Tier rankings: Tight ends

Published Sep. 9, 2009 1:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rotter's tier rankings:QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST

Tier rankings: Tight ends
	Receiving	Total
Rk	Player	Tm	Gm	Rec	Yds	TD	Yds/Gm	Yds/Rec	Targets	100-Yd	2-TD
1	Jason Witten	DAL	16	81	952	4	59.5	11.8	121	2	0
Round 4	Achieving career highs in receptions (96), yards (1,145) and scores (7) are within reach as Tony Romo's clear No. 1 target.
2	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	16	96	1,058	10	66.1	11.0	155	3	1
Round 4	At age 33, he clinched consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and double-digit scores, accomplishing this with 4 different QBs. Now he's playing with his best QB in recent seasons.
3	Antonio Gates	SD	16	60	704	8	44.0	11.7	92	0	1
Round 4	His production has fallen, but he was still a top 5 tight end last year. With Rivers, he still has a high ceiling to produce excellent stats.
4	Kellen Winslow	TB	10	43	428	3	42.8	10.0	82	1	1
Round 5-6	Reflecting the Bucs' devotion to him, he signed a long-term contract. His 2007 stats (82 catches, 1,106 yards) are within reach.
5	Dallas Clark	IND	15	77	848	6	56.5	11.0	107	2	1
Round 7-8	Will likely be Manning's No. 3 receiver, giving him a chance to remain a top 5 TE as a consistent yardage and scoring threat.
6	Chris Cooley	WAS	16	83	849	1	53.1	10.2	111	1	0
Round 7-8	Had the second-most catches and fourth-most yards among TEs, which were also career highs. TDs should increase again.
7	Greg Olsen	CHI	16	54	574	5	35.9	10.6	82	0	0
Round 7-8	Jay Cutler will help him achieve career highs in catches, yards and scores, and he'll be a weekly start no matter the foe.
8	Owen Daniels	HOU	16	70	862	2	53.9	12.3	101	2	1
Round 7-8	Utilized heavily in offense, he can duplicate his season of ranking fifth in catches and third in yards among TEs. He can also score more TDs.
9	Jeremy Shockey	NO	12	50	483	0	40.3	9.7	72	0	0
Rounds 9-10	2008 stats project to 67 catches and 644 yards for a full season. Just needs to stay healthy, and TDs will arrive with Drew Brees.
10	John Carlson	SEA	16	55	627	5	39.2	11.4	80	1	0
Rounds 9-10	Having Matt Hasselbeck for a full season will help ensure he's a fantasy starter. He'll keep improving in second year as well.
11	Dustin Keller	NYJ	16	48	535	3	33.4	11.1	78	1	0
Rounds 9-10	Last year's first-rounder will likely be Jets' No. 2 receiver. He also has the receiving skills and talent to be a fantasy starter.
12	Zach Miller	OAK	16	56	778	1	48.6	13.9	86	0	0
Rounds 9-10	The QB position promises to be improved, and the Raiders feature the TE extensively. Miller will be a potential fantasy starter.
13	Tony Scheffler	DEN	13	40	645	3	49.6	16.1	61	0	1
Rounds 11-12	He has durability and attitude concerns. But he could be valuable as a safety net while Denver's new quarterback learns a new offense.
14	Heath Miller	PIT	14	48	514	3	36.7	10.7	65	0	0
Rounds 11-12	He finished top 15 in catches and yards at TE last year and likely will remain one of Big Ben's top three receiving options.
15	Todd Heap	BAL	16	35	403	3	25.2	11.5	64	0	1
Rounds 11-12	Injuries have reduced a once-top 5 tight end into a big question mark. His potential remains high in a conservative offense.
16	Bo Scaife	TEN	16	58	561	2	35.1	9.7	84	1	0
Rounds 11-12	Led Titans in catches to finish seventh among all tight ends. Tennessee's run-first offense features the TE extensively, but it offers few passing scores in the system.
17	Jermichael Finley	GB	14	6	74	1	5.3	12.3	12	0	0
Rounds 11-12	He's a prime breakout candidate entering his second season. He scored two twice in Green Bay's third preseason game.
18	Anthony Fasano	MIA	16	34	454	7	28.4	13.4	53	0	1
Rounds 13-14	He recorded the third-most scores at TE, ranking after Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Now he will battle David Martin for catches, though.
19	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	16	42	596	7	37.3	14.2	59	1	1
Rounds 13-14	He placed in the top 10 among fantasy TEs by ranking 16th in catches, 10th in yards and 3rd in TDs. He'll receiving stronger QB play, ensuring success.
20	Brent Celek	PHI	16	27	318	1	19.9	11.8	38	0	0
Rounds 13-14	A sign of things to come? In the postseason, he led all tight ends with receptions (19) and TDs (3), and ranked second in yards (151) at the position.
21	Desmond Clark	CHI	16	41	367	1	22.9	9.0	73	0	0
Tier 7	The addition of Cutler will boost his stats, especially with scoring touchdowns. But he will still defer to Olsen in the offense.
22	Kevin Boss	NYG	15	33	384	6	25.6	11.6	55	0	0
Tier 7	He is a downgrade from Shockey despite receiving more positive press. He had the 4th-most TDs, but ranked just in the top 25 in catches and yards at TE.
23	Vernon Davis	SF	16	31	358	2	22.4	11.5	49	0	0
Tier 7	He hasn't met expectations, and is regressing instead of progressing. His TDs were cut in half, his catches sank 40 percent and his yards fell 30 percent.
24	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tier 7	He could emerge as Detroit's No. 2 receiver. Ranked second on Oklahoma State for receptions (42) and yards (472) last year.
25	Martellus Bennett	DAL	16	20	283	4	17.7	14.2	27	0	0
Tier 7	Despite his paltry stats as a rookie, he averaged a TD for every five catches and finished in the top 10 for scoring at TE. Expect an expanded role.
26	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	16	41	489	2	30.6	11.9	72	0	0
Tier 8	He ranked among the top 17 for catches and yards at TE. Jacksonville's shaky WR depth helps him remain involved in offense and serve as a bye replacement.
27	Travis Beckum	NYG	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tier 8	His pro stock dropped after his senior year, similar to John Carlson. But he has the potential to be an outstanding receiver if he can earn Eli Manning's trust.
28	Alex Smith	PHI	14	21	250	3	17.9	11.9	38	0	0
Tier 8	He's scored 11 touchdown during his four-year career and can be utilizied as a red-zone threat.
29	Robert Royal	CLE	15	33	351	1	23.4	10.6	57	0	0
Tier 8	He will be competing with Steve Heiden (who is recovering from knee injuries) and promising second-year Martin Rucker for catches.
30	Randy McMichael	STL	4	11	139	0	34.8	12.6	21	0	0
Tier 8	Before his injury, his 2008 stats project to 44 catches and 556 yards for a full season. He could emerge as a viable target as the result of the Rams' inexperienced WR group
31	Chase Coffman	CIN	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tier 8	A prolific receiving tight end at Missouri, Coffman has a chance to make an immediate impact in his rookie season.
32	Ben Watson	NE	14	22	209	2	14.9	9.5	47	0	0
Tier 8	Tight ends caught eight of Tom Brady's 50 TD passes in 2007, but they are targeted infrequently in the passing game, otherwise.
33	David Thomas	NO	15	9	93	0	6.2	10.3	17	0	0
34	David Martin	MIA	16	31	450	3	28.1	14.5	45	0	0
35	Jared Cook	TEN	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
36	L.J. Smith	BAL	13	37	298	3	22.9	8.1	64	0	0
37	Jeff King	CAR	16	21	195	1	12.2	9.3	33	0	0
38	Gijon Robinson	IND	15	19	166	0	11.1	8.7	24	0	0
39	Jerramy Stevens	TB	14	36	397	2	28.4	11.0	59	0	0
40	Donald Lee	GB	16	39	303	5	18.9	7.8	50	0	0
41	Delanie Walker	SF	15	10	155	1	10.3	15.5	16	0	0
42	Jim Kleinsasser	MIN	16	6	92	0	5.8	15.3	13	0	0
43	Alge Crumpler	TEN	15	24	257	1	17.1	10.7	41	0	0
44	Brandon Manumaleuna	SD	16	15	127	2	7.9	8.5	19	0	0
45	Steve Heiden	CLE	14	23	249	0	17.8	10.8	43	0	0
46	Shawn Nelson	BUF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
47	Matt Spaeth	PIT	16	17	136	0	8	8	26	0	0
48	Chris Baker	NE	16	21	194	0	12.1	9.2	30	0	0
49	Brad Cottam	KC	16	7	63	0	3.9	9	11	0	0
50	Anthony Becht	ARI	16	6	39	0	2.7	9	11	0	0