Top NFL Fantasy Draft Tight Ends

For the past five years or so, this has been the thinnest position in fantasy football. But this season, every team should be able to draft one tight end who can produce. Don't believe it? Then check out this list of the Best Fantasy Football Tight Ends for the 2007 Draft.

1. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (71 catches, 924 yards, 9 touchdowns)

Gates led all Tight Ends in yards receiving and touchdowns in 2006. He is also just 27 years old and has Phillip Rivers, who is one of the finest young quarterbacks in the NFL, tossing him the ball. Finally, because the Chargers receiving crew is made up of mostly young, inexperienced receivers, expect Gates to have another great year, surpassing 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.

2. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens (73 catches, 765 yards, 6 touchdowns)

Todd Heap is entering his prime and should prodcue big time this season. Last year, he proved to be a favorite Red Zone target for the aging but still effective Steve McNair. That should continue this year as the two further develop their chemistry. Look for Heap to improve on all three of his key statistics. He could go for 80 catches, 900 yards and 9 touchdowns.

3. Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns (89 catches, 875 yards, 3 touchdowns)

After missing 30 of his first 32 scheduled NFL games, and creating a lot of worries and doubts about his character in Cleveland, Winslow finally played a full season, and became a star, in 2006. He led all NFL tight ends with 89 catches, and racked up 875 yards, which was third best at his position. For Winslow to justify this high pick, though, he is going to have to catch more TDs. Here's betting that he goes for at least 80 catches, 900 yards and 8 touchdowns.

4. Alge Crumpler, Atlanta Falcons (56 catches, 780 yards, 8 touchdowns)

Unless Mike Vick gets indicted for his (alleged) dog-fighting activities, his favorite target will produce again in 2007. 2007 Prediction: 60 catches, 850 yards, 8 touchdowns.

5. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins (57 catches, 734 yards, 6 touchdowns)

Cooley is another young up and comer. His 7.4 yards-after-catch average (YAC) was the best among NFL Tight Ends with at least 20 catches. Which is a good thing for a receiver who has to live with the Redskins quarterbacks. In Washington, it helps to be able to run with the ball on those few occasions when the signal caller actually gets it in your hands. Cooley is good enough to still get 65 catches, 800 yards, and 7 touchdowns in 2007.

6. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs (73 catches, 900 yards, 5 youchdowns)

Brody Croyle, Damon Huard and someone named Jason Printers are competing for the Chiefs QB spot now that Trent Green has been dealt to Miami. That's bad news for Gonzalez, who will have to slip at least a little with that trio of prospective starters throwing him the ball. 65 catches, 800 yards, and 6 touchdowns

7. Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants (66 catches, 623 yards, 7 touchdowns)

He should be better. He's not. But he is still pretty good. Shockey should replicate his 2006 numbers.

8. L.J. Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (50 catches, 611 yards, 5 touchdowns)

Smith won't change the position this year, but the former Scarlet Knight should also duplicate his statistics from 2006. If McNabb can stay healthy all year, the he will do even better. Look for 55 catches, 700 yards and 6 touchdowns.

9. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (20 catches, 265 yards, 3 touchdowns)

He is ranked higher on a lot of fantasy draft boards, and he certainly has the body and the speed to be a very productive Tight End. However, he only has ten games of NFL experience, and although he played well in those games, he didn't look like a top three player at his position. He will still be tough, just not top shelf.

10. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys (64 catches, 754 yards, 1 touchdown)

Witten's numbers have dropped the past two years after his breakout 2004 season, but at 25 years old he is too young to be on the downslide. He may not bounce back to the 980 yards he had three years ago, but he is almost certain to find the end zone more than once, as he did in 2006.

11. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears (Rookie)

Yes, he is a rookie. Yes, he in unproven. Yes, the Bears already have a pretty good tight end in Desmond Clark. None of that metters. The Bears are going to make Olsen their top tight end, and Olsen has the body, the speed and the hands to be a Rookie of the Year candidate.

12. Randy McMichael, Miami Dolphins (62 catches, 640 yards, 3 touchdowns)

McMichael would benefit greatly if he were traded to a new team that had a semi-competent quarterback.

13. Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots (49 catches, 643 yards, 3 touchdowns)

Good skills. But will his production drop now that Brady has all of those wideouts?

14. Desmond Clark, Chicago Bears (45 catches, 626 yards, 6 touchdowns)

When the Bears drafted Greg Olsen from the University of Miami with their first round pick, they seemed to be sending a message to Clark that he was going to be marginalized during the 2007season. But Clark is a talented pass catcher, who caught 45 passes and six touchdowns, so he probably won't be relegated to the bench. He also could be traded if Olsen proves to be ready to go by the opener. Clark is worth a shot in the 9th round or later in most drafts.

15. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts (30 catches, 367 yards and 4 touchdowns in 12 Games)

16. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers (34 catches, 393 yards, 5 touchdowns)

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