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Craig Rondinone analyzes the biggest breakouts of the 2019 fantasy football season at the tight end position.
There were a lot of fantasy football busts at the tight end position in 2019, but there were also a lot of breakout stars. The 2018 season saw Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz break the NFL record for most receptions in a season by a tight end, while San Francisco’s George Kittle broke the record for most receiving yards by a tight end. In 2019, no tight ends had 100 catches, 1,300 yards, or 11 touchdowns, plateaus that were all eclipsed the year prior, but that does not mean there was not a fair share of breakout seasons.
Many tight ends who were ranked near the bottom on cheat sheets heading into fantasy drafts turned in better years than many of the guys who were rated in the top 10, and these young stars will continue to deliver for fantasy players for several seasons.
Here are fantasy football’s biggest breakouts of 2019 at tight end.
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Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders
2019 Stats: 90 receptions, 1,145 yards, 3 TD
Even though his resume only had 18 receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns on it coming into the season, Waller was pegged as a fantasy sleeper by many experts because they believed that head coach Jon Gruden would give him an expanded role in the Oakland offense. Thanks to Antonio Brown’s mental meltdown and subsequent release during training camp, as well as Tyrell Williams’ injury-prone, inconsistent season, Waller was utilized more often than fantasy players could have ever imagined.
Waller flashed wide-receiver skills as he made countless plays downfield, but his big body made it difficult for defensive backs to cover him consistently on short routes as well. Waller and quarterback Derek Carr clicked with their chemistry as Waller became Carr’s go-to guy on third downs and in crucial situations. Waller should continue to be Oakland’s top target unless the Raiders severely upgrade their receiving corps this offseason during their move to Las Vegas. Look for Waller to be a top-five tight end in fantasy football for years to come.
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
2019 Stats: 64 receptions, 852 yards, 10 TD
Andrews was not even the first tight end Baltimore drafted when he came out of college in 2018. Hayden Hurst was selected in the first round and then Andrews was taken in the third. Andrews has been the one playing like a first-rounder the past two seasons, however. After an impressive rookie campaign which saw him lead first-year tight ends with 552 receiving yards, Andrews bumped his game and his fantasy value up a few notches this year and became the most valuable and reliable weapon in Baltimore’s passing attack.
Andrews led all tight ends with 10 touchdowns during his sensational sophomore season. Both his reception and target totals doubled as he quickly became the favorite target of the uber-improved Lamar Jackson. There is no reason to think Andrews cannot break the 1,000-yard plateau in 2020 as he continues his meteoric rise, especially if Baltimore concentrates on its tight ends more than its wide receivers in the passing game.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
2019 Stats: 69 receptions, 734 yards, 3 TD
Higbee signed a multiyear contract extension during the season to solidify his standing in L.A.’s offense, but that did not make fantasy players think for a second that any big breakout was coming from him. Higbee only had 672 receiving yards and four touchdowns over his first three NFL seasons and was not the downfield threat that tight end teammate Gerald Everett had shown to be when given an opportunity. Higbee probably went undrafted in 99.9 percent of fantasy leagues entering the 2019 season.
All Higbee did was unseat Everett as the top tight end in Los Angeles, and he was the most productive tight end in fantasy football during the final five weeks of the season when fantasy players needed him the most. Higbee had an astounding 43 receptions for 522 yards and two touchdowns over that scintillating stretch, which included four straight 100-yard games. Now that Rams head honcho Sean McVay has discovered that his talented tight end should be featured and not ignored when designing and calling plays, Higbee should be a top-10 TE in 2020 and beyond, and possibly even a top-five guy.
Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins
2019 Stats: 51 receptions, 570 yards, 5 TD
Miami’s second-round pick from 2018 has been a project since being drafted. Blessed with above-average speed and size, Gesicki had major issues fitting into Miami’s offense during his rookie campaign and needed more seasoning on route running and blocking before the coaching staff could rely on him. How much seasoning? Gesicki did not score a touchdown in any of the first 25 games of his career. When it came to finding the end zone, Gesicki was no Magellan.
Gesicki finally broke his touchdown drought in his 26th game, however! The super-skilled youngster ended his second season with 23 catches for 276 yards and FIVE TOUCHDOWNS. He is too fast for linebackers to cover him easily and too strong for defensive backs to cover him in tight spaces. With Miami finishing up the 2019 season strong and heading into 2020 with a bright outlook, the sky is the limit for Gesicki. He should be ready to break the 750-yard barrier next season as long as Ryan Fitzpatrick or a capable quarterback is throwing to him.
