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Analysis of five fantasy football tight ends drafted in the later rounds. Are these TEs undervalued players and potential sleepers to target in deeper drafts?
Once you reach the later rounds of drafts, everyone wants to draft high-upside picks that can provide a great return on value. You can afford to take risks on a variety of different players, including prospects, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even skilled players with potential playing time concerns.
It's essential to have at least a handful of sleeper targets at each position heading into your fantasy football drafts, no matter the format. Today, we're looking at some late-round tight ends for you to consider drafting this season.
Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Normally only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2021 Draft Kit. Be sure to subscribe today and start reading all 300+ of our 2021 player outlooks, along with many other premium articles and tools available exclusively in our 2021 Draft Kit.
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Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee had his breakout year in 2019 when he went from being a little-known blocker to a game-breaking playmaker. Over a fantastic five-game span at the end of that season, Higbee racked up 43 receptions for 522 yards and probably lifted millions of fantasy general managers to league championships. Yet instead of Higbee ascending to the top of the tight end fantasy rankings in 2020, he posted mediocre numbers because tight end teammate Gerald Everett had almost the same targets and receptions as Higbee. While Higbee finished with a career-high five touchdowns, his reception and yardage totals over 15 games were virtually identical to what he posted during his otherworldly stretch the year prior.
2021 should be a bounce-back year for Higbee. Everett signed with the Seattle Seahawks and the Rams didn't add a quality tight end in the offseason, so Higbee is the clear-cut top TE on the team. Even better, the quarterback upgrade of having newly acquired Matthew Stafford at the helm instead of the inconsistent Jared Goff will work wonders for Higbee's fantasy value. Higbee could become the tight end in 2021 everyone wanted him to be in 2020. While listed as a top-15 TE by many fantasy pundits, do not be shocked if he finishes as a top-10 TE or higher.
-- Craig Rondinone
Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers
This offseason, 34-year-old Jared Cook signed a one-year $6 million deal with the Chargers. With Hunter Henry out the door, Cook steps into a 100 target role and provides a much-needed red-zone option for 2020's offensive rookie of the year, Justin Herbert. Over the last three seasons, despite being on two separate teams, Cook managed to score six or more touchdowns each season. He now takes over for Henry, who was second on the team in red-zone targets and led the team in targets inside the 10.
Although Cook is aging, the role and opportunity are there for him to have yet another fantasy-relevant season. This year, there aren't many options late in drafts that possess both the touchdown upside and proven production that Cook has. He is a very solid starting option as he could easily manage to squeak into the top 12 at the position
-- Ellis Johnson
Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks
In one of their moves to further bolster the passing game, the Seahawks signed former Rams tight end Gerald Everett to a one-year deal in the offseason. Seattle has seen up and down play at tight end in recent seasons, and the Seahawks are likely hoping he can be more of a frequent contributor than he was in four seasons with the Rams. Everett set new career highs in receptions (41) and yardage (417) last year, but he has never been regarded as a fantasy asset in the past. Playing in a crowded group of pass-catchers where he was not the clear top target at TE certainly contributed to that outlook, as did working with Jared Goff.
With the Seahawks, he should have increased chances to contribute. Russell Wilson spreads the ball around effectively and will certainly look to the tight end on key passing downs and near the goal line. Everett should also be comfortable in a retooled Seahawks offense, as former Rams QB coach Shane Waldron is the new offensive coordinator. Everett's ADP is very low, so he is on the fantasy TE2 radar this season because he gets a QB upgrade and possibly a clearer role as the top pass-catching tight end with his new team.
-- Scott Engel
Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots
Jonnu Smith was signed by the New England Patriots along with former Chargers tight end Hunter Henry. Last season, Smith finished with eight receiving touchdowns (third) on only 41 receptions for an astounding 19.5% touchdown rate, second only to Robert Tonyan (21%). For comparison's sake, Travis Kelce had a 10.5% rate and Darren Waller had an 8.4% rate. Smith stands at 6'3" 248 lbs, and he is an athletic freak for his size, as evidenced by his 88th percentile 40-yard dash (4.62) and 94th percentile burst score.
His best attribute is his elite ability to rack up yards after the catch (YAC) and you can rest assured that the Patriots will take full advantage of this skill set. Since 2019, Smith joins George Kittle and Noah Fant as the only tight ends to average over 7.0 YAC per reception. We could see Smith and Henry used in a makeshift Aaron Hernandez/Rob Gronkowski scheme circa 2011, and Smith will certainly fill the role of big plays after the catch, lining up in the backfield, and using his speed to create mismatches on linebackers. The Patriots added mediocre receiving talent with Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor, while Julian Edelman retire. Therefore, Smith is currently the most explosive receiving option on the team.
The Patriots also made him the fourth highest-paid tight end in the league and gave him the largest amount of guaranteed money for a tight end in NFL history, so they clearly have big plans in store for the 26-year old. I have Smith projected to haul in 59 receptions for 712 yards and seven touchdowns, making him one of the biggest steals in the draft at his current ADP. If fantasy managers punt on tight end early, Smith is one of my favorite targets later on.
-- Frank Dyevoich
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