Welcome to FanSided’s weekly NFL Player Power Rankings. Every Tuesday throughout the season you can check out rankings for a different key position, including quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and even the defensive star players. These power rankings will consist of the top twenty-five players at that given position. With 32 teams and only 25 spots that means that not every team’s players will make the cut. So make sure you check in every Tuesday to see if your favorite players made the list.
These rankings are NOT a list of the players with the most established and proven careers. That would favor the older players. They are also NOT a list of the players you would most want to build around going forward. That list would favor the younger players. No, this is a ranking of the best players at that position right now, today. The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” kind of a league. So while early in the season the list will be influenced by previous performances, if later in the year Niles Paul is clearly outproducing Rob Gronkowski then their rankings will reflect that regardless of what their general perception or reputation is.
This week it’s time to rank the tight ends. No position in the NFL has seen more growth over the past 15 years than the tight end position. What once was basically an undersized offensive lineman that occasionally caught a few passes has evolved into more and more of a pass catching weapon with every year that goes by. For that reason, you won’t find any blocking specialists on this list. It’s not that I don’t value a good blocking TE, but if you want to make the list of the top 25 in the NFL, you need to be a factor in the passing game.
I also made the decision to exclude several talented but injured players. Jordan Reed isn’t on the list. Dennis Pitta would have likely cracked the top ten if his season wasn’t ended by an injury on Sunday. Also, Marcedes Lewis and Kyle Rudolph would have at least made the list if they weren’t looking at missing a month or two with injuries of their own.
So who did make the list? Let’s start with number 25……….
No. 25-21
25. Lance Kendricks – St. Louis Rams
Did I think I would include Lance Kendricks on this list? No, no I did not. However, he’s tied for 13th in the NFL in receptions (11) and he has also graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 13th best tight end so far this season. Not bad for the Rams number two tight end.
24. Ladarius Green – San Diego Chargers
Green gets this spot based more on his raw talent than his production on the field. The 88 yards that Green has totaled on his six receptions is a sign of his playmaking ability, but he’s going to have to average more than two receptions per game to stay on this list.
23. Andrew Quarless – Green Bay Packers
Andrew Quarless slides in at number 23 on this list based largely on the potential he has in the Green Bay offense with Aaron Rodgers as his QB. If Quarless was to establish some trust from Rodgers his numbers could really take off.
22. Brandon Myers – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brandon Myers isn’t going to strike fear into opposing teams, but he has become a decent safety valve dump off target for the Buccaneers. His 13 receptions is 11th best in the NFL amongst TEs. He’s not much of a blocker, but it appears he will see regular targets this season.
21. Anthony Fasano – Kansas City Chiefs
Anthony Fasano is also more of a check down target than a playmaking TE. Still, in an Andy Reid offense with Alex Smith at QB there are plenty of opportunities for TEs. Fasano has soft hands that make him a reliable target and he also has a reputation as a solid blocker too.
No. 20-16
20. Coby Fleener – Indianapolis Colts
Coby Fleener is one half of the dual tight ends that the Colts regularly utilize in their offense. Andrew Luck has proven he’s willing to spread the ball around to multiple targets and Fleener has established himself as one of he can count on.
19. Owen Daniels – Baltimore Ravens
Owen Daniels’ ten receptions and two touchdowns through the first three games earned him a spot on this list. The injury to Dennis Pitta now opens the door for Daniels to really take off. The question with Daniels is not if he can play, but if he can stay healthy.
18. Charles Clay – Miami Dolphins
Charles Clay appeared to be on track to be one of the focal points of the Miami passing game this season. Nagging injuries have slowed him down and he hasn’t been able to produce at the same level he did last season. His 12 receptions for 50 yards is alright, but I think the Dolphins are hoping for more.
17. Jordan Cameron – Cleveland Browns
Take everything I just said about Clay and magnify it by ten for Jordan Cameron. Cameron was predicted to be one of the star producers at the TE position this season after a breakout campaign in 2013. His three receptions are a disappointment, but the talent is there to produce if he gets healthy.
16. Heath Miller – Pittsburgh Steelers
Heath Miller may not be one of the elite tight ends that come to mind when discussing the position, but he can still produce and is a valuable target in the Pittsburgh offense. Miller has 11 receptions thus far and as defenses are forced to focus more and more on Antonio Brown it could be Miller that sees more opportunities.
No. 15-11
15. Jared Cook – St. Louis Rams
Unfortunately, Jared Cook made his biggest headlines of the season on Sunday, but not for his play on the field, but for pushing his QB on the sideline. Don’t let that take away from what Cook has done for the Rams this season putting up 15 receptions and 177 yards.
14. Dwayne Allen – Indianapolis Colts
Dwayne Allen appears to be on track to rebound from a 2013 season that was lost to a hip injury. He’s tied with his fellow Indy TE Coby Fleener in receptions, but has more yards and TDs. Allen is also the better run blocker of the two.
13. Zach Ertz – Philadelphia Eagles
Zach Ertz appears to be a perfect fit for Chip Kelly’s aggressive offense. While Ertz may only have nine receptions, his 177 yards (19.7 YPR) lead all full time tight ends. If Ertz sees an increase in targets he definitely has the potential to shoot up into the elite ranks.
12. Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers
Vernon Davis is one of the top five most talented tight ends in the NFL. Unfortunately, he’s another player that has been held back with injuries. If he gets healthy and Colin Kaepernick gets him the ball he’ll climb back up this list and reclaim his rightful spot amongst the best in the league.
11. Larry Donnell – New York Giants
Do I really have Larry Donnell rated higher than Vernon Davis, REALLY? In a word, yes. You can’t argue with production and Donnell has produced to the tune of 18 receptions, 182 yards, and a TD. In a year where Eli Manning hasn’t gotten consistent play from his WRs, Donnell has emerged as a go to target and he’s a good run blocker as well. It’s obviously early, but through three games he’s on pace for 96 receptions.
No. 10-6
10. Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs
As an admitted KC fan, I’m probably biased here, but I believe Travis Kelce is the next great NFL TE in the making. After missing all of his rookie year to a knee injury he has emerged as KC’s best weapon in the passing game this year. Kelce is ninth in the NFL in receiving yards for TEs despite playing almost 50 less snaps than all the other TEs in the top ten. He trails only Zach Ertz in YPR and is also PFF’s third highest rated run blocking TE thus far. With KC gradually increasing his work load each week, don’t be surprised if he continues to climb this list as the year goes by.
9. Niles Paul – Washington Redskins
I’ll be honest, I didn’t even know who Niles Paul was until like two weeks ago. So to say that his spot in the top ten of this list is a surprise would be an understatement. Here’s the bottom line, only Jimmy Graham and Greg Olson have more receptions than Paul and he only trails Graham by ONE yard for the league lead for yardage by TEs. Paul’s play has made most forget about the injury to Jordan Reed who many had predicted to break out this season.
8. Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys
Jason Witten is still one of the top weapons at the tight end position in the NFL. However, if he wants to keep his spot in this top ten he needs to start producing a little more on the field. His ten receptions for 95 yards aren’t bad, but the numbers of the young up and comers behind him will send him tumbling down this list if he doesn’t up his game soon.
7. Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots
Rob Gronkowski at 100% is probably as big of a physical mismatch for defenses as anyone in the league. The problem is that Gronk hasn’t played at 100% much (if at all) in recent years. He seems to be working his way back into form thus far. His 11 receptions for 116 yards and two TDs show promise, but he’s not quite back to top five caliber yet.
6. Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers
If you’re one of the many that may have written Antonio Gates off as past his prime and assumed that Ladarius Green was going to steal his production, you appear to be sorely mistaken. Through three games Gates has 14 receptions for 185 yards and three TDs. He’s still Phillip Rivers number one target and one of the best TEs in the game.
No. 5-1
5. Martellus Bennett – Chicago Bears
Martellus Bennett may get overshadowed in Chicago by the likes of Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, and Alshon Jeffery, but make no mistake, Bennett is a vital part of their offensive success. As I right this it’s early in the second half of the Monday Night Football game against the Jets and Bennett has increased his season totals to 19 receptions for 152 yards and four TDs. Those numbers have him rated second in the NFL in both receptions and TDs (and he still has almost a full half to play). Bennett has earned this top five slot so far this season.
4. Delanie Walker – Tennessee Titans
Delanie Walker isn’t getting the attention he deserves for his great start because the Titans have been struggling these past couple of weeks. Walker is actually PFF’s highest graded TE through three games. Not only does Walker have 17 receptions for 233 yards and two TDs, but he’s PFF’s highest graded run blocker in the league as well. There isn’t a more well rounded TE in the NFL right now.
3. Greg Olson – Carolina Panthers
In a year where Cam Newton is having to break in an entire team full of new wide receivers, Greg Olson is really his only proven target. Olson is off to a good start this season with 19 receptions for 224 yards and two TDs. Over 16 games that would translate to 101 receptions, 1195 yards, and 10 TDs. Unlike some of the other players on this list, those numbers aren’t unrealistic given Olson’s status as Newton’s only tenured pass catcher.
2. Julius Thomas – Denver Broncos
Julius Thomas may not be amongst the league leaders in receptions and yards (14 for 160), but he’s a physical freak that is nearly impossible to match up with and his five TD receptions through three games leads the NFL. Thomas has to share Peyton Manning’s targets with a lot of other weapons, but his talent is undeniable and he’s capable of putting up monster numbers if given the ball regularly.
1. Jimmy Graham – New Orleans Saints
There is no disputing who the number one tight end in the NFL is, it’s Jimmy Graham. Period. Graham is the NFL leader for TEs in both receptions (24) and yards (254). The term matchup nightmare appears to have been created to describe Graham. He’s far too big and strong for defensive backs and far too fast and athletic for linebackers. There are a lot of great TEs in the NFL, but right now Jimmy Graham is in a class all by himself.
So there is your Week 4 Player Power Rankings for the tight end position. What do you think of this top 25 list? Any players that are too high or too low for your liking? Any players that were left off that you feel deserved to be on the list? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Thanks for reading and check back next week to see which players make the top 25 power rankings for defensive players.
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