3. You want a top 3 tight end
Take what I just said about QBs and think the opposite for TEs.
There’s Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas, and Rob Gronkowski. Graham is on a planet on his own, he gives you a huge match-up advantage every single week so I’d start considering him as soon as the top 5-6 RBs and Calvin Johnson are off the board.
Thomas should have an even bigger season this year with the departure of Eric Decker and his 83 receptions, 1,246 yards, and 11 TDs from last year – I’d definitely take him anywhere in the 3rd.
The Gronk is a controversial pick this year, what with all his injuries last season, but let’s not forget that this guy is 25 years old and had 10, 17, and 11 TDs his first 3 years in the league. You can play it safe if you want, but I’m taking the guy anywhere in the 3rd, even ahead of Julius Thomas. Gronk can win you your league if he looks anything like the 2011 Gronk.
If you can’t land one of the big 3, I would definitely wait it out until about the round after selecting your QB to take a TE. After these 3 guys, it’s pretty much a crapshoot and yes, I’m including last years #2 TE Vernon Davis, whose average draft pick (ADP) in the 5th round is too rich for my blood. Consider how inconsistent he has been throughout the years.
Davis is #2 on Evan Silva’s Shy-Away Top 40. I’m also including last years #5 TE, Jordan Cameron, in my crapshoot comment as I believe he was a big product of the system. Norv Turner’s TEs have been racking up points from Jay Novacek to Antonio Gates, which segues nicely into my next point, get Kyle Rudolph (Norv’s TE this season) on your team.
Even if you take one of the big 3, with such a low ADP (9th-10th round) and such high potential, I want him.
Really wish I would have read this before I drafted this morning. Passed on Rudolph for not knowing much about him. Did manage to get Romo and Seahawks D though. Good read bro.