Tight End Rankings Week Seventeen

Tight End Rankings: Week Seventeen

Updated: Saturday, 31 Dec 2011, 8:55 AM CST
Published : Saturday, 31 Dec 2011, 8:55 AM CST

Matt Swedlund

1. Rob Gronkowski vs. Bills
Despite having already locked up the division and a first round bye, the Patriots still have a lot to play for in week 17. With a win they secure home field advantage, so expect the Pats’ starters to get a lot of work. Rob Gronkowski has been the most reliable fantasy tight end all season and we don’t expect that to change this week. He had two touchdowns the first time he played the Bills this season and adding to that total could be a realistic possibility in the season’s last week. The Bills have given up a league-worst 11 scores to opposing tight ends this season including four in the past three weeks.

2. Jimmy Graham vs. Panthers
Even though the Panthers have kept every tight end they have faced in past five games out of the end zone, that is no reason to not play Jimmy Graham. In their first meeting this season, Graham torched the Panthers for eight catches and 129 yards; the most any opposing tight end has put on them all season. New Orleans still has plenty to play for, so don’t expect Drew Brees to take his foot off the gas this week. Graham is averaging more than seven catches per game in his last four contests so expect the beleaguered Panthers’ defense to have their hands full with Big Jim.

3. Antonio Gates at Raiders
It’s been another injury-plagued and disappointing season for Antonio Gates, but his consolation prize could come in a visit to the black hole, where the lame duck Chargers will try to dash the playoff hopes of the Raiders. In his past three games against the Raiders, Gates has registered 11 catches for 214 yards and two scores. Gates is the healthiest he’s been all year and it shows. He has three touchdowns in his last five games.

4. Jason Witten at Giants
Jason Witten has been a steady presence on a Cowboys offense that has been hit hard all season by injuries. However, in Witten’s case, steady doesn’t always mean impactful. He has just five scores on the year compared to nine at this time last season. Plus, his yardage is down by 25 percent from a season ago. With Tony Romo not a 100 percent, Witten provides a stable safety valve for an offense that will be tested by the Giants in a winner-takes-the-division affair. One word of caution: The Giants held Witten to his lowest output of the season in their first meeting.

5. Brandon Pettigrew at Packers
The stock answer to the question “Who is the Lions best pass catcher?” is Calvin Johnson. But if you dig a little deeper, you will see that Pettigrew and his 51 catches and five touchdowns have been just as important to a Lions team gearing up for their first playoff appearance since 1999. Pettigrew is averaging nearly seven catches in his past three games. Plus, he has found the end zone twice in that span. Over the past month the Packers defense has been one of the worst against the tight end. They have allowed 310 yards and three scores to position in their past five contests. The Packers defense has looked putrid with something on the line. Just imagine how bad they could play when they have nothing to play for.

6. Aaron Hernandez vs. Bills
Aaron Hernandez missed the Pat’s first meeting with the Bills way back in week three. With Hernandez on the shelf, Rob Gronkowski emerged that week as one of the league’s best with two scores. With Hernandez back in action and averaging six catches per game, this time around against the Bills it could be the Pats other tight end’s chance to shine. The Pats need a win to secure home field advantage, but they also must spread the load a little as to not over work a guy like Gronkowski. The Bills have been the most generous to tight ends this season with four of their 11 scores allowed to the position coming in the past three weeks.

7. Jermaine Gresham vs. Ravens
With six scores on 51 catches, Jermaine Gresham has one of the best touchdowns to reception ratios among starting tight ends. That being said, he has only caught more than three passes in a game once since week 11. The Ravens, despite their reputation for staunch defense, have allowed two tight end scores in the past three games. With both of these teams still playing for something, look for each team to play to its strengths. For the Bengals, that strategy includes plenty of Gresham.

8. Jermichael Finley vs. Lions
The Packers may have nothing to play for this week, but they still have to play the game against the Lions. Because of the possibility these two teams could face each other in the playoffs, we doubt there will be many big chances taken by the Packers explosive offense. That means the short passing game and Jermichael Finley should be in play for at least three quarters. Detroit isn’t weak against the position, but against the Packers everybody seems to have at least a few weaknesses.

9. Jake Ballard vs. Cowboys
While he missed week 16 due to a knee injury, it’s going to take nothing short of amputation to keep Giants’ tight end Jake Ballard off the field against the Cowboys in a winner-takes-all

contest. Ballard has been a pleasant surprise for a Giants team that desperately needed a possession receiver to go with its many deep threats. Ballard had four catches for 52 yards and a score against the Cowboys in week 14 and if healthy, could be a big part of the Giants’ game plan this Sunday night.

10. Vernon Davis at Rams
Despite averaging four catches a game over his past five outings, Vernon Davis has just one score during that span. Even a frequent attendee of Comic Con would say that’s a bad scoring average. However, the 49ers need a win to lock up a first round bye and will more than likely turn to the reliable Davis a lot this week. In his last three games against St. Louis, Davis has registered 12 catches for 181 yards. The Rams have allowed a stingy nine catches to opposing tight ends over the past three games. Use caution.

Sleepers
Tony Gonzalez vs. Buccaneers
Is it possible that this is the last time Tony Gonzalez straps on the pads and helmet in a regular season game? While the Falcons may not need to win this game depending on what happens in Green Bay earlier in the day, you can bet Gonzalez will get his fair share of chances against the Bucs. In his last three games against the Bucs, Gonzo has 13 catches for 138 yards and a score. Tampa is going through the motions, so expect the Falcons to get their chances, whether they need to or not.

Dustin Keller at Dolphins
Just imagine how good Dustin Keller could be if he had a consistent quarterback throwing him the ball. Mark Sanchez is proving to be more erratic than a shopping cart lately, and that behavior is killing Keller’s production. However, in the last five weeks, the only tight end with more targets is the Saints’ Jimmy Graham. Keller has just two scores to go with all those targets. Expect Keller to get his share of the load this week. The Dolphins have given up the fourth-most receptions to the position in the past five games. However, despite all those chances they haven’t allowed a score to the position during that span.

Jared Cook at Texans
Jared Cook has 17 catches for 272 yards and a score in his last two games. Talk about coming out of nowhere. With the Titans still having a glimmer of playoff hope and the Texans simply going through the motions this week in an effort to stay healthy for the playoffs, we expect Cook to be a big part of the Titans’ recipe for a win this week. The Texans allowed Cook a trip to the end zone in their first matchup this season and with that score on film, expect the Titans to try and go to that well again this week.

Ed Dickson at Bengals
Two of Ed Dickson’s 11 catches over the past five games have gone for scores. What’s more, the Ravens offense is averaging eight points more per game when Dickson has at least three catches. With the Bengals giving up nearly six catches a game to opposing tight ends over the past month, the Ravens should look to exploit one of the weaker points on a pretty good defense. This game means a lot to both teams so don’t expect a lot of risky plays. Instead, expect high percentage passes that more often than not involve tight ends.

Brent Celek vs. Redskins
The Redskins have been absolutely brutal over the past three weeks against opposing tight ends. They have given up 308 yards and three scores to the position during that span. While Brent Celek is hardly the caliber of tight of Rob Gronkowski, who registered 10 catches and two scores on the Skins in week 14, we think he can have decent day. Celek has 247 yards and two scores in his last three games. It took almost all season, but the Eagles and Michael Vick have finally realized that Celek is a better-than-average tight end.

Tony Scheffler at Packers
Usually, it’s only the Patriots that get two tight ends in these rankings, but this week the Lions’ Tony Scheffler joins teammate Brandon Pettigrew on our list. Scheffler has as many touchdowns, five, on 22 catches as Pettigrew has on 51 receptions. The Packers are the only defense in the NFL to allow more than 1,000 yards to the position this season and their lack of attention on the tight end was quite evident last week when the Bears’ Kellen Davis went for three catches and a score. The Lions have a ton more weapons than the Bears, so expect Scheffler to hide in the weeds and put up some sneaky good numbers against a Packers team that has nothing to play for.