Fantasy Football: 5 tight end busts in 2017

The “Don’t eat the cheese series” was designed to help you avoid those players that will ruin your fantasy football season. Don’t let that tight end become a black hole in your fantasy lineups. Which 5 tight ends should you avoid in 2017 during your upcoming fantasy football draft?

Do you have trouble finding a tight end in fantasy football drafts? Do you get frustrated searching for a productive tight end after missing out on Rob Gronkowski or Travis Kelce? Well look no further, the “Don’t eat the cheese” series continues to help you avoid those disastrous tight end options that could cost you the win.  After dissecting the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers, the tight ends are up next.

My golden rule with avoiding wide receivers will continue at the tight end spot as you will notice most of their quarterbacks are not premier options. Unlike years ago, the NFL has featured more and more tight ends in an offense. Fullbacks are essentially extinct while teams have shifted to two tight end sets. There are a bounty of pass catching tight ends, it’s just a matter of finding the right one.

Also, keep in mind, your league rules will have severe implications on your draft choices. If you play a PPR style, targeting a tight end that comes away with a ton of receptions is smart business. Dennis Pitta, Travis Kelce, and Kyle Rudolph were the top receptions leaders at the position. For this post, I will proceed with the standard rules of a non-PPR format. Who are the five tight ends you should avoid in your upcoming fantasy football draft?

5. Jared Cook

If you can’t put up numbers with Aaron Rodgers, then there is probably something wrong. Cook caught just one touchdown in 2016 appearing in 10 games. Coming away with 30 receptions and 377 yards just isn’t acceptable fantasy production. I’m not so sure things change with Cook signing with the Raiders this offseason.

Derek Carr was the MVP a year ago in my opinion but he loves to spread the ball around. Amari Cooper fantasy owners know this all too well a year ago where Michael Crabtree and Seth Roberts stole a ton of points away from him. Carr threw for 28 touchdowns but outside of Crabtree’s eight, no one caught more than five in 2016. The tight end spot wasn’t utilized a ton in the passing game last season. Was that because Clive Walford wasn’t ready for primetime or did he fail to produce? Nevertheless, I’m not convinced Cook is an upgrade over Walford.

Walford, 25, is a former third round pick of the Raiders and could be in for a breakout season. After hauling in six touchdowns the past two years, it’s possible Walford has that type of season that forces him into heavy playing time. With Cook set to head into his 30s, are we sure he’s really the better option over Walford?

Marshawn Lynch’s involvement with the Raiders could dictate that as a blocking tight end may be imperative to moving the chains. Cook frankly isn’t known as a great blocking tight end. Latavius Murray had 12 rushing touchdowns in 2016. It’s possible some of those go towards the passing game but more likely will be punched in by Lynch if he proves to be a capable runner.