The tight end is a very important position in rounding out your fantasy football line-up. Sometimes it pays to wait on taking a tight end until the later rounds if you can find good value.

Listed below are two veteran tight ends that could pay huge dividends for your team from the 12th round and on.

Editor's Note: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including Draft Kit + DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through October. Premium DFS lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more - seven days a week. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Martellus Bennett, Patriots TE

When evaluating sleeper tight ends for the 2016 fantasy football draft, one must expand the mind and analyze the talent and possibilities. One of the first players that should pop in your head is one of the newest additions to the New England Patriots offense, Martellus Bennett. Bennett, the 29-year-old veteran entering his 9^th year in the league, can prove to be a vital part of the Patriots offense this year. While playing his first four years in the league as Jason Witten’s back-up, Bennett quickly became a quality play-making tight end while on the Giants and Bears the past four years.

While analyzing this information, one might say, “Um, hey, the Patriots have a ball dominant tight end named Rob Gronkowski.” Yes, The Gronk (when healthy) will be the fiercest tight end in this league, no questions asked. However, one also must remember the days of the dual threat double tight end combination of Gronk and Aaron Hernandez, both of whom were flourishing in fantasy football statistics. Realizing that this is a few years past that point, the Patriots are still run by the same genius offense led by Brady and coached by Belichick. The Patriots most certainly had this in mind when signing Bennett.

Another good point to mention is that the Patriots really don't have any relevant wide receivers not named Julian Edelman. Add Bennett to the mix and he will surely get a lot of balls with Gronk in double coverage. An added bonus would be to remember that Gronk isn’t exactly the most durable player. With Gronk in the line-up look for Bennett to be a solid TE2. If Gronk gets hurt, the sky is the limit at that point for Martellus. Draft him as your first or even second tight end in the 12^th or 13^th round and immediately receive a great value pick.

Jimmy Graham, Seahawks TE

It is hard to believe that after all the amazing production Jimmy Graham had in the five season with the New Orleans Saints we are now calling him a sleeper tight end pick after one failed season with his new team the Seattle Seahawks. Graham, who is also 29 years old, had monster years hauling in receptions and touchdowns and was often a high second round pick in past fantasy football years. Drew Brees and Graham owned the town in New Orleans as they lit up fantasy football scoreboards. However, a new team, a new offense, and a late year injury changed all of that.

Looking into last year’s numbers, Graham had some moments which were few and far between that were average. Four games of six or more completions, and four games of 75 yards or more receiving with only two total touchdowns. Not exactly Jimmy Graham-like. A Week 12 injury with a torn patellar tendon really solidified his failure of a 2015 fantasy football campaign.

2016 is a new year, and we all have seen the impressive talent that Graham holds. With a dynamic offense and a second year in the system it’s hard to imagine another down year from Graham. Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but with questionable offensive weapons including a bunch of young running backs, young wide receivers, and Doug Baldwin. Graham, can be that solid veteran tight end presence they were hoping to get when they acquired him. However, one must be wary of his injury status. As of now he is questionable to play for the season opener, which is probably another reason he is ranked 14^th or 15^th tight end overall in most leagues. If Graham can stay healthy most of this season, grabbing him in the 13^th round as a back-up tight end might be the best thing you ever did. Stick him on your bench for now, because if he starts to produce like the Graham of old, you will have a great insurance policy, trade-bait, or someone you can plug into your line-up. Pretty good upside for a very late round pick.