Fantasy Football TE - Top 10

by methodrampage on Jul 17, 2007 8:53 AM PDT

As promised, Braekneck brings you yet another Fantasy Football Top 10 installment, this time of the TE variety. Unlike seasons past, this year TE is a pretty deep position with no reason to reach for any tight end, unless it's Beyonce's. Gone are the days of 2 or 3 elite TE, a new era in football is dawning and the offensive threat of the TE is peaking. With that being said, I'd be more than happy with any of my top 10 TE being my every week starter, minus their bye week obviously, but once you get out of the top 10 it might be a good idea to pick up 2 TE relatively quick, which shouldn't be a problem because you would have waited outside of Round 10 to take a TE. Without further ado, bestow Braekneck's Top 10 Fantasy Football TE for the Upcoming 2007 Season.

A. Gates
C. Cooley
T. Gonzalez
T. Heap
T. Diseas (V. Davis)
A. Crumpler
J. Shockey
J. Witten
L.J. Smith
B. Watson

"What the hell is Braekneck doing ranking Chris Cooley as the #2 TE?" Fret not; I've been privy to some obscure Cooley facts. Upon the arrival of "The Great Mustachioed Madman" (Jason Campbell, thanks to Skin Patrol for the wickedly sweet nickname) in '06 Cooley was the #2 TE in all of football. Campbell is going into his first year as a full time starter and look for the incorrigible hair of Chris Cooley/the impeccably groomed mustache of Jason Campbell connection to thrive. Lastly, and I found this out on a recent trip to Ripley's, but for the last two seasons Cooley has led all TE in YAC. Think about it, I have and it's enough for me to warrant him as my #2 TE. But this is where Cooley gets a little sweeter; right now he's being taken as the 8th TE off the board in most fantasy drafts, going somewhere in the mid 8th round.

The next thing you may have noticed is that Kellen Winslow fails to make the list. He's actually my #11 TE and like I said earlier anyone out of my top 10 needs to backed-up relatively quickly. Since becoming a pro Winslow has broken his leg twice and has had 3 knee surgeries in 2 years. Winslow looks to be on his way to becoming the Cleveland Browns' version of "Boobie" Bobby Crosby, actually Kellen tend to produce when he's on the field so we better make that Rich Harden. However, if Winslow could somehow stop osteoporosizing like an elderly woman he could be a top 10 TE. But he's currently being drafted as the 5th TE, which is way too early. Due yourself a favor and pass.

Other than that there shouldn't be too many surprises. ToGo is ToGo. Heap, is totally legit but he's always on the injury report. Although he always suits up it never fails to tie my stomach in knots. The Niners are banking on The Disease being a top 5 TE so why shouldn't you bank your fantasy team on it? Crumpler is the only guy in the ATL that Vick throws to. You might think Witten is a little high but once to Romo Empire took the reins of Cowboy's offense Witten was a top 10 TE and I'd look for that to continue.

There you have it. Bottom line, there's great value in taking a TE later so don't rush it. Now post your lists so I can criticize them, constructively.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Mine

Rankings:

Gates, SD
Cooley, WAS
Gonzalez, KC
Heap, BAL
Davis, SF
Crumpler, ATL
Shockey, NYG
Clark, IND
Witten, DAL
Smith, PHI

There seems to be, like in much of the other rankings, a lot of flexibility in how you rank the latter half of the top 10. In my opinion, any of the bottom five I listed could probably out perform the other four.

As you could see, I also decided to sip some of that Cooley-aid that Braekneck was selling. I've always been a fan of Cooley, so if the hunch of a connection between he and Campbell has any follow-through, then he could be a pretty good TE for a fantasy team.

Davis maybe should be lumped with the bottom five guys, as he hasn't really done a whole lot to prove he could be a top 5 tight end. I just think that if he may be comparable to the bottom five guys, his physical talent and ability to break a play wide open should rank him above the others.

So why not rank Shockey a little higher than the rest? He, like Heap, seems to always be on the injury list. Crumpler, as Braekneck says, is pretty much Vick's only target in Atlanta.

There is one guy on my list that isn't on Braekneck's and that's Dallas Clark. I don't know why, but I really like this guy. He's the model of consistency (giving you 4 or 5 TDs every year).

Guys not listed but should be watched:
Watson, NE
Olsen, CHI
Stevens and Smith, TB
Troupe, TEN

Watson, I think, could easily be a top10 guy. I just couldn't place him above any of the guys in my list.

I believe that Olsen could be in for a treat in Chicago. Considering his talents, and the ball-control type of offense the Bears run, he could become one of Grossman's favorite targets this year.

The remaining three are guys I doubt should be drafted, but I wouldn't fault anyone for doing so. Stevens and Smith could be good injury replacements for a fantasy team, but neither are promised the starting job. Troupe is in a similar position, but he has the talent to put up some nice numbers if he wins the starting job and stays healthy.

by sfgfan on Jul 17, 2007 9:39 AM PDT 0 recs

Dallas Clark...Eww...

You're right about one thing, Dallas Clark is the model of consistency, consistency in not being much of a fantasy football TE. Most fantasy football TE will score 4-5 TDs, the problem with Clark is that everyone is waiting for him to break-out but he never does. He's never broke 500 yards recieving. I'd tell you to drop Clark and add Watson but then your list would be indentical to mine and we don't want to stroke my ego too much.

My guys to watch are H. Miller, T. Scheffler/D. Graham, and David Martin.

by methodrampage on Jul 17, 2007 1:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

foregoing the giant explanation list

For players most of whom won't get drafted in the top ten rounds anyway.

Antonio Gates
Tony Gonzalez
Todd Heap
Chris Cooley
Alge Crumpler
Jeremy Shockey
Vernon Davis
Jason Witten
Kellen Winslow (Jr.)
Eric Johnson

So I'm dinking the Chris Coolaid, but I'm not taking the gut busting gulps of its sugary sweetness that Brae and sfgfan are drinking. I should probably throw him over Todd Heap, at least, but if he's being undervalued by most other fantasy owners, I can maybe sneak away with this one anyway. Plus, I'm wimping out on him. There's that, too.

I'm also playing VD safe (which they tought me to do in school), but he looked so raw last year I'm just not sure he'll actually break out as soon as we think he will.

But let me tell you who I'm not wimping out on! Kellen Winslow (Jr.) and Eric Johnson! Both are injury risks, certainly, but I think a change of scenery is good for Johnson, and I think Winslow is too electrifying to worry about at the bottom of the top ten when he just came off a full season of relative health.

I also think that getting pitches from Brees, who learned to throw the ball at the NFL level by going to Gates, is going to be very good for him. Anyway, in the ten spot as a round 85 pick, he's not going to hurt my team any.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over...

by howtheyscored on Jul 20, 2007 12:12 PM PDT 0 recs

Finally, another post....

I think Winslow is too electrifying to worry about at the bottom of the top ten when he just came off a full season of relative health

You're right he did get thru the entire season relatively healthy but he did have microfracture surgery on his knee in the off season and that's what concerns me.

And I'd agree with you about Eric Johnson if he could stay healthy but he's probably worth a gamble as he won't be looked at by most people until way late in the draft.

by methodrampage on Jul 20, 2007 1:26 PM PDT up 0 recs