Fantasy POV: Kelce, Kittle remain best in class in TE rankings

Free agency did not trigger any major shifts in the ranking of tight ends for the 2020 fantasy football draft. Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and San Francisco’s George Kittle remain the No. 1 and No. 2 tight ends respectively.

Actually, their fantasy football statistics are amazing similar.  Both Travis Kelce and George Kittle averaged 15.9 fantasy football points per game in 2019, according to ESPN’s standard scoring system.  Each of them caught five touchdown passes. And both of them have a reputation for being difficult to tackle after a catch.

The difference in these two All-Pro tight ends comes down to Kittle’s missing two games due to injury. It is as simple as Kelce’s 254.3 fantasy  points in 16 games versus KIttle’s 222.5 points in 14 games.

Since many fantasy football leagues are set up like NFL divisions as  4, 8 or 12-team formats. this article focuses on the top 12 fantasy draft tight ends.  The 2019 ranking of NFL tight ends  is based on the metrics provided by the ESPN standard scoring system.

The assessments of where the tights rank entering the 2020 season is based on the recent free agent activity and off-season moves by teams and players.

Looking to dominate your fantasy leagues this year? Try The Ultimate Draft Kit from the Fantasy Footballers. Hundreds of videos, articles and player write-ups, plus the Reception Perception, in-depth analysis and draft cheat sheets! 

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas CIty Chiefs

• 2019 rank – No. 1
• Fantasy football statistics – 254.3 points, 15.9 points per game

Comments- The AFc’s best tight end should continue to build significant numbers on his way to the Hall of Fame, except Kelce and his Kansas City teammates are shooting for back-to-back

2. George Kiddle, San Francisco 49ers

• 2019 rank – No. 2
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 222.5 points, 15.9 points per game

Comments – The NFC’s best tight end is looking to stay healthy the entire 2020 season so he can compete for the top spot currently held by Kansas City’s Kelce.

3. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders

• 2019 rank – No. 3
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 221.0 points, 13.8 points per game

Comments – Waller should be fully recovered from off-season thumb surgery.  He is looking forward to p,laying in a new locale regardless of when the 2020 season starts.

4.  Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

• 2019 rank – No. 4
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 215.6 points, 14.4 points per game

Comments -Ettz cracked a rib and lacerated his kidney in a week 16 game, missed the season finale and played in the team’s wild-card loss to Seattle.  The Eagles re-signed Ertz so quarterback Carson Wentz would have his favorite target back for the 2020 season.

5. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

• 2019 rank – No. 5
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 207.2 points, 13.8 points per game

Comments – No one benefited more from the development of quarterback Lamar Jackson than Mark Andrews. Andrews caught 10 touchdown passes and was Jackson’s most reliable red zone target.

6. Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints

• 2019 rank – No. 7
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 167.5 points, 12.0 points per game

Comments – Cook’s fantasy stats may not stand out like other tight ends, but his nine touchdowns are an indication of how valuable he was to New Orleans quarterbacks when the Saints were in the red zone.

7. Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns

• 2019 rank – No. 6
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 191.7 points, 14.7 points per game

Comments – Hooper is going to miss catching passes thrown by Matt Ryan as he changes quarterbacks and teams in 2020.  Hooper is a valuable addition to the Browns, but how productive is their offense going to be with a new coaching staff.

8. Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers

• 2019 rank – No. 9
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 150.2 points, 12.5 points per game

Comments – Hunter Henry‘s contributions to the Chargers are valued high enough they placed the franchise tag on him.  Right now it looks like Henry will be catching passes thrown by quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

9. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

• 2019 rank – No. 8
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 160.4  points,10.7 points  per game

Comments – L.A.’s other quality tight end was targeted 89 times by quarterback Jared Goff, but caught only three touchdown passes. (Hunter Henry had five TD’s.)

10. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

• 2019 rank – No.10
• 20109 fantasy statistics – 144.7 points, 9.6 points per game

Comments – The Eagles have multiple tight end plays featuring Goedert and Zach Ertz.  Together they combined for 11 touchdowns (Ertz -6,  Goedert -5) and were targeted by quarterback Carson  Wentz 221 rimes.

11. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings

• 2019 rank – No. 14
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 113.7 points, 7.1 points per game

Comments – Rudolph has been the best tight end in the NFC North for years.  Though his fantasy numbers were down in 2019, he caught six touchdown passes. Expect better fantasy stats this year.

12.Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins

• 2019 rank – No. 12
• 2019 fantasy statistics – 136 points, 8.5 points per game

Comments – Gesicki was last year’s “sleeper” at tight end. He put up more points than players like Greg Olsen, Jack Doyle and Jimmy Graham.

The tight end who made the biggest climb in the rankings is Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph.  Jason WItten, now with the Las Vegas Raiders, suffered the biggest fall as he is listed in the seoncd tier of tight ends for the 2020 season.

SLEEPER

Tampa Bay tight end O.J. Howard is the “sleeper” pick. Howard will be targeted at least 100 times by Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady.