five tight end in 2016 as this team is built to run the ball more so then pass it.
7. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
Ertz was the ninth best tight end in 2015 for PPR and there is a lot of hype surrounding him for 2016. Signing a huge contract extension this offseason, Ertz could be finally ready to live up to the hype for once. The Eagles have been running a lot of three tight end sets in practice, which means we will see Ertz on the field plenty. He is also their best red-zone threat and has earned the trust of quarterback Sam Bradford. He could finish as a top six tight end this year in this Eagles offense.
8. Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints
The big free agent acquisition from the Colts over the off-season, the Saints invested a lot of money in Coby Fleener over the next five years. After letting Benjamin Watson go in free agency and trading Jimmy Graham last off-season, the Saints believe they have their new long-term solution at tight end. On arguably the most pass-friendly offense in the league, Fleener has a lot of upside. But he shouldn’t be trusted as more than a top-eight tight end at best until he actually starts playing in this offense.
9. Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars
After missing the first four weeks of the 2015 season due to a hand injury, Thomas finished as the 11th-best tight end in PPR from Weeks 5-17 last season. On the Jaguars team that boasts a potentially up-and-coming quarterback, two very good wide receivers and two solid running backs, Thomas won’t be the focal point of the offense. But he will be a good target in the short-to-intermediate game and continue to be a strong presence in the red zone. He has top-10 tight end upside on an ascending passing offense.
10. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
A prime candidate to surpass this ranking, Eifert is this low on my list due to his current injury/surgery predicament. He suffered an ankle injury at the Pro Bowl and had surgery in May on it. He is expected to miss at least the first game of the season and potentially more. In 13 games last season, Eifert did have 13 touchdowns, so he carries a ton of upside. On a Bengals team that lost their No. 2 and No. 3 wide receivers in free agency (Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu), Eifert would be no less than the number three target on this team. His health is what is holding him back, but is an absolute fantasy freak when on the field.
11. Martellus Bennett, New England Patriots
The second Patriots tight end on this list, Bennett was acquired by New England over the off-season from the Bears. Bennett had an off year in 2015 (53/439/3) but has a lot of upside with the Patriots. They have facilitated two great fantasy tight ends before (Gronk with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) and could be primed to do it again. The Patriots will run a lot of two tight end sets, making sure that Bennett is on the field a bunch. He will be a very welcome target in the red-zone and in the intermediate passing game. He has top 10 upside with the Patriots.
12. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers
Even at age 36, Gates is still a very reliable fantasy football tight end. In 2015, Gates had the 7th best points per game average in PPR after missing four games due to suspension and dealing with a knee injury that bugged him most of the second half of the season. He re-signed with the Chargers in the off-season and will be back to be a main target yet again for San Diego. He has stayed healthy during the off-season and will once again be Philip Rivers’ most trusted target in 2016. He has double digit touchdown upside and should be treated as a low-end TE1 for the upcoming season.
13. Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts
Now that Coby Fleener is gone, Dwayne Allen has a chance to stand out once again for the Colts. He was signed to a large contract in the off-season and has already been publically promised a larger role by offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. While Allen has only had one season where he played all 16 games, he did manage to snag eight touchdowns in 2014 while only playing 13 games. Allen is a sleeper for double digit touchdowns in 2016 as the unquestioned starting tight end and with quarterback Andrew Luck back. Staying healthy will be Allen’s biggest hurdle, not his role.
14. Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions
After being drafted 10th overall in 2014 NFL Draft, Ebron has had high expectations to live up to. Unfortunately, he is still developing and hasn’t fully turned into the “next big thing” at tight end at fantasy football. But with Calvin Johnson retired and the running game in flux, this could be Ebron’s chance to breakout. He is fighting to be the team’s number three/four target in the pass game and main target in the red-zone. He could have a chance to finish as a top 10 tight end this season.
15. Zach Miller, Chicago Bears
While it only being a small sample size, from weeks 14-17 in 2015, Zach Miller was the eighth best tight end in PPR leagues. That isn’t even mentioning that Miller only played in three of those games and had the fourth best points per game average over the span as well. Martellus Bennett went on injured reserve following week 13 and that is when Miller had his time to shine. Re-signed by the Bears during the off-season, Miller is the undoubted starting tight end and could have a big impact in 2016 as the team’s number three target. He has had issues staying healthy in the past but if he can stay healthy, Miller has a chance to finish as a low-end TE1 in 2016.
16. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
If nothing else, Witten is reliable. He hasn’t missed a game in 12 seasons and even managed 77 receptions last season while without Tony Romo for most of it. Witten is now 34 years old and not as dynamic as he used to be, but he is still a very dependable target for Romo and the Cowboys. He finished as the 10th best tight in 2015 for PPR and has the chance to have another TE1 season. Witten is a strong candidate to surpass his ranking here and actually is somewhat of a sleeper in 2016.
17. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks
Once competing with Gronk as the best tight end in fantasy football, Graham had a rough 2015. Finishing with less than 85 receptions for the first time in six seasons (48), Graham suffered a major knee injury and was forced to undergo surgery while missing the rest of the season. He has surprisingly come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list already and is on track to play week one right now. It is a remarkable recovery, but Graham is unlikely to have a big impact regardless behind Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett. Draft him with modest expectations.
18. Clive Walford, Oakland Raiders
Despite only snagging 28 receptions and three touchdowns in 2015, Walford is poised to improve on those stats in 2016. On a team with an emerging quarterback, two very solid if not better wide receivers and a much improved offensive line, Walford may seem to be out of the picture but actually isn’t. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave recently says that he wants Walford to “be a big part of what we do”. This Raiders offense could be deadly in 2016 and Walford could have somewhat of a breakout in 2016.
19. Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers
A fourth year player out of Rice University, Vance McDonald hasn’t done much up until this point. But with new head coach Chip Kelly and his high-volume offense in town now, that could change very quickly. On a team with very minimal wide receiver depth that will be forced to throw the ball a lot due to a below-average defense, McDonald could be headed towards a breakdown in 2016. He seems to have a solid rapport with assumed starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert and is a solid receiver in the pass game. McDonald not only has the chance to be a top 20 tight end, but potentially even a top 12 one as well.
20. Ladarius Green, Pittsburgh Steelers
One of my favorite free agent signings when it comes to fantasy football, Ladarius Green is/was supposed to be a huge part of this high-powered Steelers offense. But as he is dealing with ankle and supposedly headache issues, there have been reports that Green may be forced to retire. There is still a chance that Green just needs more time to recover and could come back later in 2016. On a team with one of the best passing attacks in the game, Green has the chance to explode in 2016 but may not get to. He is nearly undraftable right now but his upside is very hard to ignore on the off chance he plays a lot in 2016.