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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 Football - Jets TE
Fantasy Football - Jets TE /

5. Chris Herndon will be a top-10 TE upon return.

How This is Bold:

Jets’ TE Chris Herndon will need to quickly find his stride once he returns in Week 5 from his four-game suspension in a new offense led by head coach Adam Gase. Herndon may not be as much of an offensive focal point this year with Le’Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder now on Gang Green. According to Fantasy Football Calculator, Herndon is currently being selected as the TE20.

Why This Will Come True:

In 2018, Chris Herndon quietly put together one of the more productive rookie seasons in the league. First-year tight ends aren’t particularly known for making a fantasy impact, but the fourth-round selection out of the University of Miami did just that. Finishing as the overall TE15 (7.1 FPPG) on the season despite a slow start, Herndon was a bright spot for the struggling 4-12 Jets.

After Herndon was finally able to get himself going in Week 6, he was fantasy’s TE9 from that point forward. More impressively, he’s one of  just 14 tight ends to average eight-plus yards per target as a rookie since 2000. However, like Golden Tate, he’ll have to ride-out a four-game suspension to begin the year. Because of this, he’s fallen off many owners’ radars.

Once back from suspension, he’ll join a vastly-improved Jets offense now featuring Le’Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder. With second-year QB Sam Darnold looking sharp in the preseason, Herndon could be a primary beneficiary after building a strong rapport with his young gunslinger in 2018 (his 10.3 a DOT was 5th-highest among TE’s).

In a passing-attack primed to make a leap this season, Herndon may quickly emerge as an attractive fantasy option.

Next. NFL DFS: GPP strategy for FanDuel and DraftKings. dark

At one of the hardest positions to get consistent fantasy production from, Herndon is worth stashing in deeper leagues as a player that should be see decent volume as soon as he returns in Week 5. Assuming that he can build off his successful rookie year, he should be a nice asset down the stretch as he pushes his way into the top-10 by season’s end.

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