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Fantasy football 2019: 5 bold predictions – tight end edition

By Jake VanZuiden

Fantasy: EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 03: New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) during New York Giants Training Camp on August 3, 2019 at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Fantasy: EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 03: New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (88) during New York Giants Training Camp on August 3, 2019 at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Fantasy: CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 22: Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) in action during the preseason game against the New York Giants and the Cincinnati Bengals on August 22nd 2019, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Tyler Eifert will bounce back, finish 2019 as a fantasy football top-8 tight end.

How This is Bold:

Since entering the league in 2013, Bengals’ TE Tyler Eifert has yet to play a full season (appeared in 15 games as a rookie). In fact, over the past three seasons, Eifert has played in just 14 total games. Coming off an ankle injury that required surgery, he’ll need to prove he can stay on the field.

Why This Will Come True:

One of the best post-hype sleepers for the 2019 fantasy football season, Eifert is pretty much free right now in drafts (or likely floating around your waiver wire), currently being ranked as the TE25. Believe it or not, he’s currently being taken behind even the retired Rob Gronkowski.

The 2015 Pro Bowler has been a major disappointment over the past two seasons, playing a combined six games over that stretch as he’s struggled to stay healthy. However, something we’re all aware of is that a healthy Eifert is an absolute touchdown machine. Touchdowns equate to fantasy points, and lots of them.

Back in 2015 when Eifert found the end-zone 13 times, the 6-foot-6 behemoth finished as fantasy’s TE6 all while managing just 615 receiving yards in 13 games.

Even in 2016 when he played just six games, he was still 7th in points per game at his position. After being a full participant in camp this summer and taking part in preseason action (although he wasn’t targeted), it appears that Eifert is… dare I say, finally healthy.

Injury risk is always a concern for him, but if he can stay on the field, he’s a difference-maker with a top-five TE ceiling.

After stating earlier in the off-season that he’s upset with the injury-prone label fans around the league have pegged him with, the 28-year-old will be out to prove his doubters wrong. He’s a prime example of low-risk/high-reward. At a position as thin as tight end, Eifert could wind up being a steal for owners who take a chance on him.

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